January 2006
 

City of Alexandria, VA

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Opens for Business
In 2005, the Patent and Trademark Office officially completed construction and opened its new headquarters campus in Carlyle.  The decade long process of constructing this new USPTO headquarters has been an undertaking of considerable cooperation not only with AEDP, but with the entire City of Alexandria government.  The USPTO project in Carlyle has single-handedly transformed this once vacant rail yard into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood.  It also continues to be a tremendous catalyst for spurring spin-off intellectual property and legal business activity, as well as neighboring development and construction projects.  In addition, of the nearly 8,000 USPTO employees, 55% are using the Metro to commute to work, signaling a tremendous boost for Alexandria public transportation ridership. 

Alexandria Ranked Among America’s Top Digital Cities
Alexandria’s e-government initiatives were ranked fourth in the nation for cities of its size, according to an annual study by the National League of Cities, the Center for Digital Government, and Government Technology magazine.  Not only was Alexandria one of the pioneering DC area cities to institute free WiFi internet access in its downtown, it also is the only area municipality to be ranked in this nation-wide survey.  Alexandria’s tech-savvy reputation helps promote local business development, and works to ensure Alexandria’s position at the forefront of today’s information economy.     

AEDP Introduces Several New Marketing Resources
In an ongoing effort to provide our clients with the most current and accurate information available about Alexandria, AEDP has recently created new marketing materials.  These include a redesigned website for enhanced usability, our new Projects of Interest Map, detailing area construction and development projects, and the What’s New in Alexandria listing, which provides a current listing of all new businesses opening in Alexandria and their contact information.  All of these marketing materials are designed to give our clients fast and easy to access information.

The AEDP Façade Improvement Grant Program
The pilot program of the Façade Improvement Grant Program that began along Mount Vernon Avenue in 2003 has now been expanded to include properties along King and Queen Streets.  The program provides matching grants up to $1,500 for area businesses to make improvements to their storefronts and facades.  This program enhances the beauty of Alexandria’s main streets, and provides quick and easily accessible monetary support to our City’s small business community.  In keeping with the success of this program, The Façade Improvement Grant Program will become available citywide and with an increased funding pool during the next fiscal year!

The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership Inc., (AEDP) Experienced its Most Productive Year Yet!
Every economic barometer used to gauge the success of AEDP was up in FY’05.  AEDP experienced a 23% increase in the number of clients it successfully assisted, continuing its 8-year upward trend.  More importantly, of those additional clients, AEDP impacted 1,600 additional jobs, a 208% rise over the previous year!  Square footage absorption grew, helping to place small independent retailers to large corporate office headquarters in Alexandria.  And most importantly, the estimated tax revenue of those companies increased dramatically, contributing nearly $1.6 million dollars to the City’s economy.  FY’05 was one of the most impressive economic impact years in recent AEDP history.
 

Anne Arundel County, MD

Anne Arundel County has become a premier location for leading defense contractors such as General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, L-3 Communications Titan Group, and Northrop Grumman.  Anne Arundel County is currently the home to seven out the top ten Defense contractors in the nation and in FY 2003 ranked third among Maryland counties receiving $1.16 billion in defense procurement contracts, a 31.2% increase over FY 2002.  Anne Arundel County will see additional growth under the 2005 BRAC recommendations with some 5,300 new jobs coming to Fort George G. Meade (in the heart of Anne Arundel County’s Gold Coast) with the relocation of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) from Arlington, VA.  It is estimated that another 15,000 new jobs will be created as defense contractors relocate to Ft. Meade to support DISA and the National Security Agency. 

In addition, Ft. Meade’s Comprehensive Master Plan (CEMP) was signed in June 2005 providing a vision for a 30 + year development plan for the campus.  The CEMP proposes construction of over 22 million sf  of buildings & parking structures with working space for 49,000 personnel.

Anne Arundel County is a leader in defense technology, homeland security, and informatics. The North West portion of Anne Arundel County was successfully branded as the “Gold Coast” to describe the clustering of defense and intelligence contractors to this area.  Activity in the Gold Coast has generated $6.7 billion in capital investment and over 46,000 jobs. 

 In summer 2005, Computer Sciences Corp. Homeland Security Division opened their 175,000 sf  SCIF facility at 7231 Parkway Dr in Hanover MD.   Facility accommodates 650 employees.

 Defense contractor General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems leased the first 62,000 sf  at Arundel Mills Corporate Park in Hanover creating 100 new jobs for the County. 

Greenberg Commercial moved forward on the development of the $400 million mixed-use project Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole.  The project will be an upscale, urban mix project of residential, office, hotel, and retail development with 673,000 sf  of retail space, 120,000 sf  of office space; 900 residential units set on top of the retail shops; 200-room hotel.  Featured residential builders include Sturbridge, Bozzuto Group and K. Hovnanian Homes.  Leases signed to date include Target, Whole Foods (their second largest store in the nation)& PF Chang's restaurant.  Completion for the first phase of this project is projected for 2008.

