Sun.
Mon.
Change my location 
Article History There are updates to this article.
)
A forum was held Monday at the National Harbor to inform more than 200 local and/or minority businesses of possible opportunities available at the National Harbor Project site, pictured here in March.
Prince George’s County (Map, News) - More than 200 local or businesses and minority-owned firms were expected to attend a Monday evening forum at National Harbor to learn about opportunities from plumbing to car detailing at the Prince George’s County site.
“[Monday] is all about developing a relationship with these companies and figuring out what companies will be best suited for what jobs,” said Rocell Viniard, a vice president and director of marketing for National Harbor.
National Harbor is the Peterson Companies’ $2 billion hotel, office, residential and retail project along the Potomac River just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. A portion of the 300-acre project is slated to open in 2008.
“What we are doing … is to really reach out to Prince George’s County and the other local areas to talk about the opportunities that will become available in the very near future as we start to open the property,” Viniard said.
The company planned to discuss opportunities for painters, electricians, janitors, landscapers and others at the forum.
“It’s not that often that you as a small-business owner have an opportunity to be on the ground level of something that is potentially really big,” said Glen Bell, of Bell’s Personal Touch Mobile Auto Detailing, who planned to attend the forum.
Viniard said businesses would have the chance to fill out applications. “Once we have that, as we have a need that arises we will then know who to contact and we'll identify those companies,” she said.
Viniard said Peterson could hire some companies to do work prior to opening the site in April.
Peterson hopes to award at least 30 percent, but no less than 20 percent, of all its contracts to local and/or minority business.
Viniard also told The Examiner that although Peterson hasn’t announced any of the companies that will occupy the retail and entertainment space, “everything is on schedule.” Peterson thought it would announce some tenants earlier, Viniard said, but is waiting until final leases are signed.
“Most retailers take 60 to 90 days to build out,” Viniard said. “So we are fine. If I didn't announce until January a retailer, they could be open by April.”
dfowler@dcexaminer.com
 Not ranked |
 EMAIL ME THIS STORY |
ARTICLE HISTORY 
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:10 AM MST on Sat., Jul. 5, 2008 re: "Police still working on plans for National Harbor security"
Report as inappropriate
12:33 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008
re: "Police still working on plans for National Harbor security"
Report as inappropriate
7:18 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008
re: "Trio of watercraft to police Prince George’s coastline"
Report as inappropriate
7:25 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008
re: "Police still working on plans for National Harbor security"
Report as inappropriate
11:44 AM MST on Mon., Dec. 10, 2007
re: "Project reaches out to local contractors"
Report as inappropriate
9:37 AM MST on Fri., May. 4, 2007
re: "Officials: Gaylord National Resort to open a year from today"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
Oxon Hill is not a ghetto crime ridden area. I have lived in Oxon Hill and nearby Fort Washington since 1975. The crime rate in Oxon Hill is much lower than many places. The fact is when you get white flight and major disinvestment the quality of life deteriorates in Oxon Hill. Some of the wealthiest households in the United States live in this area, which has been woefully underserved.
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Gaylord said:
Face it, National Harbor is like a diamond in the rough. A paradise resort buffered and isolated from nearby slums and ghetto areas. Think of it as the green zone in Bagdagh, Iraq. Only the rich and privileges are allowed. Protecting this 4 billions dollars investment is critical to the survival of PGC. If they have to reroute all the policemen in the county to do it, so be it.
0 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This is good. This way PG will not be sponging off the other jurisdictions that patrol the waterway.
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
"To get there, attendees will travel through Oxon Hill, where there have been more than a dozen homicides since 2005, according to police reports." What the hell? Oxon Hill is not some crime ridden waste land, where people are randomly 'popped' on the streets. This is where the media continues to perpetuate communities as crime zones. A dozen murders since 2005? Certainly, Oxon Hill is not the only community inside the beltway that's had homicides. In fact, statistically speaking, the crime rate in Oxon Hill is pretty low.
4 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
O.k I was just wondering what kind of retail stores are we going to have because I think that we need more retail stores in this area like saks fifth ave, nordstroms, forever 21, charoltte ruuse, ninewest, more selections of resturants. As a prince georgs county resident If you want to attract people you need good retail and resturants.
78 agree | 86 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
108 room hotel? This thing is going to be 2000 rooms...nice fact checking, lol.
214 agree | 217 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree