City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 8, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: STEPHANIE LANDRUM, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ALEXANDRIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a resolution Adopting ALX Forward: A Strategic Framework for Economic Growth.
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ISSUE: Resolution adopting ALX Forward: A Strategic Framework for Economic Growth.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt the proposed resolution adopting ALX Forward: A Strategic Framework for Economic Growth (Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND: In November 2024, the City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, and TIP Strategies (TIP) launched their collaborative efforts to host an economic summit and develop a strategic framework "ALX Forward" to guide economic development. In 2025, the Alexandria City Council adopted four priorities to provide the basis for budget and policy decisions: advance housing opportunities, reduce community disparities, drive economic strength, and attract and retain top talent. This strategic planning initiative falls under the economic strength umbrella - ensuring Alexandria's continued competitiveness was a driving factor in creating ALX Forward. Prior to the current efforts, the most recent coordinated economic development planning effort was a City-sponsored Economic Sustainability Summit in 2007. The inaugural 2007 summit resulted in multiple recommendations for improvements to existing systems or new initiatives impacting tourism, real estate development, transit, business recruitment, and organizational functions within the City's economic development network. These recommendations proved instrumental in catalyzing major developments across the City, including the reimagined waterfront, the former Landmark Mall, and Virginia Tech., and the City is poised t...
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