ANNUAL

REPORT

2013

For the past 13 years, the Washington, DC Economic Partnership has told the story of DC’s resurgence and branded DC as a premier location for all types of business and innovative ideas. Over those 13 years, DC has emerged as one of the strongest and most resilient economies in the country.

During this time, the WDCEP has continued to be the leading source of information influencing business investment and perception about DC, as well as the chief connector bridging the public and private sectors, the business and real estate communities in the local market, and the business and real estate communities to national and international audiences. Whether we are building the foundation for deals to happen or working directly with retail and office tenants to educate them on the opportunities DC has to offer, we at the WDCEP are continuously collaborating and partnering with those who choose to do business in the District of Columbia.

In 2013, our organization took on a more active role to promote DC nationally and internationally as a compelling place to do business. In addition to leading retail attraction efforts for the District of Columbia, we expanded and enhanced our programs and services to meet the needs of DC’s changing economy.

We introduced a proactive communications strategy to promote DC as a prime location for business domestically, and internationally, through a variety of resources and marketing activities. As a result of this effort, we successfully raised awareness of DC’s thriving economy and business opportunities in major national and international publications.

In an effort to attract new companies, talent and investment for DC’s technology sector, the WDCEP spearheaded a new initiative to promote DC as a growing technology hub in March of this year at SXSW, one of the largest technology conferences of its kind, held in Austin, Texas. This year marked the first year that DC had an official presence at the conference.

Our organization also launched AccelerateDC, a new initiative that offers free and confidential mentoring for technology-based businesses in the DC area. AccelerateDC supports innovation and entrepreneurial activity throughout DC by providing entrepreneurs with the mentoring, advice, and help they need to develop their companies.

The WDCEP is committed to ensuring that the District of Columbia continues to achieve economic development success now and into the future, and looks forward to working with our partners, supporters, DC entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profits in the coming weeks, months, and years.

The following pages showcase some of the major accomplishments and milestones that the WDCEP achieved in 2013 through our programs, initiatives and overall mission to facilitate economic development in the District of Columbia.

We thank those of you for attending our programs, reading our publications and joining with us to move DC businesses forward in the last year.

Keith Sellars

President & CeO

The WDCEP has advanced to be the leading source of information influencing business investment and perception about the District. Whether we are building the foundation for deals to happen or working directly with retail and office tenants to educate them on the opportunities DC has to offer, we at the WDCEP are continuously collaborating and partnering with those who choose DC.

#WeChooseDC

The Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote business opportunities throughout the District and contributes to business retention and attraction activities. Since 2001, the WDCEP’s efforts have positively influenced the District’s economy and contributed to significant job growth, tax revenue and real estate transactions.

Table of ConTenTs

4 Business Attraction & Retention

12 Business Development

16 Site Location Assistance

20 Tools & Resources

24 Programs

28 About WDCEP

64 WDCEP-assisted businesses opened in FY13

Attraction & Retention

875k+Location Assistance

SXSWMarketing

SF of deals WDCEP helped facilitate in FY13

WDCEP led DC’s first official visit to South by Southwest

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WDCEP ASSISTED BUSINESSESThe businesses on the map either opened or announced expansion plans in FY2013.

BusinessAttraction &RetentionICSC / Neighborhood Tours / SXSW / Marketing

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InTernaTIonal CounCIl of shoppIng CenTers (ICsC)Since 2001, the WDCEP has represented the District of Columbia at ICSC’s annual meeting which attracts more than 34,000 retailers, developers and brokers to Las Vegas. The event provides valuable face time in a business conference setting for investors to become more familiar with District of Columbia officials and economic development professionals. In 2013, the WDCEP conducted over 80 meetings with retailers and developers from across the nation demonstrating the District’s commitment to attracting high quality national and international retail establishments. This year there were over 400 individuals that visited the District’s booth during the three-day conference. In addition, the WDCEP hosted the 15th annual Capital Reception at RECon with an attendance of nearly 500 people.

In addition to our Las Vegas efforts, the WDCEP represented the District at the two-day ICSC Mid-Atlantic Conference (National Harbor, MD).

The WDCEP assists in the development of a vibrant and sustainable economy in the District of Columbia by marketing business and investment opportunities throughout the city. The WDCEP actively markets these opportunities by representing the District at industry tradeshows across the nation, conducting site tours in target market areas, and through national and international marketing campaigns.

WDCEP’s RECon ICSC booth

Capital Reception at TAO

sXsW As part of the WDCEP’s efforts to promote DC as a growing technology hub, the WDCEP organized and facilitated DC’s official on-the-ground presence at SXSW in March 2013, the most popular conference attracting technology industry leaders, entrepreneurs, programmers/developers, investors and tech media. The WDCEP brought together various partners from DC’s public and private sector to coordinate a strong comprehensive marketing campaign to promote the District’s vibrant tech sector to over 60,000 attendees from over 72 countries that attended the conference.

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DC’s SXSW delegation

neIghborhood reTaIl/resTauranT ToursThroughout 2013, the WDCEP organized and executed three neighborhood tours in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). Joined by DC government officials, brokers, property owners, entrepreneurs and service providers, the WDCEP led these neighborhood tours to showcase retail and investment opportunities along the following major commercial corridors:

Rhode Island Avenue & New York Avenue:

• New York Avenue/Bladensburg Road • Rhode Island Avenue, NE • Brookland • North Capitol

• Brentwood • Woodridge • Union Market • Fort Lincoln / Dakota Crossing

Georgia Avenue:

• Shaw • Howard University • Park View • Petworth • Brightwood Park • Brightwood • Walter Reed

• Shepherd Park • Takoma • 16th Street Heights • Central 14th Street • Columbia Heights • 11th Street

Emerging Markets:

• Anacostia • Congress Heights • Deanwood • Fairlawn • Hillcrest

• Lincoln Heights• Minnesota & Benning • Pennsylvania Avenue • Saint Elizabeths

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saInT elIzabeThs aCademIC & researCh anChors TourAs a prelude to the District government’s Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for an academic anchor at the St. Elizabeths East Innovation Hub event, the WDCEP organized a bus tour for potential respondents. The tour featured updates on the economic development occurring in the neighborhoods adjacent to Saint Elizabeths East and a tour of the Saint Elizabeths West Campus with an update from GSA on the status of the U.S. Coast Guard headquarters.

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Steve Boyle, Managing Director, EDENS, provides an update on Union Market

St. Elizabeths West Campus tour

regIonal, naTIonal, and InTernaTIonal promoTIon of The dC busIness opporTunITIesIn 2013, the WDCEP expanded the its business attraction efforts to include a proactive strategic communications strategy to promote the District as a prime location for business domestically, and internationally, through a variety of resources and marketing activities. As a result of the strategy, the WDCEP was able to successfully raise awareness of the District’s thriving economy and business opportunities in major national publications, including Bloomberg, Engineering News Record, Forbes, Foreign Direct Investment, Globe Street, National Real Estate Investor, Progressive Grocer, Shopping Centers Business, and more.

soCIal medIaThe WDCEP complimented its strategic communications strategy with targeted social media campaigns throughout FY13. A weekly Twitter campaign focusing on 50 neighborhoods helped to increase followers by 57% to 1,068. WDCEP’s 6,622 video views via YouTube resulted in 300 hours of users learning about the economic development opportunities in DC and more than 15,850 people reviewed presentations on how to do business in DC. WDCEP.com received more than 26,300 unique visitors and our Retail Site Search (wdceprss.dc.gov) and Development Search (search.wdcep.com) attracted another 4,600 unique visits.

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WdCep In The neWs

engage WITh The WdCep on

TWITTER SCRIBD LINKEDIN FLICKR

YOUTUBE FACEBOOK SLIDESHARE

BusinessDevelopmentDoing Business Guide / Educational Seminars

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dC doIng busIness guIdeThe DC Doing Business Guide provides step-by-step essentials for starting, expanding, or relocating your business in DC—including detailed information on business resources, regulations, and requirements. Now in its seventh edition, the Doing Business in DC guide is printed bi-annually, offered online, and distributed to DC’s business resource centers, business improvement districts, government agencies, nonprofits, and community development corporations.

