Economic Sustainability in Arlington, Virginia Cultivating Community Sustainability Through Resiliency, Competitiveness, and Innovation

Abstract

Arlington, Virginia’s economic sustainability framework is values-based and focuses on identifying the strengths that enable its economy to weather recessions and assist it in forming a strategy for the future. Resiliency, competitiveness, and innovation are integral to Arlington’s view of economic sustainability and in its cultivation of community sustainability. The paper examines the relationship and applicability with a review of academic and policy literature on sustainability as well as its economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The paper explores community cases to analyze different interpretations of economic sustainability and its relationship to community sustainability. The findings offer a comparison to Arlington’s framework and values. The analysis suggests how Arlington’s economic sustainability process and framework can support sustainable economic development planning and provide a solid foundation that can cultivate community sustainability. The values of resiliency, competitiveness, and innovation are guiding principles and encourage integration of community planning and policy that can lead to further development of a concrete economic sustainability plan as well as assist in the development of community sustainability. The paper’s conclusion offers a discussion of the steps and actions involved in creating sustainability plans and indicators.