Taxes, housing and pedestrian safety were among the issues that County Board candidates debated in their first debate of the general election season.
“We are in a fiscal challenge,” said County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti, a Democrat who is being challenged by independents Audrey Clement and David Sisson. The three took part in a candidate forum sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation yesterday (Tuesday).
Removing overly burdensome business regulations was one theme of a recent gathering of Northern Virginia leaders.
“We need to not get in the way,” County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said at the 11th annual Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit.
Arlington’s commercial real estate market has many challenges, but one factor working in its favor may be D.C.’s tax code.
Taxes across the Potomac have come into the crosshairs of Republican lawmakers since a wave of progressive politicians swept the Democratic primaries in D.C.
A government contractor has graduated from a coworking space in Ballston to its own office down the street.
Cynnovative, a former tenant of the Industrious at 4075 Wilson Blvd, has moved two blocks away into a “fully furnished, turnkey office space” at 3865 Wilson Blvd, according to a press release.
The recent closure of Ayers Variety & Hardware was a stark reminder that nothing is forever, even businesses that have built generational relationships with customers.
The shuttering of the store that served Westover for nearly 80 years is also an indication of how challenging current times are for many of Arlington’s other small businesses, community leaders say.
Despite economic challenges, Arlington’s new director of economic development believes the county is poised to enter a positive era.
“We are in a transformational moment,” Anna Nissinen said during the July 14 meeting of the Economic Development Commission.
The incumbent County Board chair and four candidates seeking to oust him each say the county government needs less bureaucracy and more creativity in supporting the business and development communities.
“Our processes are not efficient enough,” Board Chair Matt de Ferranti acknowledged at a June 23 candidate forum sponsored by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
Recent trends in Arlington’s hotel-occupancy and room rates are pointing modestly upward after a downturn in 2025.
For the first four months of 2026, the county’s hotel-occupancy rate was up 2% year-over-year, while the revenue per available room was up nearly 6%, according to new data.
County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti used his annual “State of the County” remarks to argue that Arlington is taking the right steps to address major economic challenges.
He pointed to the recent reaffirmation of Arlington’s Triple-A bond ratings as proof that “the state of Arlington remains strong.”
New county grants worth $80,000 seek to support renewed vibrancy in the Green Valley neighborhood — although leaders acknowledge the funding may not go very far.
The funds, which will be split among four organizations, will “jump-start some neighborhood activity that would bring neighbors together, create an environment of civic engagement and civic exchange,” Board member Takis Karantonis said.
A new accelerator for startups promoting peace is launching in National Landing, helping founders raise capital and gain traction in the shadow of the Pentagon.
While the United States, Israel and Iran forge ahead with a two-week ceasefire after weeks of airstrikes and talk of dramatic escalation, the PeaceTech Accelerator — a 12-week program for organizations building software and AI that focuses on peacemaking — is still seeking applications as it plans to launch next month.
A newly released audit calls for stricter controls to ensure that developers provide the community benefits that they promise county leaders.
The report, detailed at a March 23 meeting of the county’s Audit Committee, found a lack of “formal policies and procedures” within the county government to track benefits proposed by developers in exchange for zoning changes.