In FY13, the WDCEP partnered with the DC Department of Small & Local Business Development to offer an e-pub version, available in the iBooks, Barnes & Noble (Nook), Amazon Kindle, and eBookPie stores. Released in December 2012, the e-pub was downloaded 385 times. The Doing Business in DC was also published in Spanish, courtesy of a partnership with the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, demonstrating the District’s commitment to inclusivity.

The WDCEP offers educational programming to foster growth, development, entrepreneurship and strategic relationship building among the city’s business community. We collaborate with the Government of the District of Columbia, community and workforce development organizations, local universities, and private entities to promote a business-friendly environment in the District. To help businesses grow and thrive here in our nation’s capital, we provide access to key resources and services, including economic incentives and programs; lease and site location assistance; workforce development assistance; statistics and demographics; and a network of partner organizations.

doIng busIness 2.0Doing Business 2.0 is the live version of the WDCEP’s DC Doing Business Guide. These essential entrepreneurial topics are brought to life through a monthly panel discussion focused on each of its thirteen chapters. Topics ranged from initial business start-up considerations to business financing. Entrepreneurs and business owners gained access to some of the city’s top thought leaders and have the opportunity to network with both panelists and other attendees. In WDCEP’s effort to attract, retain, and grown business in the District, this initiative is a critical educational tool and resource for all those doing business in the nation’s capital.

aCCeleraTe dC VenTure menTorIng serVICeIn 2013, the WDCEP launched a new business development initiative for the District’s technology community—the AccelerateDC Venture Mentoring Service. AccelerateDC was formed to support innovation and entrepreneurial activity throughout the District by connecting emerging entrepreneurs with experienced mentors. Building on the highly successful model of the MIT Venture Mentoring Service, Accelerate DC VMS uses a team-based approach to mentoring where entrepreneurs are paired with a team of 4-5 experienced mentors who offer a wealth of knowledge, entrepreneurial business experience, and extensive networks to young entrepreneurs.

DSLBD CBE presentation

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AccelerateDC launch event

Site LocationAssistanceRetail & Restaurants / Real Estate Facilitation

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The WDCEP works with a variety of businesses, from small businesses to large corporations, to help them find the ideal location to fit their business needs. The WDCEP informs businesses of available opportunities, provides data on demographics and business incentives, connects them to appropriate property representatives, and guides them through the processes of opening their business in the District.

busIness aTTraCTIon/reTenTIonThe WDCEP informs businesses, developers and investors of the opportunities in DC and its neighborhoods, connects them to appropriate government agencies, and helps to create partnership within the private sector.

WDCEP’s retail and office attraction initiatives have led to over 875,000 square feet of new deals and openings in FY 2013. These efforts have led to thousands of new jobs and millions of additional tax revenue for the District.

suCCess sTorIesIn FY 2013, 64 WDCEP-assisted businesses opened their doors. Below is a select list of retailers that either opened or announced expansion plans in the past year.

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DC’s first Costco opened in November 2012

Tools &ResourcesBusiness Tools / Research / Publications

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With so much information available today it can be hard to know where to start and what resources to use. The WDCEP is your “one-stop shop” for economic development data. Whether it is site location assistance, neighborhood demographics or development information, the WDCEP has it readily available. In order to distribute this information as widely as possible, the WDCEP uses GIS technology for “virtual tours,” offers an interactive website for site location assistance, produces business-friendly publications and posts events and educational seminars on WDCEP.com, its YouTube site (youtube.com/wdcep1495), and its Twitter account (@WDCEP).

publICaTIons

DC Development Report: 2012/2013 Edition

The DC Development Report is an annual publication that gives a comprehensive overview of development and construction activity in the District of Columbia. The DC Development Report has long been a tool used by public officials, developers, brokers and investors looking to inform their clients and constituents about the development occurring in the District. The DC Development Report: 2012/2013 Edition is a compilation of nearly 12 years of data collection on approximately $83.5 billion in development within the District. This year’s report summarized nearly 1,400 development projects in the District, detailed the development trends and highlighted the major projects in the office, retail, residential, hospitality and education markets, and revealed trends about the projects expected to deliver in 2013 and 2014. In addition, WDCEP partnered with CBRE to provide an economic and development overview of DC and in-depth analysis of the office, retail, and residential markets. The information found in the DC Development Report is the result of WDCEP’s annual development census which compiles research and data from more than 120 developers, architects, contractors and economic development organizations each year.

2013 Neighborhood Profiles

Finding information on DC’s neighborhoods is greatly simplified with the WDCEP’s Neighborhood Profiles book. This year’s publication provides snapshots for 50 DC neighborhoods (an increase from 37 in 2012), commercial corridors, and New Communities Initiatives. Each profile contains a brief description of the neighborhood, a local map, demographic information on area residents, photos and more. The 2013 Profiles were updated with the latest demographic information, updated Metrorail counts, area highlights, an overview section recapping DC’s population and retail market growth, as well as the Main Street programs and Great Streets Initiatives for retailers and small businesses. The WDCEP works with its local partners to make sure that each profile is up-to-date on the latest economic development news and developments.

deVelopmenT searChThe WDCEP tracks the more than $84 billion development dynamic that is shaping the District of Columbia. The WDCEP’s Development Search tool allows online users to search over 1,450 development projects that have been completed in the District since 2001, under construction or in the pipeline.

reTaIl sITe searCh In order to help national and local retailers and restaurants find space in DC, the WDCEP offers an online tool—the Retail Site Search. The interactive search allows retailers to query more than 430 retail opportunities by size, neighborhood, time frame and address or intersection. The information on each site includes the space available for lease, Metrorail and traffic counts, neighborhood demographics, images of the space and leasing contacts. The tool integrates technologies and data from Google Maps & Streetview, DCGIS, OCTO and the WDCEP. Beyond the retail site information a user can also learn what the zoning is around a site or determine the size of an adjacent parcel using the map layers function. The tool can be accessed from the WDCEP’s website, www.wdcep.com.

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ProgramsAnnual Meeting & Development Showcase /Internship Program

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annual meeTIng & deVelopmenT shoWCaseSince 2001, the WDCEP’s Annual Meeting & Development Showcase (AMDS) has been the premier gathering of DC’s top business and community leaders to celebrate the District’s vibrant economy. The half-day program began with the Development Showcase, the largest event of its kind, featuring over 50 exhibitors representing almost every major commercial, retail, and housing development in the District. The Development Showcase was followed by the Annual Meeting which attracted over 600 attendees, featuring DC’s top business leaders, entrepreneurs, real estate professionals and local government officials

The WDCEP’s Annual Meeting featured a great lineup of speakers, including opening remarks by Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Councilmember Muriel Bowser, Councilmember Jack Evans, and the keynote address provided by the noted economic forecaster and head of the Kiplinger Publishing Foundation, Knight Kiplinger.

The WDCEP presented an Economic Development Leader award to the Honorable Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for her outstanding commitment to business and economic development in the District. The award was presented to the Congresswoman by Donna Woodall, Microsoft’s Northeast Citizenship & Public Affairs Director.

Provident-Howard University was presented with the second annual Michael V. Hodge Revenue Bond Deal of the Year Award. The award was presented by Gregory Johnson of the DC Revenue Bond Program.

InTernshIp programThe WDCEP understands the importance of mentorship and fellowship for the District’s developing workforce. We offer internship opportunities for students located in our city. Eleven students interned in the WDCEP office this year, providing research, business development, location mapping, event planning, and programming support. We believe that the future of the District’s economic resurgence is impacted by the experience and opportunities of its youth.

