(Washington, DC) On Friday, May 21, 2010, the DC Office of Planning announced the release of the Retail Action Roadmap, a guide to retail opportunities and resources that exist in the District for small businesses, residents, entrepreneurs and investors. The strategies laid out in the Roadmap will help the District promote vibrant retail areas; leverage planning efforts and guide investments; expand small and local retail; provide residents, workers and visitors with a greater selection of goods and services; and help the District recapture more than $1 billion of retail spending that leaks out of DC annually.

“The District offers one of the strongest retail markets in the nation with a daytime population of more than 900,000; a vibrant downtown, as well as historic and emerging neighborhoods that feature attractive and walkable commercial districts; and a unique international and cultural presence, with 180 foreign missions and embassies, 90 museums, and more than 16 million visitors annually. With the Retail Action Roadmap, the District - along with private and non profit sector partners - can ensure retail businesses grow and thrive in our neighborhoods,” said Director Harriet Tregoning.

The Retail Action Roadmap is the high-level executive summary of the Retail Action Strategy, a comprehensive assessment of the retail opportunities in 20 neighborhoods across the District. The Retail Action Roadmap and Strategy were led by the DC Office of Planning and Washington, DC Economic Partnership, with participation from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and the Department of Small and Local Business Development.

For more information on the Retail Action Roadmap, contact the Office of Planning at (202) 442-7600.