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Fairfax official cries foul over Metro-approved bid for FBI HQ

By WTOP Staff

Megan Cloherty, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – A Fairfax County representative is calling foul over a Metro-endorsed proposal he says gives Prince George’s County the edge in an ongoing bid to house the FBI’s new headquarters.

“The minute Metro signs onto a development proposal, there’s automatically a bias in how it’s reviewed,” says Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay.

McKay takes issue with WMATA-owned land near the Greenbelt station being considered as a possible site for the new intelligence headquarters. Metro’s real estate committee voted Thursday to allow its developer of that land to work with Prince George’s County on a bid.

The competition to land the FBI’s relocation project started last year when the General Services Administration announced the agency was leaving the District’s dilapidated J. Edgar Hoover building. The new headquarters needs to be near a Metro site, which is why McKay says the transit agency shouldn’t insert itself into the debate.

“We are completely agnostic when it comes to where the FBI ends up and which site gets selected,” says Metro spokesman Dan Stessel.

The competition is fierce over what could be one of the last big agency moves from Washington.

“I think the whole reason why Metro has been asked to join this application is because the folks in Maryland were concerned that Virginia had better sites,” McKay said.

“The fact they had to go to this extent shows that they have some short comings in their own application.”

Prince George’s County officials took exception to that statement, responding that their bid is strong on its own.

“Not only do we have a significant portion of federal employees, roughly 27 percent of the region’s federal workforce live in Prince George’s County. Also, considering the amount of develop-able land especially near Metro stations, I don’t think there’s another jurisdiction that can match that available land, says Aubrey Thagard, the county’s assistant deputy chief operating officer for economic development and public infrastructure.

McKay, who represented Virginia on Metro’s board for four years, wrote a letter to the transit agency’s real estate committee expressing his concerns about their involvement in Prince George’s County’s likely bid.

The board voted Thursday to allow the developer, Renard Development Co. LLC, the ability to assign its development rights to another party. In this case, Renard is talking about giving its rights to Prince George’s County. However, the county has not yet been named in the bid.

“It’s very high stakes and for WMATA to put themselves right smack dab in the middle of this economic development competition in the region, I think spells trouble in the long run for Metro in the partnership it has had with its funding partners,” McKay says.

Metro has had an agreement with the developer of the 78-acre plot since 2000. Renard has always had the option in its contract with Metro to assign rights to another party, as long as the transit agency approves it, Stessel says.

“We really do not pick sides when it comes to this stuff. This is something that was provided for under a more than a decade old agreement with the developer. The developer is simply exercising something that they’re permitted to do under their existing agreement,” says Stessel.

The measure approved Thursday morning by Metro’s real estate committee extends the deadline from March 2014 until December 2014 to give Renard enough time to submit a bid for the FBI’s new headquarters, reports the Washington Business Journal.

The move is not an expression of support for one county in particular, rather Metro is allowing the developer to exercise a right in their contract, Stessel says.

“Our support of Prince George’s County in this matter is non-exclusive. We’ll cooperate with any jurisdiction that needs this type of assistance from us. The fact is, the sites under consideration might not need it or might not be on Metro property that is under a development agreement,” Stessel says.

McKay contends that Metro’s board should abandon the project and can easily let the contract expire.

“It would not be that difficult for the WMATA board in light of the regional competition ongoing to land the FBI to not make this extension. There’s no reason why they should have to do it,” McKay says.

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(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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