Anne Arundel County is experiencing an unprecedented amount of new hotel development.  Factors converging to drive the hotel industry to our doorstep are:

• A strong economy, as evidenced by job growth, business expansions/locations, and the growth of the defense industry

• Pent-up demand to accommodate businesses and leisure travelers

• The growth of BWI airport

• Competition - brands not currently represented in the region want to be part of a thriving market

Six new hotels announced in 2005; 140-room Hilton Garden at Annapolis Tech Park, 140-room Hyatt Suites at Arundel Preserve; 203-room Sheraton at Airport Square, 105-room Staybridge Suites at Airport Square, 260-room Westin at Airport Square, 225-room Westin at Park Place.  The new hotels will add some 1,073 rooms to the County.  Bill Badger, President and CEO of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation said, “Anne Arundel County is a major destination for business and for pleasure, and the hotel market has responded.”

In May 2005, the first phase of the 350,000 sf  Southwest A/B Terminal opened at Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport consolidating Southwest Airline’s operations at BWI and adding new eateries to the airport.  The new A/B Terminal is the single largest expansion project in the airport’s history and is one of the first terminals to open with a “9/11” mindset with enhanced security features.

In July 2005, Oceaneering International Inc./Advanced Technologies opened their new 145,180 sf  facility in Hanover, MD; relocated from Upper Marlboro MD/PG County.  The move consolidated the groups operations with the new facility consisting of office, laboratory, manufacturing and warehouse space.   171 new jobs for Anne Arundel County.
 

Arlington County, VA

RETENTION & ATTRACTION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Overall, Arlington successfully announced 826,888 sf  of new and retained space and 2,716 new jobs in 2005.

HIGHLIGHTS

• In July 2005, BNA (Bureau of National Affairs) signed a lease to occupy 250,000 sf  of space in Crystal City, bringing 900 new jobs to Arlington. BNA is currently located in Washington, D.C.

• In June 2005, the Department of Homeland Security (US-Visit), obtained an additional 54,000 sf  of space in Rosslyn, with the intention of hiring another 250 people.

• In July 2005, Unisys obtained an additional 53,800 sf  of space, adding 200 new jobs to Arlington.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARDS

CoreNet Global Awards - Major Deals/Projects (finalist) - It was an honor for Arlington Economic Development to be among the 10 finalist organizations from throughout the country for the CoreNet Global “2005 Economic Development Leadership & Accomplishment Award”. CoreNet Global is the world’s leading professional association for corporate real estate executives as well as for economic development organizations, representing national, state, regional and local interests. The award recognizes leadership, best practices and innovations in economic development among the organizations serving communities and corporations throughout the world. Arlington Economic Development was recognized as a finalist in the Major Projects/Deals reflecting successful strategies for the following announcements: Corporate Executive Board, Public Broadcasting Service, Watson Wyatt, BAE Systems and The AES Corporation.

SMALL BUSINESS/BIZLAUNCH PROGRAM GROWS

• Since January 2005 there have been 35 business events in English and Spanish coordinated to assist entrepreneurs.

• On average, 80 entrepreneurs participated in each event with a total of approximately 2,800 attendees per program, during 2005.

• During calendar year 2005 approximately 150 entrepreneurs have received one-on-one counseling through BizLaunch representatives or SCORE appointments.

• Participation in BizLaunch events rose 35% from 2004 to 2005. One-on-one counseling sessions rose almost 5% from 2004 to 2005.

BizLaunch Program Highlights

• In 2005 BizLaunch added a specialized Bootcamp for entrepreneurs in English and Spanish. This new initiative is a collaborative effort with Arlington Economic Development and the Northern Virginia Community College. Arlington County organized the event while NVCC provided instructors who educated attendees on aspects of finance, accounting, marketing and business development for the two-day workshop. This is event is the first of its kind, for budding entrepreneurs in the region. It gives new business owners the opportunity to learn key skills in an intense environment to successfully kick-off their business.

• For existing business owners, BizLaunch is also offering its first annual networking event for entrepreneurs, in December 2005. This event was developed due to market demand. It provides existing business owners the opportunity to network and discuss “best practices” in government contracting, marketing and financing their business and more.

• Arlington’s Small Business Expo continues to reach many small business owners in the community. This year over 160 attendees participated in the third annual event held at the Arlington Career Center. Entrepreneurs learned key skills to start and expand their business as well network with the area’s leading service providers.

• In 2005, BizLaunch Coordinator, Tara Miles, received an award from the Arlington Small Business Development Center for her continued support to the small business community through the BizLaunch program.

 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

• Groundbreaking and the start of construction for the Washington Capital’s practice facility, training center and team corporate headquarters.

• Approval by the County Board of the Courthouse Hotel Ground Lease between Arlington County and Arlington Hotel Associates LLC.

• AED staff led the County staff effort on the Arlington Mill public-private partnership feasibility analysis that will result in a RFQ/PFP being completed and distributed in January 2006.

TOURISM INCREASES

• Increase of 448% in the number of requests for information about visiting Arlington fulfilled by the Visitors Orientation Center and generated through ACVS Marketing venues in advertising and on the web.Based on a normal 20% conversion between requests and visitation, this represents a significant increase in spending and in taxes generated by the Transient Occupancy Tax, Meals Tax and Sales Tax.

• Increase of 74% in the number of room nights booked in Arlington hotels as a result of leads generated by the ACVS Marketing Staff. The increase represents a significant overall spending in our community. The 2005 figures generated an estimated $9,222,980 in visitor spending in hotels, restaurants, retail, local transportation and car rental. Estimated taxes collected by the county would be $461,149.
   

