ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Metropolis of Alexandria took a daring step towards shaping its financial future final week, internet hosting the 2025 Alexandria Financial Summit—an occasion designed to foster collaboration, spark innovation, and look at the financial forces reshaping the area. Held on Could 8 at The Westin Alexandria Previous City, it drew group members, enterprise leaders, and regional consultants for a wide-ranging dialog on Alexandria’s financial well being and prospects.
Organized by the Metropolis of Alexandria and the Alexandria Financial Growth Partnership (AEDP), the summit opened with remarks from AEDP President and CEO Stephanie Landrum and Mayor Alyia Gaskins, who emphasised the necessity for holistic, community-driven progress.
“We’re about ensuring that we’re constructing long-term worth for the environment, for our residents, for our workforce, and for our tax base—holistically,” Mayor Alyia Gaskins mentioned. “This summit is about unlocking the concepts and potential of each a part of our metropolis, powered by partnership.”

The occasion featured a forward-looking panel dialogue moderated by Jon Roberts of TIP Methods, with insights from Stephanie Jennings of CBRE and Meghan Welch of the Virginia Financial Growth Partnership. Collectively, they examined developments affecting Alexandria, together with workforce shifts, retail transformation, and the evolving nature of city improvement.
TIP Methods, at the moment working with the town and AEDP on a brand new strategic financial improvement framework, additionally shared preliminary findings. Their analysis highlighted Alexandria’s distinctive strengths, together with as its extremely educated workforce and strategic location—whereas figuring out new alternatives for financial diversification.
The summit’s keynote deal with got here from Kevin Ervin Kelley, co-founder of Shook Kelley and writer of “Irreplaceable: Methods to Create Extraordinary Locations that Carry Individuals Collectively.” He spoke passionately in regards to the position of “intentional placemaking” in constructing group and addressing trendy societal challenges.

“Most of our issues in society are place-based issues,” Kelley mentioned. “And a lot of the options begin with bodily locations—your neighborhood, your block, your group.”
Attendees participated in interactive breakout classes targeted on three key areas: place-based improvement, enterprise retention and recruitment, and entrepreneurship and innovation. These classes inspired dialogue, creativity, and alignment round shared objectives for Alexandria’s future.
The Metropolis of Alexandria and AEDP will proceed to interact the group post-summit, issuing a survey to gather extra enter that can inform upcoming methods and initiatives. For updates, instructional supplies, and the total recording of the occasion, click on HERE.
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