


Walmart has agreed to sign a community benefits agreement (pdf) with D.C., as reported by the Washington Business Journal. As part of the agreement, they are promising to work with the D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development to hire local businesses and contractors and offer competitive compensation to prospective employees.
D.C. officials have agreed to plans that include the construction of six Walmart stores in the District. They say they plan to build most of the stores in underserved neighborhoods, offering new employment opportunities and fresh groceries for area residents.
The agreement was vehemently opposed by anti-Walmart activists when it was announced last week. They criticized the city for holding meetings with the giant retailer behind closed doors. One of their principle arguments against the agreement was that it did not come with a community benefits agreement, as promised, but it's unlikely that it will appease all the retailer's opponents, who were also demanding transit benefits, safety agreements and a $12.50 minimum wage at the store.
The locations of the six stores:

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