City of Bowie, MD

One Melford Plaza, a 150,000 sf  Class A office building is nearly completed at St John Property's Melford/Maryland Science and Tech Center project.  This is the first of several planned office buildings at that project.  It joins 8 leased flex buildings, one fully leased single story office building, and long time building owners the US Census Bureau and the Institute for Defense Analysis.

Buchanan Partners is half way through construction of a 130,000 sf  LEED certified, green, class A office building at Bowie Town Center.  This is the first such green office building in Prince George's County.

 The highest price paid for the purchase of an office building in Prince George's County in 2005 was $230.00 per sf  for the purchase of the 101,946 net sf  One Town Center (4201 Northview Drive) in Bowie.
 

Calvert County, MD

Dominion- Dominion plans to nearly double capacity at the Cove Point Liquid Natural Gas facility in Calvert County to move more natural gas into high-demand Mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets. The expansion represents a total new investment of approximately $550 million in Southern Maryland by Dominion and includes doubling the storage and output capacity at the terminal and construction of a new pipeline. The expansion project is scheduled for completion in 2008. 

Constellation Energy - Constellation Energy is one of Maryland’s most well-respected and profitable companies. Their Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant employs nearly 1,000 people and, in FY2005 the company contributed $15.3 million in taxes to the County. In October, Constellation announced their intention to apply to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a combined construction and operating license at Calvert Cliffs in order to add a third reactor to the site.

PBP - Construction has begun at Calvert County’s new Patuxent Business Park in Lusby, Md. The 700,000 sf , 92-acre business campus is currently being cleared and graded with construction of the first building slated to begin in early 2006. The Park will accommodate a wide range of innovative businesses, including high technology organizations that will take advantage of Calvert’s ideal proximity to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and the nation’s capital.

Tourism - Tourism remains a strong and viable economic engine in Calvert County. In 2005, tourism numbers have spiked 25% in Calvert County due to a major shift in marketing. With abundant waterways, access to the Chesapeake Bay, trails, museums, galleries, shops and nearly 400 years of history, Calvert County offers plenty to see and do.

Capital Investment - In FY 2004, Calvert County experienced $50 million worth of new commercial non-utility capital investment.

Charles County, MD

Restructure the Charles County Economic Development office.  Formerly the Economic Development Commission, the group had been a private, non-profit dating back to 1997.  Since economic development is the top priority for the Charles County Board of Commissioners, the decision was made this year to create an Economic Development Department within county government, enabling county leadership to coordinate economic development activities and priorities.  At the beginning of FY '06 — July 1, 2005, the new Charles County Economic Development Department was established.  The staff moved to new offices in downtown La Plata, Maryland to be closer to county government offices, the Chamber of Commerce, and business customers.

Hire a dynamic Economic Development Director to lead the new Department.  John Reardon — formerly of Fort Collins, Colorado — joined the new Charles County EDD on December 5, 2005.  His profile was in the last issue of GWI newsletter.

Protect the base at Indian Head during the BRAC process.  The Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division is the major tenant at the Western Charles County.  This is where the Navy develops energetics technology for all branches of the military — explosives and propellants, for example.  Other Indian Head tenants include the Joint Interoperability Test Command, the Marines' Chemical and Biological Incident Response Force, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division.  County leaders worked to ensure that the BRAC commission recognized the value of these activities to the military at their current location in Charles County.  In the end, the base at Indian Head experienced only a small realignment with the loss of under 100 jobs, and the recognition in the BRAC Recommendations that the base be recognized as the Navy's center for energetics.

Development of the Charles County Science and Technology Business Park, home to the Energetics Technology Center  Charles County is beginning the process of developing a 52-acre business park in the western part of the county that will become the Science and Technology Business Park.  One of the anchor tenants will be the Energetics Technology Center, a joint venture of the NSWC/IHDIV, the University of Maryland's Center for Energetics Concept Development, the Office of Naval Research, the College of Southern Maryland, and the county.  This facility will perform energetics research, development, testing, and scientific training in virtual environments.

Raise awareness of Charles County as a place to live, work, and play.  A new 5½ minute video on CD ROM tells the story.  Request a copy at keethm@charlescounty.org.  Expect to hear more in the months to come as Charles County Economic Development, Tourism, and Public Information get the word out about the benefits of the county.
 

District of Columbia

• DC Marketing Center Changed names to the Washington DC Economic Development Partnership

• Annual report analyzing past 5 year was released in November

Fairfax County, VA

Falls Church, VA

As 2005 draws to a close, three major mixed-use development projects, representing $275 million in private investment, are under construction in the City of Falls Church, Virginia. 

·       “The Byron,” developed by NOVA-Habitat at 513 W. Broad Street, will deliver 90 luxury condominiums and about 23,000 sf  of office and retail space in 2006.

·       Across the street at 444 W. Broad, Waterford Development is building “The Spectrum,” with 191 condos and 62,000 sf  of office and retail space scheduled for delivery in 2007. 

·       At 500 S. Maple Avenue, Atlantic Realty’s “Pearson Square” will produce 230 condos and 112,000 sf  of commercial space, including the largest office project in Falls Church since 1986, for Tax Analysts, bringing at least 200 jobs to the city in late 2006.

As it experiences an unprecedented surge of developer interest in higher density, mixed-use projects, Falls Church is positioning itself to launch its long-anticipated City Center in 2006.  During the past year, the city has completed a comprehensive economic development study by the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University and a retail study and strategic plan by Retail Compass to prepare for a future of well-designed “smart growth,” while retaining the scale and atmosphere that makes Falls Church an attractive and unique community inside the Beltway.  For more information, please visit www.developfallschurch.org.
 

Frederick County, MD

MedImmune Expansion of Manufacturing Facility:  After an 18-month international search, MedImmune has chosen Frederick, MD as their location for a large expansion of their manufacturing capacity.  The first of 4 phases of the expansion will include $240 million in capital investment and 225 new jobs.  David Mott, CEO of MedImmune, says "the intent is to use the Frederick site as MedImmune's primary large scale commercial manufacturing facility."
 

Fannie Mae opens Data Center:  Fannie Mae opened the doors of its 250,000 sf  data center in Urbana (Frederick County, MD) in February 2005.  Located on 39 acres with 225 employees (as part of Phase I of build-out), the facility is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified data center in the nation.
 

Frederick Opens its first Business Incubator:  The County’s first technology business incubator, the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), was officially opened in January 2005 in Rosenstock Hall on the Hood College campus near Fort Detrick.  As of November, 2005, FITCI has 7 physical tenant companies (representing 25+ employees) and 6 virtual tenant clients.
 

Contracting Resource for Fort Detrick Opens:  The Fort Detrick Business Business Development Office opened in March 2005, and sserves as the primary portal and lead organization in establishing partnerships and business agreements between the business community, community organizations and the mission partners located at Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD.

Technology Transfer Fund Established:  In 2005, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), in conjunction with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, secured federal funds to establish the Fort Detrick Technology Transfer Initiative, a program used to facilitate tech transfer with the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) at Fort Detrick.  Companies working with USAMRMC to fulfill the Army's technology needs or to commercialize technologies may qualify for up to $50,000 in funding.
 

Howard County, MD

American Healthways, opened its second facility by leasing 33,000 sf  at Crestpointe Corporate Center in the Columbia Gateway Business Park.  The disease and care management services provider plans to hire approximately 200 people adding to the company’s 150 employees already in the county.

Baltimore Aircoil’s new corporate headquarters and research & development facility has been completed at the intersection of Montevideo Road and the new Dorsey Run Road extension.  More than 200 jobs were retained in the new 91,000 sf  building.

Cadmus Professional Communications has leased 65,000 sf  on Robert Fulton Drive in the Columbia Gateway Business Park.  The publication services company will relocate 305 employees into the county and create 70 new jobs. 

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream is expanding its ice cream manufacturing at the corner of Route 1 and Whiskey Bottom Road.  The 600,000 sf  expansion will house over 300 new jobs and the investment is estimated to be over $200 million.

Verizon Wireless has expanded operations in the county with the opening of a 140,000 SFCustomer Service Center located in the Patapsco Valley Business Center.   Verizon plans to hire 500 new employees in addition to the 1,000 currently employed in the county. 
 

Loudoun County, VA

Equinix Developing Flagship Washington, D.C. Area Data Center Campus: Equinix has expanded its county facilities with the additional leasing of 58,621 sf  in Ashburn, and the $53 million purchase of several additional Loudoun buildings. Equinix is a leading global provider of network neutral data centers and Internet exchange services for enterprises, content companies, and network services providers. The company has added 70 new clients in the last financial quarter, including eHarmony.com, Fox Sports Interactive Media, Ikea Asia Pacific Ltd, Merrill Lynch Asia Pacific Ltd, MySpace.com, NASA, Salesforce.com, Samsung Networks and Sandisk.

 Increasing Federal Contractor Activity:

• LTI DataComm, an expanding government contractor, has moved its headquarters facility from Reston to Sterling.  The company is a veteran-owned small business, and has been a leader in technology solutions and services to the federal government since 1981. Previous clients include the U.S. Army, Air Force, National Guard, Department of State, and Secret Service. According to LTI Marketing and Sales Executive Josh Doyle, the headquarters space offers new benefits, such as greater dedicated space, a quiet location, and close access for traveling staff to nearby Dulles Airport. The company currently employs 32 and is hiring additional staff.

• Orbital Sciences Awarded Recent Contracts Worth a Potential $210 million. In addition to a $4.4 million contract with Intercity Transit of Olympia, Washington and a $6.1 million contract with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Orbital was awarded a major contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide launch services for space missions from 2005 to 2012. The total value of the NASA contract could exceed $200 million over the seven year term.

• Defense Contractor TAG is Expanding its Loudoun Headquarters. Technology Advancement Group (TAG) is currently constructing a new Defense Security Services accredited design and manufacturing facility that will maximize output of its rugged, tactical hardware systems. TAG is a leading provider of engineering and technology services, including the design, evaluation, testing, and systems integration for mission critical programs to the military and defense agencies. The company has announced that it has won five new military contracts since their expansion began this spring. The new facility will add 35,000 SFto the company’s existing 10-acre complex on TAG Way in Dulles, which includes its national headquarters and corporate offices. The company will also create an additional 35 positions.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Poised For a 2006 Opening: Construction at the HHMI site continues, and the hiring of eight group leaders and 43 HHMI investigator scientists is complete. A second round of hiring is currently underway. When completed, the Janelia Farm Research Campus in Loudoun County will have over 300 resident staff and 100 visiting scientists at work.  With over 750,000 sf  of new research and conference center space, the buildings will be set into the hillside overlooking the Potomac River. 

