News & Blog

Building Greater Washington’s Future—Together

Across the region, leaders are asking: what will it take to make Greater Washington a globally competitive, inclusive, and future-ready economy? One thing is clear—no single organization or jurisdiction can answer that question alone. Our region’s success depends on deep collaboration, clear vision, and bold, long-term strategy.

That’s the driving force behind the reimagined Potomac Conference—not just a one-day convening, but a year-round initiative led by the Board of Trade in partnership with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, and the Greater Washington Partnership. Together, we’re aligning efforts across sectors to activate the region’s full economic potential.

Over the past several months, that work has accelerated. Through roundtables, executive lunches, one-on-one conversations, and formal convenings, we’ve engaged regional chambers, economic development leaders, nonprofits, academic institutions, and business executives to surface shared priorities and begin building a more unified path forward. Across all of these forums, one message is clear: Greater Washington’s future depends on a stronger collective voice and coordinated action.

At our Spring Board Meeting, members took part in a facilitated exercise—Mapping Greater Washington’s Economic Future—to explore where the region might be by 2035 and what decisions today could help us get there. The discussion underscored both the urgency and opportunity of the moment. Themes like the need for deeper regionalism, bold long-term bets, and business-led action were echoed in other forums as well.

In April, we met with regional chamber executives for a frank dialogue on economic pressures and policy uncertainty. Despite differing local contexts, there was unanimous agreement that collaboration is essential. The group is now drafting a joint letter to the Governors of Maryland and Virginia and the Mayor of D.C. to reinforce a united regional business agenda.

Economic development leaders (CEDO) are also shaping the strategy from the ground up. With deep jurisdiction-level knowledge, they’ve helped identify three region-wide priorities: attracting growth-stage capital, aligning industry cluster strategies, and strengthening education-to-workforce pipelines. Their next working session will begin turning those ideas into actionable plans.

At the same time, the Board of Trade continues to serve as a strong advocacy voice for the region’s business community. Whether it’s advancing workforce and mobility solutions, supporting local fiscal authority, or pushing back on federal overreach, we’re engaging where it counts—testifying before the D.C. Council, submitting letters to Congress, meeting with elected officials, and mobilizing member input to shape smart, business-forward policy. This unique capacity—to both convene and advocate—allows us to translate insight into action and ensure the voice of regional business is heard and heeded.

Together, these efforts are informing the long-term vision of the Potomac Conference and helping to establish the building blocks of a more competitive, resilient region.

This is the work of regionalism—not flashy, but foundational. It’s technical, behind the scenes, and at times slow. But it’s also powerful. Because when we align our voices, share data, and commit to a common direction, we unlock what’s possible for Greater Washington. We look forward to continuing this work—with you.