Kevin Chavous
A Mayor for every neighborhood
Economic Development
The District is constantly creating jobs, but most of the new jobs are not going to DC
residents. The District continues to have unacceptably high numbers of unemployed job
seekers — a large percentage being minority males — in a regional economy that
suffers from a labor shortage.
Kevin Chavous’ Proposals
The Chavous administration's response to this situation will be to:
- develop incentives to retain and attract employers in the federal government and the
tourism and the information technology industries, and
- work with employers to identify entry level jobs to be filled with DC job-seekers.
We will emphasize:
- skills training for those already employed. Programs like New York’s Metro Tech,
which connects employers, employees and job training for specific jobs, will be
established.
- working with the schools and the University of the District of Columbia to increase the
numbers of new job-seekers with the requisite technical preparation.
- economic policy reform to reduce the barriers and frustrations faced by new and
established businesses.
- facilitating competition by DC workers for available jobs in near-in suburbs, including
transportation, job fairs and other support services such as child care.
- working closely with unions and employers, to ensure both fair treatment of workers and
apprenticeship opportunities for new workers.
National Capital Revitalization Act of 1998
Kevin Chavous voted in favor of this legislation, because it brings together all
parties that must be included in the District’s revitalization efforts and provides
for the coordination of economic development activities. This legislation authorizes the
creation of a revitalization board that can raise funds by floating bonds, assemble land
and finance projects anywhere in the District.
Kevin Chavous will recruit a board of experienced, civic minded citizens who understand
finance and revitalization efforts and are committed to attracting people (i.e. taxpayers)
to move back into the District. A larger population will increase our tax base, assure
that bonds issued by the revitalization board will not leave the District in long-term
debt, and provide more customers for existing District businesses.
Retain, expand and attract businesses to the District of Columbia
The Kevin Chavous administration will revitalize neighborhood commercial corridors by
recruiting and retaining businesses desired by the neighborhood. Businesses succeed based
on their ability to sell merchandise at a price in excess of their expenses. The consumers
are here. The majority of District neighborhoods provide a stable and growing customer
base.
The District can assist in cost containment and ease of operation. The tools provided
by the National Revitalization Act and the Tax increment Financing Act will be critical to
this end. The Kevin Chavous administration will create a healthy, user-friendly
environment for businesses — both large and small.
Business operations overseen by the District — from planning to permitting —
must be automated and under one roof. Through proper implementation of regulatory reforms,
review of legislative, regulatory and tax burdens and frequent meetings with businesses
and their representatives as well as the communities they serve, we will create viable
commercial opportunities.
Comprehensive economic development
Kevin Chavous’ administration will aggressively:
- recruit hi-tech businesses to operate both downtown and in neighborhoods;
- recruit appropriate businesses for neighborhood corridors;
- use public funds to leverage private sector development;
- focus on capturing more of the tourism dollar
- use the tools available through the National Capital Revitalization Act and the Tax
Increment Financing Authorization Act to encourage firms to locate in the city and
- develop on-the-job training for our citizens.
Commercial development near residential Washington will be the number one priority.
Citizens moving from the District complain of the lack of reasonable neighborhood shopping
for good and services. Within the first 100 days of taking office, I will identify five
prime sites for neighborhood development. Public money must be used to stimulate business
across the District, not just downtown.
I also will propose that $10 million of Community Development Block Grant money be set
aside for low interest home improvement loans.
Small business development
In the past, small businesses have suffered greatly in the District’s cumbersome
regulatory environment. Mayor Kevin Chavous will implement the recently enacted regulatory
reforms and develop the “one-stop shop” business center. Kevin Chavous will
ensure that CDCs explain the opportunities provided by the National Capital Revitalization
Act and the Tax Increment Financing Authorization Act to their small businesses clients.
Oppose D.C. Convention Center at the Mount Vernon
Kevin Chavous voted against the proposed Convention Center at the Mount Vernon Square
site. Kevin Chavous supports a new convention center of a size adequate to attract large
conventions; however, spending close to a billion dollars on a building that will be
obsolete in ten years is not a good investment of public economic development monies. The
city has not considered attractive alternative sites which could be a centerpiece for
major economic development.
Promote tourism
The District is a national attraction. To capture more of the tourist dollar, we must
become a destination — a place where tourists spend the night and use District
commercial services, both downtown and in the neighborhoods. The Kevin Chavous
administration will present and maintain the District as a safe, clean, exciting city and
ensure that the nation and the rest of the world has the complete story on the smooth
functioning of city services.
Partnerships between the education and business communities
The Kevin Chavous administration will develop strong partnerships between the education
and business communities. In other cities these partnerships have resulted in
adopt-a-school, mentorships, technology sharing and vocational educational programs to
teach students skills that are in demand in the workplace. Our students should be exposed
to training opportunities that enable them to pursue careers that exist in our area, not
just college preparation. There are some businesses and federal agencies that are
currently working in partnerships with District schools; we applaud their commitment.
Mayor Kevin Chavous will develop coordinated, formalized partnerships with businesses
so that our schools and university can better match instruction and counseling to
employment trends and can better develop an effective School-to-Career program.
Improve the District’s business climate
Kevin Chavous’ administration will create a streamlined, user-friendly regulatory
and tax environment. Business operations overseen by the District — from planning to
permitting — must be automated and under one roof. Through regulatory reforms, review
of legislative, regulatory and tax burdens and frequent meetings with businesses and their
representatives as well as the communities they serve, we will support viable commercial
opportunities.
Worker’s compensation and unemployment benefits
As Mayor, Kevin Chavous will examine the operation of the District’s program to
assure that it is operating in a cost-efficient manner. Savings generated through
reductions in operating costs could then be directed to reducing employer payments and/or
to increasing the level of benefits to those injured. |