University Programs and Facilities Growing in Loudoun:

• George Washington University’s Virginia Campus Partners with Shenandoah University on Pharmacogenomics.  The George Washington University (GWU) medical school and Shenandoah University’s (SU) School of Pharmacy launched the nation’s only undergraduate program in pharmacogenomics in fall 2005. The program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree, which industry analysts state is a critical requirement for biotechnology careers. The degree also generates an average of $26,000 more in annual income than a standard bachelor’s degree. The program will be taught by faculty from both schools and can lead to entrance into Shenandoah’s doctoral program in pharmacy or GWU’s Master of Science program in genomics and bioinformatics. 

• George Washington University’s Virginia Campus has grown in the past year to approximately 350 employees with close to 600 students, for a total of nearly 1,000 people at the Loudoun location.

• The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has announced partnerships with the University of Cambridge and the University of Chicago to launch an interdisciplinary graduate PhD program at the Janelia Farm Research Campus. The first class of graduate students will enter the program in the fall of 2007, and will receive their doctoral degrees by the partner universities. http://www.hhmi.org/news/janeliagrad.html

• George Mason University (GMU) Develops Loudoun Facility. GMU announced the opening of a new Loudoun facility in fall 2005. Mason@Loudoun now offers courses and programs in information technology, management, nursing, health science, education, and social work, along with undergraduate general education courses, and will expand offerings as opportunities arise. An articulation agreement with Northern Virginia Community College will permit a seamless transfer into George Mason's major programs.   

• The University of North Carolina Keenan-Flagler Business School weekend Executive MBA program is thriving at Lansdowne, Virginia. OneMBA, a global weekend executive education program, is preparing 35 executives as the next generation of global leaders. The program meets monthly in Lansdowne, and delivers week-long immersion programs in collaboration with universities in Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Sau Paulo and Monterey over a 21-month period.
   

Life Science Initiatives:

• The Loudoun County Department of Economic Development Identifies Conference Strategy. The department has identified an economic development strategy to grow and develop life sciences conferences in Loudoun County.  The first such conference will be held in the fall of 2006.  The Board of Supervisors has approved the allocation of seed money from the Tourism Opportunity Fund for a five year conference on medical automation, a growing industry that merges engineering and medicine by bringing lab research from the bench to the bedside. The conference will bring industry decision makers, scientists, and engineers to Loudoun, which will allow the county to profile, strengthen and grow its life science cluster and merge current business strengths in information technology, engineering, and health care. Subsequent conference strategies are being identified and developed with the business community, associations, and science communities.

• Mid-Atlantic Bio - Northern Virginia Life Science Communities.  The Department of Economic Development exhibited at the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Biotechnology Conference in October 2005 with approximately 60 exhibitors and 700 attendees.  This was the first combined event held by Virginia Biotechnology Association, Maryland Bio, and the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association, in replacement of their respective separate conferences held each fall. Loudoun attended in partnership with Fairfax and Prince William Counties to market and co-brand Northern Virginia under the “Northern Virginia Life Science Communities” name.  Regional collateral was created including a brochure, map, booth signage, and team process. Next steps will include defining strategic scope and prioritizing future marketing opportunities.

International Business Program Underway:  In summer 2005, Loudoun’s international business ambassador began contract work including outreaching to the county’s existing international business executives, identifying compatible German-speaking international business communities, and creating press opportunities in both Germany and the United States. The county hosted its first Loudoun-based international executives breakfast in early December. Press articles are in progress for German and U.S. publications focusing on Loudoun-based subsidiaries, and the growth of Loudoun's international program. A German business recruitment publication has also been produced and translated, and is being used in initial outreach to economic development and political officials in Berlin, Frankfurt, Saarland, and Munich.
 

Manassas, VA

Micron Technology, Inc. Reaches 300MM Volume Production at their Manassas, Virginia plant as part of a $1.2 Billion Expansion.  Micron announced on November 4, 2005 that they would be adding 860 new high-tech jobs as part of their $1.2 billion upgrade of its fabrication facilities in Manassas, Virginia.    Micron in Manassas now employs 1,150 employees, up from 530 in 2004. Over the past year they have been phasing out the manufacturing of the 200mm wafer to new state-of-the art 300mm process technology memory chips.  Micron Technology, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions.  Through their worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets DRAMs, NAND Flash memory, CMOS image sensors, other semiconductor components, and memory modules for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, and mobile products. 

Mission Airlines began charter service between the Manassas, Virginia; Reading, Pennsylvania; and White Plains, New York.  Mission Airlines will operate two round trip flights per day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  This new service will provide the traveler with quick and easy access to metropolitan and upstate New York and the shopping outlets located in Reading, Pennsylvania.  A round trip ticket to White Plains will cost $182.22 and a round trip fair to Reading will cost $180.90.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-877-77-CLICK.  Check-in, baggage and boarding will be provided by Mission Airlines personnel.

