Walmart Signs D.C. Community Benefits Agreement

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:

• Georgia and Missouri Avenue NW
• Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue NE
• New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road NE
• 801 New Jersey Ave. NW
• East Capitol Street and 58th Street
• Good Hope Road and Alabama Avenue SE