Most people think of the federal employees when they think of Washington, DC. After all, this is the center of the nation’s government. The president lives here, Congress acts here and the Supreme Court issues decisions here. What other industry could possibly overshadow that?

In actuality, nothing does. The federal government, however, has an enormous rippling effect on the local economy, boosting other industries by its very presence. It turns out that hosting the nation’s capital benefits every businessperson in the region, from attorneys to caterers. In fact, if Washington were a state, it would rank 35th in gross state product, producing $88 billion every year. The metropolitan region earns an astounding $299 billion, making it the 10th richest urban area in the world.

This is just a sample of what you'll find in the complete Washington, DC, guide.