Integrated Data Systems Relocates their Corporate Headquarters to Manassas, Virginia.  Just before Labor Day, IDS relocated from Prince William County to 9817 Godwin Street in the City of Manassas.  The company designs and builds information management systems for government and the health care industry.  IDS was founded in 1995. According to CEO, Larry Hunt, the growth of IDS from one to 23 employees is a function of their unique business. To meet the demands of their growing client list, IDS will be adding an additional 30 jobs over the next 12 months.  IDS is one of Microsoft’s Gold Certified Partners, a designation awarded to only 47 companies in the region.

Aurora Flight Sciences Expands their Corporate Headquarters.  Manassas based Aurora Flight Sciences, a world leader in the development of unmanned air vehicles, is expanding their operations.  In August 2005, the Manassas City Council approved the 50,000 sf  expansion at their headquarters located at the Manassas Regional Airport.  The expansion, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2006, will double the size of the current facility and add an additional 100 jobs to the City.  Aurora’s expansion will support the MarsFlyer Program in conjunction with NASA as well as other unmanned aerial vehicle programs.  Aurora has played a critical role in both space exploration and the war on terror.  They are a major contributor to the Global Hawk airframe, the newest and most advanced long-endurance reconnaissance aircraft in use in Afghanistan and Iraq by the Air Force. Aurora also operates facilities in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and San Diego, California.

Micron’s Manassas Facility to Manufacture NAND Flash Memory for a New Company created between Micron and Intel. Micron Technology, Inc. and Intel Corporation announced they have agreed to form a new company to manufacture NAND flash memory for use in consumer electronics, removable storage and handheld communication devices.  Production of the NAND flash memory will take place primarily at their Manassas facility and their Boise, Idaho and Lehi, Utah plants.  The new company combines Micron’s expertise in developing NAND technology and operating highly efficient manufacturing facilities with Intel’s multi-level cell technology.  The company will be 51 percent owned by Micron and 49 percent owned by Intel. 

BAE Manassas Facility Receives $12.5 Million NASA Research and Development Contract.  BAE Systems received a $12.5 million contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for research and development of extreme temperature technology.  The BAE Manassas facility will research and examine techniques to extend the performance range of semiconductor devices that will enable NASA to continue exploring and examining the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.  Through a combination of process and device modifications, the basic semiconductor device will be modified to operate at temperatures as low as minus 230 C.  BAE Systems has a long history of providing radiation-hardened solutions for U.S. space programs. The Manassas facility designed and developed the RAD6000 computers that were installed on each of the still-operating Mars Rovers, the only control and data computers aboard the two Rovers. The Manassas facility also manufactured the RAD750 radiation-hardened microprocessors that are on NASA’s Deep Impact mission to study the nucleus of comet Tempel 1.
 

Montgomery County, MD

Montgomery County Conference Center: The state-of-the-art Bethesda North Marriott Montgomery County Conference Center celebrated its one year anniversary in 2005.  The facility, which features the third largest ballroom in the Washington, DC region, has exceeded all expectations by making over $1 million in profits during Fiscal Year 2005. Original industry estimates assumed the conference center would run a deficit of around $186,000 in its first two years. Instead the Center has generated a net operating income of about $1,050,000.  Due to the partnership arrangement between the State of Maryland and Montgomery County, 100 percent of the operating income goes to the County. The Conference Center has already drawn business from a wide variety of clientele. It has been host to regional meetings and trainings; international conferences and even weddings and local family gatherings. Several events have drawn so many out-of-town attendees that they have not only filled up the adjacent Marriott hotel, but several other local hotels as well. Several bookings have already been made through 2009 and continue to be strong. The Conference Center is on track for even greater profits in Fiscal Year 2006.

FDA Consolidation Project: The $865 million FDA Headquarters Consolidation project continued to make significant progress in 2005.  The project, located on 130 acres of the 660-acre Federal Research Center in the White Oak section of Silver Spring, will ultimately include 3 million sf  of office, lab, and support facilities.  As of October 2005, 2,000 FDA employees have relocated to the White Oak campus, many of whom are located in the new CDER I office building which was dedicated on July 12, 2005.  When the consolidation is complete, it is expected that over 7,000 employees will be working on the campus. 

Silver Spring Innovation Center: In September 2005, Montgomery County celebrated the one-year anniversary of its second incubator facility, the Silver Spring Innovation Center (SSIC).   The 20,000 sf  facility provides low cost office space and services for start-up information technology companies.  The $2.5 million SSIC opened its doors in September 2004 and is now fully leased.  Among the SSIC tenants is Radius Technology who won the Maryland Incubator Association’s Maryland Incubator Company of the Year award for 2005.

Worldspace: Downtown Silver Spring continued to be a magnet for new business in 2005 as Worldpsace announced in June 2005 that it would be relocating its headquarters facility from Washington, DC.  Worldspace, a satellite radio provider that broadcasts to markets in Asia and Africa, leased of 50,000 sf  at 8515 Georgia avenue right in the heart of downtown Silver Spring’s revitalization area.  The company opened its doors in September 2005 and committed to bring over 100 new high-paying jobs to downtown Silver Spring, with further expansion promised.  With the addition of Worldspace, downtown Silver Spring further enhanced its reputation as an arts and entertainment district that also includes Discovery Communications, the AFI Silver Theater, TV One, and Entravision.   

