Alex Forward 2026 Quarter 2 Update

 

ALX Forward 2026 Q2 Update

In 2026 Q2, three working groups reported progress and provided a 6-month lookahead on current initiatives that align with ALX Forward catalyst initiatives.

Featured Metrics

• Projects entitled (gsf): 1.5 million (950 units) in 2026 Q2 
• Sails on the Potomac 3-day Festival Attendance: ~50,000 
• Visit ALX “Unlock Your Story” campaign: 46 million impressions from advertising since February launch 
   

2026 Q2 Highlights

• City Council approved Potomac River Generating Station TIF in Old Town North 
• 5001 Eisenhower (Old Victory Center office conversion to affordable housing) was selected as a winner in Virginia Business’ 2026 Virginia Top Projects & Real Estate Deals. 
• Topping out of the New Inova Alexandria Campus at former Landmark Mall Site at West End. 
• Groundbreaking of first vertical developments at former Landmark Mall Site at West End.   
• Market Square Plaza surface demolition began as a part of City Hall complex renovation in Old Town. 
• City hosted America 250 events including Sail Virginia event in June. 
• City organized various events while hosting Croatia for FIFA World Cup 
• Grand opening of first of its kind new ADA-compliant kayak launch in the DC area at Four Mile Run Park (3700 Commonwealth Ave.) in May. 
• As a part of the Duke Street Land Use Plan process, the City launched the Business Passport Program to support Duke Street businesses. 
• City launched “Arts in ALX” newsletter about events, opportunities and work of local artists and arts organizations. 
• City invited artists to apply for its first Mural Art Roster to place artists with upcoming mural opportunities in the City. 
• Adoption of zoning amendment allowing indoor live entertainment as a by-right use, reducing regulatory review, which will benefit the arts district.  
• Council adopted over $700,000 in FY2027 budget related to various Place-Based Development initiatives to incentivize arts, entertainment and innovation uses, special events/public programming and associated communications, and King St 200 Block.  

6 Month Look Ahead Highlights

• New AEDP website launched with dedicated pages for Catalyst Sites. 
• AEDP to promote marketing material for catalyst sites to build on the launch of AEDP’s new website.  
• AEDP and P&Z are coordinating events highlighting citywide opportunities available to the business, brokerage and investment community: 
• Bisnow Alexandria State of the Market event in August. 
• Commercial Real Estate Development Association (CREDA) bus tour and economic development panel discussions in October. 
• AEDP to develop and market lease incentive program for entertainment/innovation uses (ALX FWD FY27 budget add). 
• West End Transitway buses to be procured. 
• Anticipate conclusion of Torpedo Factor Art Center operator solicitation process 
• Office of Arts will host “State of Arts” event at V. Tech in October this year. 
• National Innovation Quarter anticipates onboarding an Executive Director 
• P&Z working on zoning updates (i) lowering required parking to meet new state code requirements and (ii) by-right approval of affordable housing developments for faith communities and other non-profits. 
• Continued community engagement for Duke Street Land Use Plan to emphasize theme areas that include small business retention, mixed use commercial nodes with grocery and other retail. P&Z and AEDP continue to partner and implement small business engagement and the Passport Program initiative. Anticipated adoption of the plan in late 2026/early 2027.

Featured Metrics

• FY26 BRE successes: 645,297SF retained; 2750 jobs 
• FY26 BRE meetings: 74 
• FY26 small business consultations: 304 
• FY26 WDC in-person clients: 9,989 
• FY26 % of WDC program graduates moving into higher-wage/higher-skill roles: 72.4% 

2026 Q2 Highlights

• AEDP small business resources in Q2 included two trainings offered in Dari ("How to Start a Business"), a webinar held jointly with the SBA (“What SBA Lenders Actually Want to See in 2026”), and a digital tool to help Spanish-speaking cleaning professionals ("Guía de Comunicación para Limpieza").  
• Workforce Development Center (WDC) hosted a Youth Spring Job Fair on April 8th for ages 16–24, drawing 160 youth and over 15 employers. 
• AEDP and Virginia Tech received a 2026 Economic Development Award from Business Facilities Magazine for their collaborative initiative, Connecting Tech Talent, designed to bridge the gap between local business owners and graduate-level technology talent. 
• Summer Youth Employment Program launched June 22nd to serve 196 youth across 60 + employer partners, up from 174 youth served in FY25. 
• In response to regional federal workforce reductions, WDC has been actively serving displaced federal workers and contractors. 21 clients enrolled into the Workforce Innovation Training Program  (WIOA) this quarter.
• The Alexandria/Arlington Regional Workforce Council has made $60,000 in reimbursable training grants available to local small- and mid-sized businesses through October 1, 2026. 
• WDC hosted 3 Youth Transferable Skills Workshops this quarter.  During the sessions, youth learned how to practice turning the skills they have already developed into compelling resume statements and confident interview responses. 
• In May, the City launched the A.L.E.X. Advancing Leaders through Education & eXperience Pilot Summer Fellowship program to introduce Alexandria high school students to careers in local government while developing leadership skills, civic engagement, and future workforce pathways. Five students were selected for a one-week paid summer fellowship. 
• In response to anticipated changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), WDC and Volunteer Alexandria have established a targeted partnership in response to new federal work requirements to ensure individuals do not unintentionally lose access to SNAP or Medicaid. Volunteer Alexandria serves as a centralized platform for posting and tracking opportunities, while WDC connects residents to workforce development programs and supportive services that promote long-term economic mobility. 
• Council adopted $225,000 in FY2027 budget for ALX Open Rewards to encourage shoppers to spend locally and for an Investment Fund to support  business attraction, retention, and expansion in Alexandria for small businesses not meeting thresholds for state-supported incentives. 

6 month lookahead Highlights

• AEDP to convene BRE workshop with BAs and other partner organizations to develop Citywide approach to coordinate outreach, increase retention/expansion successes and develop new value-add service.  
• Develop ALX Forward BRE toolkit and publish start up guide on website. 
• Develop and socialize annual BRE strategy & joint visitation schedule leveraging partners and City departments. 
• Launch of AEDP’s new website (Fall 2026) to drive qualified leads and conversions in target industries. 
• AEDP to develop and market incentive program to attract and retain businesses in ALX (ALX FWD FY27 budget add). 
• AEDP and VALX will collaborate on strategies to boost sports and entertainment tourism in the City. 
• WDC is launching a formal SYEP Alumni Program to create a sustained pipeline for connection, career development, and civic engagement among programs  graduates, beginning with the development of a replicable alumni engagement framework and an inaugural launch. 
• WDC and Volunteer Alexandria will expand verified volunteer opportunities for SNAP-E&T participants, hold the first quarterly convening to assess. implementation, and ensure residents have documented engagement options ahead of Medicaid work requirements taking effect in December. 
• WDC and Edu Futuro are collaborating to launch an AI for Beginners program on July 8th designed to help residents understand and apply artificial intelligence tools in their daily lives. 
• Building on established relationships with apartment complexes, housing programs, and community-based organizations across Alexandria, WDC will formalize a neighborhood workforce development pop-up service model that brings employment and training resources directly to residents where they are. 
• 9th grade to Nova initiative between NVCC and ACPS to better align what's happening in the college and industry setting. Work on a fall launch.

Featured Metrics

• FY26 Small Business entrepreneur events: 29 events and approximately 350 attendees 

2026 Q2 Highlights

• Fedtech selected to lead Alexandria Accelerator “Accelerate ALX”, the City’s first official program to support high-growth entrepreneurs.   
• AEDP hosted “Network ALX” event during Business Appreciation Month (May) to foster new connections with startup/investor community 
• AEDP site visit to Curiosity Labs in Georgia (Q2) as a model for National IQ innovation lab in Alexandria.  
• AEDP partnered with ACHS to serve as judges for the Entrepreneurship class annual pitch competition.  
• WDC is partnered with Dar Al-Hijrah to launch the Empowered Women Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, a six-week program beginning April 6th designed to support individuals in starting and growing their own businesses. 
• Virginia Tech’s Master of Engineering students, in collaboration with the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, completed a capstone project to work with small business owners to develop and implement practical solutions to real world business challenges. 
• Leveraging Council’s adopted $200,000 FY2027 budget, AEDP won a $400,000 Go Virginia Grant for FY27 to support development of innovation lab in PY in partnership with Virginia Tech, with an additional $400,000 allocated for FY28 subject to local matching funds. 

6 month lookahead Highlights

• Graduation of first “Accelerator ALX” cohort. 
• City and V.Tech working on Smart Mobility Lab Hackathon for graduate level Computer Science students. 
• AEDP is working with MOVE Chamber of Commerce to launch a 6-week cohort Food & Beverage Business Readiness Program. 
• WDC, AEDP, and Georgetown University Pitch Coach Jim Lindsey have formalized an MOU agreement, with communications planning and cohort coordination currently underway to launch the Entrepreneurship Pitch Cohort this fall. It will serve Alexandria residents, including early-stage entrepreneurs, career changers exploring self-employment, women- and minority-owned business owners, immigrants, and individuals 50 and over who have been displaced from the workforce.