[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING CECILIA CASSIDY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 15, 2013

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the 
outstanding contributions of Cecilia Cassidy and to commemorate her 
retirement after 21 years of service to the community of Rosslyn.
  As executive director of Rosslyn Renaissance, Ms. Cassidy was crucial 
in growing the member-based organization from a small core of 
volunteers to a respected business organization. Rosslyn Renaissance 
eventually merged with the Arlington Business Improvement District, 
BID, in 2012, and the majority of the programs Ms. Cassidy created 
while at Renaissance were implemented at the BID.
  In 2003, Ms. Cassidy worked with property owners, the business 
community, the County Manager's Office and Arlington Economic 
Development to help create the Rosslyn Business Improvement District, 
BID. The first BID in Northern Virginia, Rosslyn BID was formed to 
enhance development and growth through highlighting the uniqueness and 
strengths of Arlington's Rosslyn neighborhood.
  Her leadership as executive director of the BID paved the way for an 
influx of residential, retail, and dining offerings, which have 
transformed Rosslyn into a vibrant, dynamic, and more livable 
community. Today Rosslyn is a more walkable and drivable community; 
home to a number of award-winning living spaces.
  Ms. Cassidy was instrumental in bringing Artisphere to Rosslyn. In 
order to make Arlington Counties' vision for Artisphere possible, BID 
pledged $1 million in start-up revenue and $300,000 annually for the 
life of the center. The state-of-the-art cultural center cemented 
Rosslyn as the cultural capital of Arlington.
  Under the leadership of Ms. Cassidy, the Rosslyn BID garnered a 
number of awards including three from the International Downtown 
Association, one for urban placemaking for Central Space, and one in 
marketing for ROSSLYN magazine.
  Ms. Cassidy has said that one of her proudest accomplishments as 
executive director of the BID was working with local partners to 
provide services for the homeless. Rosslyn BID is one of the only BIDs 
in the nation to provide homeless services.

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