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About WDCEPStaff / Board of Directors / Financials

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With a full-time staff of eight people, the WDCEP relies on its board, sponsors and community partners to help fulfill its mission.

board members (fY 2013)

sTaff

Keith SellarsPresident & CEO

Chad ShuskeySenior Vice PresidentResearch & Visual Communications

Tiffany ThackerDirector, Business Attractions & Marketing

Daour DiawaraManager, Business Development

Anna Lee NeyOperations Manager

Galen LawsonGraphic Designer

Matthew KruczlnickiResearch Analyst

Rachel PlourdeAdministrative Associate

Victor Hoskins / CO-ChairDeputy MayorOffice of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development

Richard Lake / CO-ChairManaging PrincipalRoadside Development

Olivia Shay-Byrne / ViCe ChairPartnerReed Smith, LLP

Jennifer Eugene / SeCretarYManager, Engineered SalesWashington Gas

Keith Sellars / PresidentPresident & CEOWashington, DC Economic Partnership

Jenifer Huestis Boss / DMPED RePresentativeInterim Director of Business DevelopmentOffice of Planning & Economic Development

Joseph AskewVice President, Government RelationsVerizon

Steven C. BoyleManaging DirectorEDENS

Jean-Luc BramiVice PresidentGelberg Signs

Kenneth BrewerExecutive DirectorH Street CDC

Donna M. CooperPresident, Pepco RegionPepco

Grant M. EhatPrincipalJBG Rosenfeld Retail

Angela FrancoPresident & CEOGreater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Brett GreenePresident and CEOAmerican Management Corporation

Carl HairstonRegional ManagerBusiness & Professional Banking Group, M&T Bank

Stan JacksonPresident & CEOAnacostia Economic Development Corporation

Ernest Drew JarvisSenior Vice PresidentFirst Potomac Realty Trust, DC Building Industry Association

Norman JemalVice PresidentDouglas Development Corporation

Greg LeischFounder & Chief ExecutiveDelta Associates

Nicholas A. MajettDirectorDepartment of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs

Chris NiehausDirectorU.S. Office of Civic Innovation, Microsoft

Tom NidaRegional PresidentUnited Bank

Scott NordheimerSenior AdvisorUrban Atlantic

Gregory O’DellPresident and CEOEvents DC

Phillip QuintanaSenior Vice PresidentMid-Atlantic Middle Market Banking, Capital One

Marc RatnerChief Executive OfficerStreetsense

Eric E. RichardsonAgency DirectorDC Office of Cable Television & Telecommunications

Tara ScanlonPartnerHolland & Knight

Michael StevensPresidentCapitol Riverfront BID

Robert SummersDirectorDepartment of Small & Local Business Development

Adam VolanthPrincipal – Mid-AtlanticBohler Engineering

Mitch WeintraubPartnerCordia Partners

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FinancialsYear ended 09/30/12 (audITed)

Assets Cash $525,461 Other Assets $104,157Total Assets $629,618

Liabilities & Net Assets   Liabilities $272,464 Net Assets $357,154Total Liabilities & Net Assets $629,618

Total Revenue $2,705,193Total Expenses $2,549,673

Change in Net Assets $155,520

Year ended 09/30/13 (unaudITed)

Assets

Cash $299,429

Other Assets $242,311

Total Assets $541,740

Liabilities & Net Assets  

Liabilities $328,248

Net Assets $213,492

Total Liabilities & Net Assets $541,740

Total Revenue $1,997,162

Total Expenses $2,097,074

Change in Net Assets ($99,912)

* Complete financial statements are available at the WDCEP.

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We are a non-profit, public/private partnership whose mission is to facilitate economic development through business retention and attraction activities. Through our network of partners we promote, inform and sell DC as a place for business. Entrepreneurs and artists, along with budding technology gurus and non-profit visionaries, all come to us for guidance and assistance in mapping out their strategies for success. Whether you plan to start a District-based business, make your existing business more competitive, wish to connect to development and retail opportunities, or simply want to use our research to make better-informed decisions, think of the WDCEP as your economic development resource.

1495 F Street, NWWashington, DC 20004202.661.8670www.wdcep.com