This morning, the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation (AWC), District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) and District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) opened its doors to a new, jointly-operated community Business Resource Center.  The Anacostia Waterfront Business Resource Center will serve as a centralized hub providing local residents easy access to information on the restoration and revitalization of the Anacostia Waterfront, specifically economic growth and commercial development efforts, transportation improvements, workforce training and job/business opportunities. 

“The opening of the Center is a great collaborative effort to engage District residents, particularly those living east of the River, in the transformation of the Anacostia Waterfront,” said Neil O. Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, District of Columbia, and Interim President/CEO, Anacostia Waterfront Corporation.  “AWC will use this satellite office to fully include the residents of the community in the restoration and revitalization of the Anacostia River through commercial activity, jobs creation, and workforce development opportunities.”

AWC will provide extensive community outreach at the Center by offering regular community presentations and informational workshops on Anacostia Waterfront redevelopment efforts.  Visitors also will have access to on-site computers, with instructions on how to link to various District businesses and local government agencies.

DOES representatives will be available at the Center to provide information on job opportunities specific to the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative.  Information about apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs will be offered, as well as updates on workshops and job fairs within the DC area.  Visitors also will have access to on-line job search resources, including DOES’ Virtual One-Stop (VOS) system.

 “The Department of Employment Services presence at this center will ensure that community residents have a direct link to information about jobs and training opportunities resulting from new development initiatives in Ward 8,” said Summer Spencer, Acting Director, DC Department of Employment Services.

Furthermore, DDOT representatives will offer residents information on projects and studies underway as part of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, specifically near-term projects such as the Frederick Douglass Bridge Rehabilitation, the 11th Street Bridge improvements and streetscape projects.  DDOT will further complement DOES’ efforts by providing information about job opportunities related to these surrounding transportation improvement projects.

"The opening to the Business Resource Center is another example of DDOT's continued commitment to public involvement and to providing information about job opportunities for District residents," said DDOT Director Emeka
Moneme. "We've already made strides through apprenticeship programs and partnerships with organizations such as the Earth Conservation Corps, providing job training and employment opportunities for District residents - including residents of Ward 8.  Our goal is to achieve further success with the opening of this exciting new center."

The Center will be staffed by knowledgeable personnel from each of the partnering agencies, allowing residents the information and resources discussed above, and to have specific questions addressed in a one-on-one setting.

Public hours are presently scheduled as follows:

Agency	Dates and Times
AWC	Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm
DOES:	Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4 pm
DDOT:	Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 1 pm

Anacostia Waterfront Business Resource Center 2311 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Southeast
Washington, DC.