City of Alexandria, Virginia

Are you a high school student in Alexandria looking to jumpstart your career in public service, or do you know a talented young leader who is? Applications are now open for the A.L.E.X. Pilot Summer Fellowship Program, a unique, one-week immersive experience designed specifically for rising high school juniors and seniors who live in the City of Alexandria. As an A.L.E.X Fellow, you'll experience: - Executive Shadowing: Observe daily operations and attend strategic discussions with City leaders. - Professional Development: Participate in leadership seminars and complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP) Self-Assessment. - Civic Engagement: Research critical community issues alongside dedicated mentors. Key Details: - Compensation: $1,000 stipend - First Screening Date: May 25, 2026 - Eligibility: Must be a resident of the City of Alexandria and eligible to work in the U.S. Application Requirements: Interested students must submit an online application, an unofficial transcript, proof of residency, and a 500-word essay reflecting their commitment to community, leadership, or public service. Help us shape the next generation of civic leaders. Share with a student, parent, or educator in Alexandria who needs to see this! 👉 Apply here: alexandriava.gov/jobs

Business owners: Sign up for a free webinar to learn how to access instant savings and reduce your energy bills over the long term. Eco-City Alexandria is hosting a webinar on Dominion Energy Energy Conservation Programs on Thursday, May 21, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Register and learn more at https://lnkd.in/efJKQ9cT.

The City of Alexandria held a Swearing-In Ceremony for our newest Councilwoman, Sandy Marks, on Tuesday night. With a fully seated City Council, the regular session was underway. City Council discussed parking improvements as we move into a busy summer season, received updates from City Manager Jim Parajon on the State of the Economy, and received updates on the Torpedo Factory Art Center RFP responses. "On the consumption taxes, we watch this closely every month...from 25 to 26, it's somewhat stable, but there's no real movement upward. In fact, it's a slight movement downward. Those are concerning to us. Those are portions of our budget that we rely on people's disposable income to participate. We also look at, in terms of transit lodging, you know, the business travel is down." City Manager Jim Parajon “Right now, we just have to review the proposal, evaluate it, negotiate an agreement if we believe that there is a path forward, and then come back to Council, so I think that will take us over the summer, and so we are looking at coming back in fall.” - Julian Gonsalves, Strategic Partner and P3 Director See the full meeting at alexandriava.gov/Dockets

This month is Preservation Month, and the City Hall Renovation Project is helping preserve City Hall for the next generation through sustainable upgrades powered by the earth beneath us. As part of the City Hall Renovation Project, the City is conducting geothermal testing to explore a more sustainable, energy-efficient HVAC system for the future of City Hall. Want to see the work happening now? Visit alexandriava.gov/CityHall to watch a time-lapse of the construction and learn more about the project. Investing in sustainable infrastructure today helps ensure City Hall can continue serving the community for generations to come.

📣 BREAKING: AEDP Selects FedTech to Launch City of Alexandria, Virginia’s New Startup Accelerator Chosen from a pool of more than 20 applicants, FedTech will develop and operate a high-touch accelerator program supporting up to 15 Alexandria startups in industries shaping the future, including robotics, aerospace, quantum, AI, cybersecurity, energy tech, and defense. FedTech has operated more than 130 accelerators and innovation programs worldwide, with alumni companies raising more than $5 billion in investment. This marks a major step forward in building Alexandria’s innovation economy and creating new opportunities for founders right here in our community. 🚀 Applications open in the coming weeks. Interested founders and entrepreneurs can fill out the accelerator interest form to stay updated on timelines and future announcements 👉 https://bit.ly/42MJeKN 🔗 Read more in the Washington Business Journal: https://bit.ly/4nsprd6 #ALXFORWARD #StartupEcosystem #InnovationEconomy #AlexandriaVA

Alexandria residents showed up for their public servants this week. We asked for shout-outs during Public Service Recognition Week and heard from dozens of residents with kind words for employees across the City, from the Fire Department and Complete Streets to more behind-the-scenes workers in the Office of Communications and more. Swipe to read their words. To every City employee named and unnamed: thank you for your service to this community.

On the final day of Economic Development Week, we’re looking ahead to Alexandria’s future ➡️ Exactly one year ago, the community came together to shape what economic growth should look like for Alexandria. The result: #ALXForward, the City’s first economic development strategy in more than 15 years and a roadmap for the next five. As part of the community conversation with over 890 touchpoints, consultant TIP Strategies and the City team developed recommendations under three main goal areas: ✔️ Transformative Place-Based Investment ✔️ Business Retention & Recruitment ✔️ Entrepreneurship & Innovation And now, those priorities are turning into action. As part of the FY27 budget adopted by City Council last week, Alexandria is investing more than $1 million into new initiatives designed to advance the goals of ALX Forward and strengthen the local economy. Highlights include: ⦿ $350,000 to improve the 200 Block of King Street ⦿ $250,000 in lease incentives for arts, entertainment, and innovation uses ⦿ $200,000 for the Alexandria Investment Fund to attract and retain high-growth businesses ⦿ $200,000 for a new innovation lab in Potomac Yard ⦿ $100,000 for expanded outreach efforts and programs that support local businesses and shopping local Economic development is about more than business growth. It’s an investment in the community—to generate jobs, housing, and tax revenue that fund the services residents rely on every day. 👉 More details on these initiatives are coming soon. Learn more about ALX Forward and the community-driven process behind it at: https://bit.ly/3OUV16p 🔌 Stay plugged in! Sign up for the AEDP weekly newsletter at: https://bit.ly/4nkDJfC #EcoDevWeek #AlexandriaVA #ALXForward City of Alexandria, Virginia

Historic preservation helps protect the places, stories, and character that make Alexandria unique. Each day, staff from the Office of Historic Alexandria and the Department of Planning & Zoning work to preserve historic buildings and neighborhoods through planning, restoration, research, interpretation, and community engagement. Their work helps ensure Alexandria’s historic places remain accessible and meaningful for residents, businesses, and visitors. May is Preservation Month, a national celebration recognizing the importance of protecting historic places and cultural heritage. In Alexandria, preservation supports education, tourism, economic vitality, and a strong sense of place across our community.

It's been a couple of months since the last Planning & Zoning Virtual Community Update. On Tuesday, May 19 on Zoom, learn more about the projects, planning, and review processes happening around Alexandria. This is your chance to ask questions and get a behind the scenes look. Register now!