Chamber Insider Blog

Post written by Tony Howard, Loudoun Chamber President & CEO

Sadly, another federal government shutdown has occurred, further straining the Northern Virginia economy, which is already reeling from unexpected cuts in the federal workforce and contracting communities.

According to projections, just a one-week shutdown could shave as much as $15 billion from national GDP. In our region, where an estimated 18,000 Loudoun residents work in federal agencies or as contractors, the loss of income and delay of payments would ripple through our economy.

Previous shutdowns resulted in a sharp decline in discretionary spending across the D.C. metro area, disproportionately affecting small businesses in the restaurant, retail, and hospitality sectors.

Meanwhile, we expect our nonprofits and local government agencies to see a surge in demand for their services.

While the Loudoun Chamber can’t make Congress keep the Federal government open, we are working with our economic development partners to help stabilize our local economy and support affected Loudoun families and businesses.

Loudoun Chamber businesses can offset the loss of income related to the shutdown by taking advantage of the Chamber’s free and low-cost networking and marketing opportunities to reach new customers.

Through our advocacy efforts, the Chamber is partnering with regional coalitions to address the impact on local businesses and support displaced Federal employees and contractors.

A few examples of those partnerships include:

• Talent Capital, an effort led by Greater Washington Together with support from Chambers of Commerce and local governments across the DMV, is a central hub for connecting workers with opportunities and resources, particularly those navigating workforce transitions.
• NOVAnext is a Northern Virginia Community College initiative designed to help displaced workers translate their skills and experiences into private sector jobs or acquire the necessary skills to pursue new careers.
• Pivot Academy, a not-yet-launched effort for GOVirginia Region 7, a program designed to support Federal Contractors as they “pivot” to apply their talents and skills to meet the needs of state and local governments.

GOVirginia is a state-funded initiative designed to foster collaboration between local jurisdictions and the private sector, creating economic opportunities in every region of Virginia.

Finally, the Loudoun Chamber continues to keep our community informed about the programs and resources that residents and businesses need to navigate the tumultuous environment created by rapidly changing Federal policies and priorities.

A prime example of this is the microsite we created to provide Resources For Dislocated Workers and Contractors.

A federal shutdown is a force outside our control. But I am confident that Loudoun will respond to this crisis with unity, agility, and resolve.

As we come together as a community to support our families, businesses, and employees, we will position Loudoun to emerge even stronger from this crisis.

Tony Howard
President & CEO, Loudoun Chamber of Commerce