Downtown Wheaton Revitalization: Wheaton continued its remarkable redevelopment in 2005.  Macy’s arrived the spring with the opening of its first department store in Montgomery County, a store that employs over 200 people.  In addition to Macy’s, Westfield’s has completed the majority of its 50 new retail shops and restaurants on the lower level of the mall.  Several other smaller commercial projects were completed this past year:  Hollywood East, a Wheaton restaurant for more than eight years, opened its second location this spring - Hollywood East Café on the Boulevard.  This is the first establishment to open a “second” location in downtown Wheaton.  Additionally, two projects are scheduled to begin construction in early 2006:  the HOC/Bozzuto WMATA Air Rights residential project, the new “freestanding” CVS store at Westfield’s and the Wheaton Rescue Squad’s new operations and community center.  Montgomery County also announced in 2005 plans to open its third business Incubator in downtown Wheaton.  This facility is scheduled to open in January 2006.
 

Prince Georges County, MD

Completed Projects

Freeman Decorating (developed by Jackson Shaw)
Location: Washington Business Park
Size: 160,000 sf
Type: Warehouse / Distribution
Freeman and AVW-TELAV recently opened a new 160,000 sf  facility in Lanham, Maryland. The full-service operation will allow the companies to better serve exposition, convention and corporate event clients in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the surrounding areas. Freeman first opened an office in Washington, D.C. in 1981 and since then has expanded two times. The Lanham facility houses 80 full-time staff and provides almost twice the space as the previous site in Alexandria. AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions, a division of Freeman, opened its area sales office in 1998 and now provides full-service equipment and technical staff support.

Greenhorne & O’Mara Headquarters
Location: 6110 Frost Place, Laurel
Size: 64,900 sf
Type: Office
Greenhorne & O'Mara (G&O) relocated its national headquarters from its existing facility in Greenbelt, Maryland to the 64,900 sf  of build-to-suit office building in the new Konterra at Sweitzer Lane office park development in Prince George's County, Maryland. G&O took occupancy of the three-story, $11.5 million building to be located at 6110 Frost Place, Laurel, Maryland in December 2005, at the end of its current lease at its Greenbelt facility. The new 12-year lease is with the building's owner, 1325 G Street Associates, LLP. Julien J. Studley, Inc., a national commercial real estate firm, has represented G&O throughout the search effort, lease negotiation, and design and development of the new location.

Gingery Development and the Tower Companies
Location: Collington Center, 15800 Commerce Court
Size: 100,000 sf                      
Type: office/warehouse and flex
Status: Second building under construction
Collington Trade Center, located at 15800-15850 Commerce Court, is a brand new, state of the art office-flex-warehouse development currently under construction in Prince George''s County. The project, a joint venture between Gingery Development Group and The Tower Companies, features 2 buildings totaling 200,000 sq. ft. with 7,000 sq. ft. bays, 24'' ceiling heights, dock and drive-in loading, and attractive store fronts. Access to the Beltway I-495 is available via MD 214 to the north and MD 4 to the south.

Patriot Business Park
Location: 7852 Walker Drive, adjacent to Golden Triangle Park in Greenbelt
Size: 84,000 sf
Type: Commercial Office
Status: Opened in February 2005
The first building (84,000 sf ) opened in July 2004 and is 100% leased. The University of Phoenix, Scheer Partners, and John Staurulakis, Inc. occupy half of the second building.

Groundbreakings in 2005

Prince George’s Plaza Metro Joint Development
Location: Southwest corner of East-West Highway and Belcrest Road
Size: 22.7 acres
Type: Commercial office, retail, hotel and multifamily residential
Status: The detailed site plans for the residential and retail components have been approved, and the ground breaking was held in the fall 2005.  Taylor Land and Development of Florida is building the retail and office, and Mid-City Financial of Silver Spring is building the residential. The community, Mosaic at Metro, will be the first privately funded transit oriented residential development at a Metro station in Prince George's County. The luxury apartment homes are anticipated for occupancy during mid 2007. The residential community is the first phase of a transit based mixed-use development, which also includes retail and office space.  Confirmed retailers include Staples, Circuit City and Bally Total Fitness club.

Project: University of Maryland Enterprise Campus
Location: Adjacent to the College Park Metro Station
Size: 130 acres, approximately 2.8 million sf  at full buildout (10 years)
Type: Commercial Office and Research and Development Facilities
Status: The Center for the Advanced Study of Language and the National Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NOAA) will become two of the first new tenants in the park.  NOAA will take 268,000 sf  of space, with delivery in fall 2007.  Plans have been submitted for two 120,000 sf  office buildings and one 60,000 sf  office building.  The University is looking forward to attracting firms from a broad range of disciplines including computer science, mathematics, engineering, physical and life sciences, biotechnology, and linguistics.

