Fiscal Year 2004 Proposed Budget

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT BUDGET SUMMARY

MISSION STATEMENT: To accelerate the Arlington economy to add wealth, employment and quality to the community.

FY 2004 PRIORITIES:The FY 2004 priorities of the Department of Economic Development are defined by the Economic Development Strategic Plan. The Department will:

• Position Arlington as a regional, national and international world class business and visitor location, and execute meaningful marketing activities.

• Create leading edge urban districts with ample private investment opportunities.

• Coordinate and provide support/resources to new and existing businesses.

• Develop private sector partnerships at all levels to maximize marketing efforts.

• Undertake specific projects as outlined in the County Management Plan which include the Columbia Pike Initiative, the Conference Center, Courthouse Plaza, Shop Arlington, Rosslyn BID, Small Business Task Force and the Nauck/Four Mile Run/Shirlington .

PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS: The principal Business Units within the Department of Economic Development are:

• Director's Office: The Director's Office provides leadership, management, policy guidance, coordination and administrative support to the Department in the context of County-wide initiatives. The overall responsibility of the Director's Office is to maximize the benefit of the Department's human, financial, and technological resources in the areas of performance measurement, program integration, and support systems planning.

• Business Investment Group: This unit is responsible for producing measurable outcomes that result in increased employment and office space occupancy; expansion and diversification of the taxable County revenue base; and assisting Arlington businesses in accessing workforce development resources. Each of these is fundamental to improving the overall quality of life in the Arlington community. The priorities of the Business Investment Group are: (1) to market Arlington effectively in an overall weaker market; (2) to continue the domestic marketing program; (3) to increase focus on the international market building on opportunities presented by the formation of the World Cities Alliance; and (4) to integrate marketing messages and strategies with tourism and development programs. The principal programs of the Business Investment Group are to:
  
  • Retain businesses already in Arlington and aid in their expansion, thereby enhancing both job opportunities and a sense of corporate ownership in the community.
  • Recruit businesses currently located outside Arlington to expand, consolidate or relocate operations, thereby promoting new investment, job growth, an expanded taxable base, and a more prominent image of the community as a corporate location.
  • Provide the necessary supportive business climate for all businesses by maintaining competitive and reasonable tax and regulatory structures and fostering a productive dialogue between public officials and business interests on issues of mutual interest.
  • Facilitate the creation of new businesses and the development and application of new technology by fostering entrepreneurship, promoting interaction between companies with complementary or shared expertise, and facilitating access to capital resources.

• Real Estate Development Group: This unit acts as a catalyst between the private and public sector to fulfill the economic and physical development potential of Arlington and to enhance the economic potential of the County. The unit furthers the Arlington Vision by concentrating on the objectives of helping to create dynamic, functional "urban cores" and to facilitate development of the County's economic and financial base. Principle programs of the unit are:
  
  • Facilitating the development of real estate and public infrastructure to support the economic development goals of providing Arlington with a balanced economy, on-going opportunities for local service oriented businesses and sectors, and appropriate balance between residential and commercial development.
  • Creating a framework of tools and mechanisms to realize community goals within a market driven economy.
  • Structuring the timing and placement of infrastructure and public-private partnerships for signature projects.
  • Supporting targeted economic sectors to ensure viability and growth.
  • Facilitating relevant private development processes and projects as needed.

• Arlington Convention and Visitors Services: This unit develops and markets Arlington as a world-class business and tourist/visitor destination, producing new tourist and visitor business that results in measurable increases in employment opportunities and expansion of the taxable revenue base. Details regarding this unit can be found in Section O (Enterprise, Special Revenue and Internal Service Funds Section) of the FY 2004 Proposed Budget.

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CHANGES: The FY 2004 proposed budget for the Department of Economic Development is $2,545,846, an increase of $77,077.

• Increased personnel expenditures reflect normal salary increases and pay-above-entry ($51,455).

• Increased non-personnel expenditures reflect a net change due to a slight decrease in telephone maintenance and the restoration of the E*Trade Metro subsidy to the base.

• The FY 2003 Adopted and the FY 2004 Proposed Budgets reflect transferring the Housing Section ($606,808, 7.0 FTEs in FY 2003) from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Mission Outcome measures reflect DED's direct involvement in bringing new business and keeping or expanding business in Arlington