Washington D.C - Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins and Interim Office of Planning (OP) Director Rosalynn Hughey today announced the launch of “forWARD 8: Investing in Our Future,” awarding $2.5 million to support a package of District-led career-training and business-development projects for Ward 8 residents.
“The forWARD 8 initiative will do exactly what its name implies – move Ward 8 forward through close partnerships between District agencies and the community,” said Mayor Gray. “This initiative will help Ward 8 residents find jobs, build careers and create new businesses.”
The winning projects were created in direct response to issues identified at three Ward 8 Community Summits held over the past three years. The projects focus on preparing and connecting Ward 8 residents to jobs, while building skills and laying the groundwork for new business development within the community. The projects support Ward 8 economic development and leverage the District’s One City Action Plan and Five-Year Economic Development Strategy.
Mayor Gray and District agencies met with Ward 8 residents at the July 2011 Ward 8 Community Summit to identify pressing needs in the community. At a follow-up summit held in June 2012, Mayor Gray introduced the Ward 8 Budget Challenge, a call for District agencies to propose innovative pilot projects to address those issues. Agencies were encouraged to collaborate on proposals incorporating community involvement and input from the July 2011 Summit. Over the past year OP has worked with other agencies to further develop those proposals and maximize agency collaboration.
The winning forWARD 8 projects include:
• The Demonstration Center ($1.75 million): The Demonstration Center will be an entrepreneurship, workforce development, career and job-readiness portal for Ward 8, connecting residents and local businesses to the innovation and technology economy and to educational programs such as the Center for Construction Careers. The Demonstration Center will feature multi-user office space; a Digital Inclusion Center with a state-of-the-art computer lab offering computer training for seniors, small businesses and others; and a flexibly designed demonstration, entrepreneurship and career conference area designed to host
