If you want to see a classic economic stimulus package, forget the U.S. government's check-writing campaign or suggestions from some presidential candidates of a cut in the federal gas tax.
Instead, check out Volkswagen of America's ongoing move from suburban Detroit to a six-story office building along the Dulles Toll Road in Herndon, which is putting a $100 million pop in the region's economy.
It's not like the company is building a sprawling assembly plant employing thousands. Even a few hundred highly paid executives cannot have a huge effect on a local economy that produces $407 billion in goods and services a year and employees 3.4 million, one of the largest labor forces in the country.
But VW's arrival shows how -- even in a small way -- a new employer can add a little heft to businesses of all sizes. From hiring office designers to buying hundreds of chairs and desks, from employing construction contractors to installing coffee and vending machines, the company is adding oomph to the area's economic engine.
