Our upcoming elections in Loudoun County are a tremendously important choice in community leadership to shape and cultivate a re-awakening of economic development and opportunity. It’s also a chance to reshape and adjust some of the intractability and resistance to coordinated, productive and transparent collaboration between and among the Board of Supervisors (BOS), Board of Education and the local business community.

One of the most persistent issues we face is the difficulty in attracting and retaining large commercial taxpayers – complete with local employment and economic trickle-down, community development and investment, and contribution to local market, transportation and educational amenities.

From one of the many “rampant-population-growth-without-corresponding-large-commercial-development” centers of the County, here in the Dulles District, we asked the Dulles BOS challengers:

“How can the Board of Supervisors help the local business community work together to attract and/or retain new commercial businesses?” Also, “What immediate or very tactical activities will you undertake or consider, if elected, with respect to improving Loudoun County’s economic development posture, outreach, activities or other initiatives – with the goal of dramatically improving the commercial investments and resultant tax base in the County?”

Read the responses from Republican challenger Matt Letourneau, and Democrat challenger Larry Roeder here at Gateway to Loudoun County …

Excerpt – Mr. Letourneau:

“Economic development is a major focus of my campaign for Dulles Supervisor. My experience at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business organization, has given me insight into what the business community needs to be successful in Loudoun. Right now, our county is far too reliant on residential property taxes, resulting in high taxes for homeowners. By bringing in businesses, we’ll create new revenue streams to help pay for needed infrastructure, and we’ll improve traffic by reducing commutes.

I believe that Loudoun County should create an Economic Development Authority (EDA), like Fairfax County did in 1976. We need a professional sales force that will sell Loudoun to the global business community. With a world class airport that has room to grow, excellent schools, and a highly educated workforce, we can be more successful in attracting businesses, but we must be much more aggressive and make it the next Board’s mission from day one. ”

(Advertisement) Need to get the word out, about your business or message in Loudoun County, Northern Virginia or DC? KME Internet Marketing offers the #1 Online Digital Interactive Marketing services and channels in Loudoun and Northern Virginia, including a Twitter network reach of over 50,000 followers, and access to the Dulles Corridor’s only Mobile Events Apps for iPhone and Android at GoFFX and Loudoun360…

Be sure to sign up early for this important local and regional DC-area BisNOW conference on October 25th 2011, at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport, regarding the “Future of Loudoun County” from the perspective of the most successful, influential and knowledgeable leaders in commercial real estate, business and the regional economy.

Spaces are going fast for this exclusive, engaging and extremely timely business information sharing and network event among the Dulles Regional area leaders, investors and business stakeholders!

The nation’s wealthiest county is also home to some exciting new mixed-use projects including Kincora, Arcola, and Dulles World Center. Loudoun is also the site of a growing number of data and technology center projects.  Come hear from the developers and executives leading the projects that are shaping the future of the county. What significant mixed-use projects are underway?  And when will they deliver? Is the data center growth trend likely to continue?  And what will that mean for the county? What impact will the metro have on Loudoun? What are the other key trends and obstacles that will affect Loudoun County over the next decade? Tuesday, October 25, 2011 Hilton Washington Dulles Airport 13869 Park Center Road, Herndon, VA 20171 Agenda 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast & Networking 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Mixed-Use Project Panel 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM Data Center & Technology Panel 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Post-Game Networking Or email advertising@bisnow.com Price $54 Space is limited   Scott York Chairman Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman York was elected as Chair in Nov. ‘99 and was re-elected in ‘03 and ‘07.  He currently serves on the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation/Land Use Committee and Finance, Government Services and Operations Committee.  He also represents the Board on the County’s Economic Development Commission, on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and on the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.   Jim Duszynski SVP Greenfield Partners Jim oversees Greenfield Partner’s assets in the DC market including Dulles World Center, a mixed-use community in the Route 28 corridor that will include 4.1M SF of office, retail, hotel and civic space and apartments.   Daniel Coughlan Principal Tritec Dan focuses on financing, leasing and asset management for Tritec including Kincora, a $2B mixed use project at the intersection of Rtes. 7 and 28, that Dan will include 4M SF of office, 1,400 residential units, and 475k SF of retail, plus a $25M, 5,500-seat baseball stadium for the Loudoun Hounds.   Peter Stevenson CEO Latysis Peter co-founded Latisys (formerly Managed Data Holdings) in 2007.  Latisys operates high-density Tier III data centers located in all four U.S. time zones, including a very recent expansion into a 123k SF data center campus in Ashburn.   Arthur Fuccillo EVP, Development and Construction Lerner Enterprises Since 1972 when Ted Lerner bought the property at Route 7 and Route 28, Lerner has been an integral part of Loudoun’s growth.  In the 1980s along with the Abramson Family, Lerner purchased what is now Vintage Park at Loudoun Gateway, Sterling Business Park, Highpoint Business Park, Beaumeade, The 1757 Golf Club Property, The residences at Roundhill and the 554 acre Dulles Town Center mixed development.  Lerner is the largest taxpaying entity in Loudoun with assessed values directly and thru partnerships of close to $600 million dollars.   Bill May VP Miller and Smith Bill is the Managing Director of One Loudoun, a 358 acre mixed-use community at Route 7 and Loudoun County Parkway that will be home to the World Trade Center Dulles Airport, 3.1M SF of office, 700,000 SF of retail, 750 hotel rooms and 1040 residential units. One Loudoun is a joint venture of North America Sekisui House (NASH) and Miller and Smith.   Buddy Rizer Director of Business Development Loudoun County Buddy is the Business Development Officer for Loudoun County. His focus is on the technology arena including Loudoun’s thriving Data Center cluster. He works with a stable of companies that include Digital Realty Trust, DuPont Fabros, Equinix, AOL, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Neustar and the Washington Redskins.     *More Speakers to be Announced*

County practices pickup lines on Northrop Grumman

More Info: http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2010/jan/14/county-practices-pickup-lines-northrop-grumman/