Founded in 2012, Ironistic has grown into a 40-person agency serving national clients, including Toyota, while remaining rooted in Alexandria. Their award-winning work and signature RUN! GEEK! RUN! 5K (which has raised over $234,000 for local nonprofits) shows how homegrown businesses can go the extra mile by giving back to the community. 

After sitting vacant for more than 20 years, the 600,000+ square foot Victory Center office building at 5001 Eisenhower Avenue will become 376 workforce and affordable housing. AEDP worked with City departments to help negotiate a performance-based partial tax abatement for this huge housing investment—the first time a tax abatement has been used for a residential project in Alexandria.  

From heirloom corn tortillas to traditional tacos al pastor, chefs Elio Gómez and Isaac Ramírez bring the heart of Mexico City to Alexandria’s West End. Their restaurant, Taqueria Picoso, is a delicious reminder of the City’s diverse food scene, where global traditions meet local community, and every dish tells a story. 

For global professional services firm Sikich, Alexandria “stood out” as the ideal home for its regional headquarters, offering proximity to clients, easy access for employees, and unmatched connectivity to institutions like the Department of Defense, the Pentagon, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Since planting roots in Carlyle, Sikich has expanded from 50 to 300+ employees, making Alexandria a cornerstone of its growth in the DC region. 

From 31 years in the Navy to a celebrated career behind the camera, Laura Hatcher has built a studio in Old Town Alexandria where personal stories come to life. She’s also made her mark through projects like the Virginia War Memorial’s “50 Years Beyond” exhibit alongside her headshots, branding, and military retirement portraits. Partnering with AEDP and mentoring Alexandria’s next generation of entrepreneurs; Hatcher proves that the City’s stories and legacies are worth capturing. 

Founded in 2021 by Roberto Gomez, Cornerstone Craftsman has grown from living room workshops to a dedicated space on Eisenhower Avenue. Today, 36 pre-apprentices (and many more on the waitlist) gain hands-on trade skills, mentorship, and OSHA certification, equipping Alexandria’s youth with the tools (literally and figuratively) to build brighter futures. 

Changes at the federal level are perhaps the economic story of the year. As part of an ongoing response, AEDP and the City brought business leaders together for a candid listening session on how federal changes are affecting local companies and worked with regional leaders to establish a webinar series for anyone looking for support with a job search or pivoting to entrepreneurship.  

The City also stood up a Resources for Federal Government Employees webpage and hosted job fairs with regional partners and Rep. Don Beyer’s office. 

In August, the General Services Administration issued a presolicitation notice to gather information on buildings in a small area in Alexandria that could serve as a new headquarters for the National Science Foundation. The move is an important step in retaining the agency and comes after concerted efforts by AEDP to ensure the foundation and its vital mission stay in its Carlyle neighborhood. 

The AEDP Small Business team is reaching more underserved entrepreneurs with new resources in Amharic and Spanish, bringing its total to eight languages, including Dari, Korean, and Russian. The team also conducts neighborhood outreach and meets entrepreneurs in their commercial districts to connect them with tailored support.