Economic Growth & Prosperity
The Capital’s Capital
Growth without stability is noise. Prosperity without dignity is hollow.
My goal is not simply to create more jobs. My goal is to create better jobs worth keeping, wages that respect labor, and careers that allow families to build lasting roots in Washington, D.C.
As of March 2025, roughly 397,000 District residents were employed, reflecting a 1.9 percent increase from the previous year, while the labor force reached approximately 421,000 workers. Yet unemployment has remained between 5.8 and 6 percent, and workforce turnover continues to challenge economic stability across multiple industries.
Washington, D.C. is home to more than 75,000 small businesses, which together generate nearly half of all local jobs. These businesses form the backbone of neighborhood economies and community stability.
Yet many of them face persistent barriers, including:
Limited access to capital.
Complex permitting processes.
Unequal access to District Contracts.
Rising commercial rent pressures
At the same time, many workers experience instability through layoffs, involuntary part-time employment, inconsistent hours, and insufficient benefits.
These numbers reveal an important truth:
Economic growth in Washington, D.C. has not translated into economic security.
We must protect our city from the ebbs and flows of federal volatility by investing in a resilient local economy through growth in tech, hospitality, green construction, and innovation sectors throughout the Wards.
“Local Prosperity and Small Business Acceleration Act.”
My economic strategy will focus on aligning workforce development, small business support, and innovation policy so that growth translates into lasting opportunity for District residents. An economy where workers can build stable careers, businesses can grow sustainably, and families can afford to remain in the city they call home.
My administration will encourage the development of District-based startups and scaling technology firms through incentives tied to:
Tech & Innovation: Incentivize District-based startups and scale-ups with local hiring commitments and apprenticeship pipelines.
Hospitality & Culture: Protect year-round employment through workforce stabilization grants and skill ladders.
Green Construction & Infrastructure: Accelerate clean retrofits, resilient housing, and public works that create high-quality, union-pathway jobs while strengthening the city’s long-term environmental resilience.
Our small businesses are the backbone of the District’s neighborhood economies.
My administration will prioritize policies that help Washington, D.C.’s small businesses grow and succeed through:
Targeted Grants & Credit: Capital for neighborhood firms that hire locally and offer benefits.
Streamlined Permits & Licensing: One-door approvals, clear timelines, and fee relief for first-time entrepreneurs.
Local Procurement: Prioritize District vendors in city contracts to keep dollars circulating locally.
My administration will expand workforce development programs in Washington, D.C. that connect residents directly to employment opportunities.
Career-Connected Training: Paid apprenticeships and credentials aligned to employer demand.
Digital Infrastructure: Broad AI-assisted tools that let small business owners keep track and compete against larger businesses to have a fighting chance to stay here.
Economic Zones: Place-based investments that pair jobs, training, and childcare access so work is sustainable in all 8 wards.
Our goal is to support small businesses with targeted grants, streamlined permits and licensing, investment in green digital infrastructure, and expanded workforce training to establish economic zones, so that every resident, in every ward, shares in the wealth we’ve built.
A stable economy is one where businesses can grow, workers can build lasting careers, and families can remain rooted in the communities they love.