WASHINGTON — When presidential candidates bash big, bad “Washington,” such comments can paint the regional economy into a corner.
Local governments are hoping to rebrand the capital area as a high-tech region that can export much more than government policies to other parts of the country and the world.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is analyzing the region’s infrastructure, people, quality of life and economic climate to put together a regionally-coordinated vision and strategy to boost the number and types of jobs in the tri-state area.
In addition to more cooperation among jurisdictions, in place of fighting to lure a company’s headquarters from one side of the Potomac River to the other, the goals would include finding ways to ease the costs of housing and major traffic troubles and boost philanthropic efforts.
The council voted Thursday to join the Global Cities Initiative, which aims to help increase exports and tie the region more closely together.
The report on the region’s economic competitiveness is slated to be delivered early next year.
