On April 23rd. The Anacostia Business Improvement District reached out to Arts District board President Jennifer Young and Board Chair Josh Blanc with an invitation to speak at theArts & Economic Impact Solutions Summit in Washington, DC, a high-level economic forum exploring how communities can build successful, self-sustaining creative business hubs. They will be part of a panel discussion on May, 13th 2026
The Forum will be held in Downtown Anacostia – DC’s official Arts & Culture District.
The question for the Summit will be: As cities and neighborhoods work to strengthen local economies, support artists and entrepreneurs, and create places where people want to live, work, and visit, one question is becoming increasingly important:
How do we build creative business hubs that are economically strong, culturally vibrant, and sustainable over time?
The Summit will bring together business leaders, artists, developers, lenders, policymakers, and community stakeholders to explore practical strategies for:
- Retaining local businesses and creative enterprises
- Attracting new businesses, cultural uses, and destination anchors
- Creating affordable space and preventing displacement
- Building balanced business districts that generate foot traffic and economic activity
- Designing investment tools, public-private partnerships, and long-term governance systems
The event will feature dynamic experts who have successfully created and led thriving creative business hubs – places with strong local economies, active street life, placemaking, affordable space, cultural destinations, and long-term investment. These experts have secured funding, built public-private partnerships, and developed strategies for sustainable economic and cultural growth.
Through keynote discussions, forum sessions, and interactive solutions labs, participants will help shape a 12-month action agenda, policy recommendations, investment priorities, and practical strategies for building stronger creative business hubs.
Jennifer and Josh will report back on the experience and find out more about how to collaborate with another great arts district.
