News/Resources
02/22/2012: Washington Post: Steven Knapp - Let's make DC into a high-tech hub
In most countries, the capital city is a center of commerce as well as the seat of government. Until recently, that was not true in the United States. Washington was viewed narrowly as a center of politics and power. That image is now changing, as more corporations move their headquarters here. But the change will have to accelerate if the District and the Washington region are to thrive in an era of government cutbacks.
Lean years are ahead for the federal government. Last summer’s debt-ceiling agreement alone will mean belt-tightening by the billions, amounting to between $1 trillion and $2 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years. The pinch will be felt broadly but will be particularly acute here, where the federal government, our largest employer, factors so prominently into day-to-day business.
There is a critical need, then, for the metropolitan area to reduce its dependence on federal spending, and that means diversifying our economy. The quickest way to do so is to invest in science and technology, and indeed to build the D.C. area into a high-tech center of discovery and innovation.
The good news is that many of the necessary elements are already in place. The region boasts a highly educated workforce — in fact, the highest among large U.S. metropolitan areas, with more than 45 percent of its people holding at least a bachelor’s degree. The Washington region is flush with universities, and it is universities that stimulate the growth of technology hubs, from Silicon Valley to its new hopeful rival in New York City. The 14 members of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area infuse the area with more than 150,000 students. They employ a legion of faculty members offering licensable ideas and technical expertise on everything under — and including — the sun.
At my university, there is renewed commitment to science and engineering, embodied in a half-million-square-foot facility under construction in Foggy Bottom and an ongoing build-out of our 100-acre science and technology campus in Ashburn. That is not to say that we are abandoning our work in policy, law and business. On the contrary — we recognize that credibility in the worlds of policy and commerce increasingly depends on credibility in science and technology.
In short, the intellectual capital is here, and is growing. But what about the technology companies themselves? Efforts to incubate and retain local start-ups and attract businesses are starting to bear fruit. Successes include the D.C.-based deal site LivingSocial [whose chief executive Tim O’Shaughnessy is son-in-law of Washington Post Co. chairman Donald E. Graham], and more are sure to follow, thanks to initiatives like the $450-million Revolution Growth Fund launched last year by investors Ted Leonsis, Steve Case and Donn Davis.
Last month, D.C. announced a partnership with Microsoft, and the city hopes to include the firm in plans for a new technology hub east of the Anacostia River.
Earlier this month, Mayor Vincent C. Gray emphasized the importance of technology firms in his State of the District address. Universities stand ready to support the District’s efforts .
Now is the time for our universities and local and regional governments to work together on finding ways to make this capital region the nation’s newest technology hub.
Steven Knapp is president of George Washington University.
02/06/2012: City Releases Results of School Quality Study
Read the recent Illinois Facilities Fund study prepared for the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education. The report addresses school quality across the city and identifies the ten key D.C. neighborhoods where there is an urgent need for high-quality educational options. Click on title above to download full document.
10/18/2011: CEO John Hill Announces Plans to Step Down in 2012
At the Federal City Council’s annual meeting in October, CEO John Hill informed members that he will not seek renewal of his employment contract when it expires at the end of August 2012. Citing his commitment to the city and the work of the Federal City Council, Mr. Hill also discussed his desire to seek out “one more significant career challenge”.
The timing of his announcement will provide the Federal City Council leadership sufficient time to map out a transition, recruit candidates for the position, and hire a new CEO by next August. Meanwhile, Mr. Hill said that the work of the organization would continue to move forward aggressively in the coming months. Click here to read the Washington Post article on Mr. Hill’s announcement. Premium subscribers to the Washington Business Journal can read its coverage here.
08/11/2011: Washington Post Column: Federal City Council Aligned with Local Officials on Priorities
Washington Post reporter Mike Debonis discusses the Federal City Council’s shift from bricks-and-mortar projects to areas of potential partnership with the city’s elected leadership. Click here to read the article.
05/17/2011: Federal City Council Takes on Longstanding D.C. Challenges
The Federal City Council released its new strategic plan, which focuses heavily on key challenges facing the city and its elected leaders. Reducing unemployment through job creation and job readiness training leads the agenda, reflecting a growing disconnect between the city’s expanding job sectors and the skills of many unemployed residents. In addition to reducing unemployment, the Federal City Council has affirmed its commitment to maintaining a fiscally healthy city, improving transportation and infrastructure, and continuing the improvements to the public school system. Click here to read an executive summary of the Federal City Council’s strategic plan. Members can click here to contact Jon Fernandez, Managing Director, for the full report.