Across the Board

Our biweekly Across the Board newsletter keeps you informed of Board of Trade activities. Members and non-members can subscribe.

March 1, 2006

Region’s Leaders Resolve to Work Together To Address Regional Growth. Last week, 135 business, nonprofit, and government execs put their collective expertise to work on the tough question of how best to plan for two million more people expected to come to the region in the next 25 years. At the Potomac Conference’s Winter 2006 meeting, area leaders agreed to encourage a strategic plan for regional growth that would benefit the entire community. Next steps: The Board of Trade, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and The Community Foundation will review and vote on next steps at their respective Board meetings in March…stay tuned! Read More Thanks to Winter Meeting Sponsors  View photos

An Historic Perspective: New Video Tracing Region’s Development Now Online. Debuted at the Potomac Conference, a new video traces the history of Greater Washington’s development and inspires viewers to think strategically about how this region should plan for future growth. Produced by the Board of Trade, the four-minute video was narrated by Ray Suarez of PBS’s The Newshour with Jim Lehrer. Watch video Request a DVD copy

Interested in Government Contracting? Consider Attending GWI Seminar at FOSE. Next week, the Board’s economic development affiliate, the Greater Washington Initiative (GWI) will host 15 educational sessions at FOSE at the Washington Convention Center.  FOSE is the largest annual trade show connecting the IT industry with federal government IT buyers.  A record 35 U.K. tech firms will attend the show as guests of GWI.  The Board will also present a “Getting on GSA’s IT Schedule (70)” session on March 10 for FOSE attendees and members.  Register for FOSE  Register for GWI’s sessions at FOSE Register for GSA IT Schedule (70) Session.

VA Leaders Make Demand for Minimum of $1 Billion in Transportation Funding. Last week, the Board of Trade joined business leaders representing all parts of Virginia to ask legislators in Richmond for increased transportation funding. Reps from more than 30 local and regional chambers also released a $27 billion list of the top 2 or 3 unfunded transportation projects across the state. Read more   In addition, yesterday, the Board sent a letter to the entire Virginia General Assembly laying out the needs for new transportation funds. Read letter  

And Other Advocacy Matters: Board Continues Active Engagement in MD, VA, DC. With Maryland and Virginia legislatures still in session, and DC Council’s upcoming votes (again) on baseball and other key legislation, the Board’s advocacy team is staying busy. Read the latest news in Advocacy Matters. Or, read official testimony and correspondence online in the advocacy archives.

A Warm Welcome to New Members. Take time to check out this list of new members, and consider doing business with these diverse firms!  Reminder: Each month, new members are added to the Board of Trade’s Digital Directory so if you haven’t got it on your desktop, it’s never too late to load it! Request the directory.

Dinner - Tomorrow Night? The Board’s 87^th Annual Mid-Winter Dinner will draw another sell-out crowd of more than 1100 at the Hilton Washington on Thursday evening. Special thanks to our generous sponsors and to all of you who plan to join us. For a preview of upcoming events or to register, visit www.bot.org.

Other News