Wal-Mart Makes a Good Deal for D.C. Stores Even Better
The decision by Wal-Mart to open six stores in the District over five to seven years is estimated to bring 1,800 new jobs to the city, create some 600 construction jobs and generate an estimated $15 million in tax revenue. Equally important is the fact that long-underserved neighborhoods will have convenient access to affordable groceries and other goods. So the announcement that the mega-retailer has reached a voluntary agreement with the city to provide additional community benefits strikes us as icing on the cake — a win for a city that already was ahead. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) announced Tuesday that the city has signed a Community Partnership Initiative with Wal-Mart that commits the retailer to a range of conditions. These include the contribution of $21 million to local charities, the creation of a workforce development program to focus on low-income and at-risk residents, an effort to use local small and minority-owned businesses for store construction and the payment of $2 million for transportation improvements. The announcement comes less than a week after Wal-Mart revealed plans for two additional D.C. stores, including one sought by the mayor in the Skyland neighborhood of Ward 7.
