The D.C. BID Council and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Announce “RETURN TO D.C.”
Citywide campaign aims to support the local workforce and economic viability throughout the city
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The D.C. BID Council, comprised of eleven business improvement associations across the District of Columbia, in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) are proud to announce “Return to D.C.”, an initiative built to educate and encourage employees, employers and visitors from across the capital region as they safely return to city life. The citywide campaign is intended to reminisce the joys of pre-pandemic Washington and build excitement about the possibilities of what’s to come in the nation’s vibrant capital. It brings together businesses, community leaders and partners in a completely new way to facilitate conversations around the potential that comes with the city’s workforce returning to offices, public outdoor spaces, restaurants, and the myriad other draws of D.C.’s eclectic urban neighborhoods.
“We know that individual, business and government return to work plans vary, but for that reason, we want to remind everyone that it is all of us who make our city so special — D.C. is defined by what happens here, in our communities and neighborhoods, and it is that experience that we can only get when we come together,” said Leona Agouridis, Executive Director of the Golden Triangle BID and Chair of the DC BID Council. “It is our collective responsibility as leaders in the city’s business community to encourage employers and employees to be a part of this process. Through our campaign and the District’s ongoing vaccination and prevention efforts, we hope to bring economic health and revitalization back to the communities we serve.”
Online, the campaign comes to life as a one-stop hub capturing the excitement of “life” that happens in and around our daily routines. Digital assets include interactive animations retelling the moments that only locals will understand - anecdotes and a range of distinctive qualities that define the workday for tens of thousands of people in D.C.
Credit: The D.C. BID Council
The website is also equipped with valuable resources including employer and employee toolkits, current COVID protocols from local and national authorities, an online user-generated social media challenge collecting personal quips to help tell even more unique stories from individuals around the District, and access to events and key moments happening around the city. The public is invited to participate in the challenge by visiting www.returntodc.com, and is encouraged to submit personal moments they have experienced or look forward to doing again as they make the transition back to work. The D.C. BID Council and member BIDs have collected a range of prizes for all submissions using the campaign hashtags #DCPhotoAlbum and #ReturntoCityLife, awarded at random to participants from May 9 through July 18, 2022. Prizes currently include a variety of gift cards and experiences from the following businesses:
● Teddy and the Bully Bar
● Teaism
● Farragut Medical and Travel Care
● LeDesales
● Plaza Artist Materials and Picture Framing
● Andre Chreky Salon
● Bubs and Pops
● Un Je Ne Sais Quoi
● The Hay-Adams
● Gold’s Gym
● Heurich House
● Little Sesame
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the District of Columbia has integrated evolving health and safety protocols across the city to ensure the community, businesses and visitors return to their routines in confidence. The District of Columbia continues to see improvements in its COVID-19 metrics as jurisdictions in the D.C. metro region and across the country lift and ease restrictions.
Credit: The D.C. BID Council
“It is the collective goal of campaign organizers, partners, and city officials that the public feels that they can return safely and confidently to our commercial corridors, historic neighborhoods, and the businesses of all sizes that are emblematic of our beloved city,” said Gerren Price, Acting President and CEO of the DowntownDC BID. “We believe that the ‘Return to D.C.’ can only be done together.”
For more information about the “Return to D.C.” campaign, or to speak to a representative from the D.C. BID Council or DMPED, please contact Lauren McMillen at lauren@lindarothpr.com or (304) 203-8899. Explore the campaign at www.returntodc.com and follow along with member BIDs on social media including DowntownDC BID’s Instagram and Facebook. A selection of visual assets is available for download here. All images should be credited to the D.C. BID Council.
About D.C. BID Council
The DC BID Council is an association of Washington D.C.’s 11 business improvement districts. Collectively, our members spend $38 million dollars annually to help manage and enhance neighborhoods that are home to 70% of the D.C. employment base and 40% of the city’s tax base. The DC BID Council brings together BID leaders and stakeholders to collaborate on issues and concerns that cut across all of our boundaries and impact the entire city. Members consist of the Adams Morgan Partnership BID, Anacostia BID, Capitol Hill BID, Capitol Riverfront BID, DowntownDC BID, Dupont Circle BID, Georgetown BID, Golden Triangle BID, Mount Vernon BID, NoMA BID, and Southwest BID.
About DMPED
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) assists the Mayor in the coordination, planning, supervision, and execution of economic development efforts in the District of Columbia with the goal of creating and preserving affordable housing, creating jobs, and increasing tax revenue. DMPED pursues policies and programs that create strong neighborhoods, expand and diversify the local economy, and provide residents with pathways to the middle class.
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