Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alan Fogg, Director of Communications
afogg@fceda.org, 703-790-0600

Fairfax County Companies Create Almost 700 New Jobs

Large IT services company, three UK companies among 16 employers bolstering economy

Fairfax County, Virginia, July 28, 2001 — Sixteen corporations — including three British companies, a telecommunications company that focuses its services on Africa, and a large local information technology company — have expanded operations in Fairfax County, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority  (FCEDA) announced.  The companies, mostly information technology firms, added 697 new jobs to the economy, the FCEDA said.

Typically, every new job added spins off two to three jobs in the secondary economy. Fairfax County, one of the nation's largest business and technology centers, has added more than 36,000 jobs to the overall economy in the last 12 months. That growth has helped fund one of the nation's top-rated public school systems, excellent public services and an enviable quality of life. Technology-sector jobs also typically pay higher-than-average salaries, which is why Fairfax County had the nation's highest median household income in 2000 according to the Claritas market research firm.

Among the companies expanding is SRA International Inc., a Fairfax-based information technology consulting and systems integration firm that serves government and corporate clients.

 "Fairfax County is an excellent place to work and live. It has attractive neighborhoods, good schools and government, and proximity to the rich culture of Washington, D.C.," said Ernst Volgenau, president and CEO of SRA International. "Many executives whom I know are working to enhance the county's leadership in technology, education and quality of life."

Also expanding is Warsun International Communications Corp., a telecommunications company that focuses on providing telephone, Internet and other telecommunications services to businesses throughout Africa.

Companies new to Fairfax County include three English companies: network management software developer Cramer Systems Inc., Gainesborough Business Centres, and Vector Command, which develops software to simulate fire and rescue incidents and responses.  

"Fairfax was a logical choice for Cramer Systems given the high concentration of telecommunications companies in the area, and access to high tech talent here is unbeatable," said Kimber Lewis, president of Cramer Systems Inc. "Proximity to the nation's capital, diverse communities and excellent services make Fairfax a great place to live and work."

 "We are hearing a lot about a slowing economy, but companies big and small, local and international, continue to find that Fairfax County is the place to be successful in the Washington area," said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA.

For technology companies, Fairfax County offers a state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure, access to domestic and international markets through Washington Dulles International Airport, a well-educated workforce and an excellent quality of life.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org) assists businesses by identifying possible sites and facilities, and is a source for up-to-date demographic and economic statistics.

Relocations and expansions: