If Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., gets his way, the Federal Small Business Administration will open an office in Crystal City to help businesses deal with the planned Pentagon base closings.
The House of Representatives’ version of the 2007 Justice Department appropriations bill contains an amendment by Moran authorizing the SBA to spend as much as is needed to get the office up and running.
“Inclusion of this bill language takes the onus off of the county to cover the full cost of a small business resource center,” Moran said. “Because the federal government is responsible for the [Base Realignment and Closing Commission] relocations, it is appropriate they bear the burden of helping our employees relocate and small businesses survive.”
The transition office is one of many steps Arlington County and its political representatives have taken to deal with the anticipated loss of 17,000 jobs and tenants for millions of square feet of office space due to the closings.
Arlington has already announced the formation of a county transmission center. Moran said it would work with the SBA office to assist businesses. The federal center is expected to offer counseling services to businesses, as well as staffing assistance.
Durrer said Arlington officials are expected to meet with Virginia Gov. Mark Warner to lobby the lawmakers to include provisions for the center in the Senate version of the spending bill.
At a glance
» The job loss expected from BRAC equals 9 percent of jobs in Arlington County, according to Jim Moran.
» The 4.3 million square feet of office space the county expects to be emptied represents 11 percent of current leased space.
» The base realignment is expected to be complete by 2011.
