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Witnesses urge preserving FY26 downtown economic investments while debating subsidies and priorities
Summary
Developers, business groups and civic advocates testified to the Committee on Business and Economic Development about downtown revitalization proposals in the mayor's FY26 budget support act, backing some plaza-and-parks funding and the Office-to-Anything program while urging scrutiny of large subsidies and transparency on tax incentives.
Council members heard competing views Thursday on the mayor's FY26 economic development proposals, particularly a package of downtown investments and tax incentives included in the Budget Support Act (BSA).
Pro-development speakers said select changes and funding will help reactivate downtown and support projects converting underused office space. "We strongly support the economic revitalization initiatives in this budget," Liz DeBarrows, chief executive officer of the DC Building Industry Association, told the Committee. She listed line items the association supports, including $8,000,000 for a public plaza at Gallery Place/Chinatown and $2,400,000 to launch a DC Tech…
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