BUSINESS
Bowser, Hogan and Northam Talk to Business Leaders about COVID-19 James Wright WI Staff Writer D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam addressed a gathering of business owners and executives on Sept. 9 about the Washington, D.C. region’s economy and how it has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The trio of jurisdictional leaders served as the featured guests of the 2021 Capital Region Business Forum held at the Hilton Washington, DC National Mall The Wharf in Southwest. The Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored the event. “This is probably one of the most important conversations we have ever had in this region,” said Rose Allen Herring, president and CEO of the United Way National Capi-
tal Area and the 2021 chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. “Where else can you get the mayor and the governors at the same time?” The three leaders shared their insights as the region slowly recovers from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Roughly defined, the Washington, D.C. region consists of the District; Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland; and in Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and the counties of Prince Williams and Loudoun. POLICOM, an independent economic research firm based in Palm City, Fla., identified the Washington, D.C. metro area as having the strongest economy in the U.S. in 2015. Fifteen Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in the Washington region along with 400 international associations and 1,000 internationally-owned companies, according to data from the office of the D.C. deputy mayor for planning and economic development.
BOWSER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE
Bowser told the business leaders that the District is “open for business.” “It’s time for us to get back to work,” the mayor said. “We’ve stuck together and made tremendous sacrifices during the COVID period. We will be stronger coming out of the pandemic.” Bowser highlighted several initiatives developed to assist struggling businesses including the $100 million Bridge Fund established last year. When the new city budget takes effect on Oct. 1, it will provide money for rent relief and other financial offerings. The mayor said infrastructure jobs will be key for Washingtonians and noted the completion of the new $440 million Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge as an example of the city’s willingness to repair its roadways and bridges. Bowser said the Washington re-
5 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan at the 2021 Capital Region Business Forum. (James Wright/The Washington Informer)
gion’s Metro system will need more federal money, reiterating how this and similar requests would have a better chance of being approved with D.C. finally being granted statehood. “We will be able to get the funding we need for Metro if the Washington, D.C. area had six senators on Capitol Hill instead of four,” she said.
HOGAN LIKES HIS STATE’S COVID METRICS
The governor said business leaders should be pleased with Maryland’s coronavirus metrics.
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