Project: Steeplechase 95 (Atapco Properties)
Location: I-495 and Ritchie Road
Size: 1,000,000 sf  of industrial, flex, retail and office space on 110 acres
Type: Warehouse / Distribution
Status: Site work and construction is underway on the first building.  Steeplechase 95 is a 108-acre mixed-use business park located on the Capitol Beltway at the new Ritchie Marlboro Road interchange. The site can accommodate a total of one million sf  and is zoned I-1.The park will also incorporate restaurants, banks, gas and convenience store and other services to support the major employers who locate there as well as enhance the retail and service base for the surrounding community. Steeplechase 95 is located within a Maryland Enterprise Zone making it eligible for both real property tax credits and income tax credits, potentially adding up to big savings for tenants. In addition, the application of the industrial section of Steeplechase 95 for designation as a Foreign Trade Zone is currently being processed. Construction of the first building, Building "E", began this fall and is expected to open by early Summer 2006.  Building "E" will contain 138,780 sf  occupying 8.3 acres. The building will have 21 rear loading docks with an optional 30,000 sf  mezzanine and 121-space parking lot.

Project: National Harbor
Location: Oxon Hill
Type: Hotel/Conference Center, Retail, Office and Residential
Status: The groundbreaking ceremony was held in December 2004, and the first phase of approximately 4 million sf  is slated to open in 2008. Once completed, the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center will be the centerpiece of National Harbor. With its restaurants and retail space, National Harbor is expected to bring 1,850 permanent jobs to Prince George’s County. National Harbor will include three hotels with a total of 3,500 rooms, residential and retail space along 1.25 miles of frontage on the Potomac River.
 

Prince William County, VA

      
FBI's Northern Virginia Field Office - The US General Services Administration (GSA) plans to locate a 199,110 rentable sf  class “A” office building in Innovation@Prince William Technology Park to house the FBI’s Northern Virginia Resident Agency. The estimated investment value of the project is $32.6 million, and the FBI will employ more than 300 people at the facility.

GMU Regional BSL3 Biocontainment Lab - George Mason University was awarded $25 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, for construction of a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory at its Prince William Campus. The successful application, proposed by George Mason’s National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, has resulted in the largest research award in the university’s history. The 83,154-sf  facility will contain a biosafety level-3 laboratory for the development of techniques and products for detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases that either result from biological terrorism or arise naturally.

Northern Virginia Forensic Science Lab - The Commonwealth secured 10 acres of land in Innovation@Prince William Technology Park for the construction of the Northern Virginia Forensic Science Lab. The Lab will be constructed for an estimated $32 million and will handle forensic evidence cases for Northern Virginia.

Presidents Cup - The 2005 Presidents Cup came to Prince William County's Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. This has been the only US site to host this international event that contests the top US golfers against the top international golfers (not eligible for the Ryder Cup). The event brought tourists and business leaders from around the world to witness this magnificent competition, which the US one on the last match of the four-day event.

Data Center Market Heating Up - In 2005, three data center properties were purchased, indicating a significant increase in secure data facilities. In June, Dupont Fabros acquired the AOL Gainesville facility for $58.3 million, and the GSA purchased a facility from T-Rex for $63 million, which is ideal for data center projects. Finally, in August, MCI purchased the Cyberfortress Data Center for $18.3 million. Total investment for the MCI deal is expected to be in excess of $30 million.
 

Rockville, MD

Stafford County, VA

Stafford's business growth of 11.4 % from first quarter 2004 to first quarter 2005 leads the Commonwealth.  The 198 new businesses were the largest percent growth, the next largest was Loudoun at 10.3 % and all the rest were less than 10 %.

• Exit 136 on I-95, Centreport Parkway and Stafford Regional Airport opens for traffic.  This new $ 40+ million interchange was 18 months behind schedule but links to the new 3.4 mile Centreport Parkway that serves the Stafford Regional Airport.  FedEx Ground has opened a new 40,000 sf  facility on this road.

• Our new web site www.GoStaffordVa.com was unveiled in October.  This new site allows easy access and navigation of the many assets in Stafford.  Also updated was our tourism site www.TourStaffordVa.com .

• Developed and released an "Interactive Guide to Doing Business in Stafford".  This compact disk has been requested and distributed to over 500 entrepreneurs in Stafford year to date.

• MWH Medicorp announced a planned 100 bed hospital to be located in the Courthouse area in Stafford.  Medicorp has purchased land and awaits approval from the State to build the new hospital by 2009.

• BRAC to add 3,000 jobs at the Quantico Marine Base.

St. Mary’s County, MD

Patuxent River Navel Station was successful in the BRAC process and continues to be the center for acquisition, research, development, test and evaluation for Marine aviation and related defense and Homeland Security activities.

There was a successful public purchase of the 84-acre Lexington Manor Property, a blighted 1940s residential development, to eliminate encroachment affecting Patuxent River Naval Air Station.  This elimination has involved the relocation of over 100 low-income families to better housing one year ahead of projections.  The St. Mary’s county Community Development Corporation will issue a request for proposals in January to identify potential developers for a portion of the property.

The “Marine One” helicopter for the Presidential Helicopter program was brought to Patuxent River Naval Station, which is the replacement program for the President’s helicopter. The first prototype helo was delivered in the fall of 2005.  This is the first phase of the U.S. 101 helicopter contract of $1.7 billion and a total cost of $6.1 billion contract for the Patuxent River Naval Station.

The number of technology firms located in St. Mary’s County has increased from 195 in 2005 to 229 for 2006.

St. Mary’s County’s five-year growth in jobs (between 2000 and 2005) is more than double to Maryland state average (2.9% v. 1.1%)