Salesforce plans new Washington center for government ties

# Salesforce to Open Innovation Center in Washington, D.C., in 2028

Salesforce plans to establish a new innovation center in Washington, D.C., bringing federal agencies, technology partners and community organizations together as the company expands its engagement with the public sector.

The San Francisco-based enterprise software company announced the Salesforce Innovation Center D.C. on October 29. The facility is intended to serve as a hub for policy discussions, technology demonstrations, meetings and collaboration involving government officials, business partners and community groups.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2026, with the center scheduled to open in early 2028. It will be located at 1401 New York Avenue NW, near the White House and Metro Center. The property is owned and managed by Carr Properties, a real estate company specializing in office and residential developments.

## Strengthening Engagement With Government Agencies

Salesforce said the center will support its work with federal, state and local government organizations as they pursue technology upgrades and improvements to public services.

The company identified all 15 Cabinet agencies, all 50 states, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Transportation among the public-sector organizations it serves.

The facility will host policy summits, technology briefings and collaborative sessions focused on government operations. It will also offer a setting where public officials, government employees, customers and technology partners can examine potential applications of emerging technologies.

Wendy R. Anderson, Salesforce's senior vice president of Government and Global Public Affairs, said the center would create a dedicated environment for government and industry leaders to build relationships, pursue common priorities and strengthen their engagement with the Washington community.

Plans also include conference facilities, wellness amenities and an indoor-outdoor rooftop venue.

## Part of a Broader Public-Sector Strategy

The Washington project forms part of Salesforce's wider effort to expand its government affairs and public-sector operations. The company has recently made several leadership appointments, including Anderson, Geof Kahn as vice president of Federal Government Affairs and Public Policy, and Virginia Sharma as chief marketing officer of Missionforce.

Salesforce said the expanded leadership team will focus on helping government organizations modernize their services through Salesforce GovCloud and Missionforce.

Missionforce is the company's government-focused business serving public-sector organizations, while GovCloud provides cloud services designed for customers with government-specific security and compliance requirements.

Kendall Collins, president and CEO of Missionforce and Government Cloud at Salesforce, said the innovation center would support modernization initiatives aimed at improving services for citizens, making government operations more efficient and strengthening national security.

## Salesforce Has More Than 2,000 Employees in the Washington Region

Salesforce said it has operated in the Washington region for more than 20 years and employs over 2,000 people across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

The new facility will give the company a more prominent location in central Washington, while its McLean, Virginia, office will continue to serve as an important regional hub.

The company also pointed to its community involvement through its 1-1-1 philanthropic model, which directs resources toward communities through employee volunteering, grants and technology support.

According to Salesforce, the company and its employees have contributed more than $76 million and completed 16,000 volunteer hours in communities across the Washington region. The new center is expected to host local events, support nonprofit partnerships and create additional opportunities for Salesforce employees to work with community organizations.

## Technology and Government Modernization

The planned center comes as government agencies evaluate ways to incorporate artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into public services. These efforts involve considerations such as data security, operational efficiency and the changing needs of citizens.

Salesforce said the facility will provide a dedicated space for public officials and technology partners to discuss these developments, demonstrate potential solutions and explore opportunities for collaboration.

With construction expected to start in late 2026 and an opening targeted for early 2028, the project represents another step in Salesforce's efforts to deepen its relationships with government organizations and expand its public-sector presence in the nation's capital.