Quick Facts:
1) Loudoun County ranks 5th in job growth from 2000 to 2006 according to Money Magazine.
2) Over 11 million square feet of commercial space has been permitted in the last three years.
3) In May 2007, Loudoun County's unemployment rate was 2 percent, tying Fairfax for the second lowest unemployment rate in Virginia.
4) While residential values decreased 7 percent on average in 2006, commercial values increased 17.9 percent.
5) According to the County's 2006 Annual Growth Summary, "The nonresidential vacancy rate continued its downward trend, dropping to 12.7 percent from 13.1 percent in 2005 while new product continues to be added."
6) The business license tax, which is levied on gross receipts, rose from $10.3 million in 2000 to over $24 million in 2007. Business tangible levies rose from $19 million in 2000 to over $27 million in 2006.
Conclusion: Loudoun County has a healthy, growing commercial tax base.

Other candidates are making lofty promises about increasing the commercial tax base, but they have no record doing the job and give no details on how they would attract new businesses. Supervisor Lori Waters has a strong record on economic development. Lori has worked to overcome negative perceptions that Loudoun is closed for business. She has worked with the economic development staff to sell Loudoun as a great business location, especially in the bio-tech, defense contracting, international, and small business sectors. According to the County's 2005 Annual Growth Summary, "Loudoun County is also projected to lead all Northern Virginia counties in employment growth for each of the decades between 2000 and 2030." After two and a half years of dealing with residential-related land use issues, Lori believes that the Board of Supervisors should focus even more on pro-business efforts to ensure those projections become a reality - so that businesses will come, grow, stay, and pay taxes.

As chair of the Economic Development Committee, Lori has worked with numerous businesses to assist them in their location and expansion decisions. What do these companies have in common? Equinox, Orbital, Airbus, Wavelight, Amazon.com, Salamander Hospitality, Lockheed Martin, MCDean, and Verizon. All these companies have either located their business or expanded their business in Loudoun County – and they pay taxes. There are also other household name companies that can’t be named for security reasons. One of these users will be bringing hundreds of jobs to a new 450,000 square foot facility. During a meeting several months ago with a prospective business, the business leader said that he thought that Loudoun would be the right image for his company. Lori just recently spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony and welcomed this business to a new location in Loudoun County.

One of Lori’s first economic development initiatives was to develop a modified process in which qualifying companies could obtain county administrative approvals and permits on a shortened timeframe. While some localities immediately offer financial incentives to attract new businesses, Loudoun does not. With businesses looking for certainty in the development process, the county can use non-financial incentives, such as a modified process, to woo new businesses and remain competitive. In 2006, there were 6 modified process projects, including the above unnamed user, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Everspring Import, and Kamino International Transportation. This modified process works: it provides greater predictability, a dedicated project team, and more efficient processing of administrative applications and permits. Lori recently said, "In the past, when someone said 'Hi, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you,' the business person was skeptical and sometimes fearful. Now more businesses are able to have a 'good government experience' and know that Loudoun County government is an asset and resource rather than an obstacle."

With 83 percent of county businesses having under 20 employees, Lori has worked with commercial developers to help ready space for small businesses. By assisting companies like Merritt Properties through the county’s administrative approval processes, more small businesses have opportunities to grow. Within the year, Merritt Properties will have 1 million square feet of small business space in the county. While residential building is slowing, the commercial market remains strong, and office vacancy rates are at their lowest in years. Bringing more jobs to Loudoun not only provides relief to the residential tax burden, but it also means more opportunities for current residents to work closer to home. In 1999, there were less than 73,000 jobs in the county. Today, there are over 147,000 jobs, and during 2004 and 2005, over 1,000 additional businesses opened their doors in Loudoun County. And with the right leadership, the future also looks bright.

With Dulles Airport expanding, Lori has been a leader in developing the County’s international business strategy. Lori sponsored a Board resolution to promote United Airlines’ bid for a Beijing route, which they won. Under her tenure, the county’s business marketing efforts have expanded into German and French-speaking nations. Dozens of international companies have offices in the County and more are looking. The county’s strategy also helps Loudoun companies expand into international markets. Lori also joined with Chairman York to develop a Sister-County Partnership with Main Taunus Kreis, Germany to promote business, student, and cultural exchanges.

Lori has led county and regional efforts to expand broadband. She has pushed a county-wide broadband initiative since taking office. In 2006, Lori chaired a regional Broadband Task Force for the Council of Governments. Just recently, she chaired a broadband roundtable to identify ways to bring more fiber and wireless options to the entire county. With broadband, more employees can telework - taking cars off congested roads.

Lori was also a leader in developing the Zoning Ordinance Review Committee (ZORC) to review the zoning ordinance to clean-up errors, bring clarity and objectivity, and identify zoning hurdles that make Loudoun less competitive in business location decisions. ZORC has completed its work, and Lori is championing their report for immediate Board action. The next worksession is scheduled for Sept. 12th!

Just the Facts Ma'am: Economic Development
For a quick primer on Supervisor Waters' record on economic development, here is a one page fact sheet.

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