Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Fairfax County Companies to Add Almost 1,500 Jobs to Economy

Secretary Bennett's online school, two Canadian pharmaceutical firms, Canadian telecom, three Korean tech companies among 30 creating jobs

Fairfax County, Virginia, June 11, 2001 — Thirty corporations, including an Internet-based education company headed by former U.S. Education Secretary William J. Bennett, two Canadian pharmaceutical firms and a Canada-based telecommunications company, announced in April and May that they would expand or relocate in Fairfax County. The companies will add 1,480 jobs to the economy, according to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).

Typically, every new job in the primary economy spins off two to three jobs in the secondary economy. Fairfax County's growth as a business center and technology hub has added more than 36,000 jobs to the overall economy in the last 12 months and 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 one reason the Claritas market research firm last June found Fairfax County's median household income the highest in the nation.

Among the companies announcing expansions or relocations in April and May were K12, the online education program founded by Bennett and Yale professor David Gelernter to offer a comprehensive and technology-aided curriculum available to home-school families, private, charter and public schools.

"K12 is happy to be part of Fairfax County's entrepreneurial corridor. We are very pleased with the many opportunities the area offers," said Bennett, a best-selling author and chairman of K12.

Also new to Fairfax County is Nutravail Technologies Limited, a subsidiary of Biovail Corporation, a full-service pharmaceutical company based in Canada. Nutravail specializes in developing over-the-counter health-related products such as vitamin supplements. Biovail announced it intends to expand its presence in Fairfax County.

"The workforce in Fairfax County is quite skilled," said Ken Howling, vice president of finance at Biovail. "And with our Research and Product Development Center of Excellence located in Fairfax County, there are synergies the company can capitalize on by expanding locally."

Two other Canada-based companies — Teleglobe and CIBC-Amicus — announced they would increase jobs in Fairfax County.  Teleglobe is a telecommunications company. CIBC-Amicus is a financial institution. Three Korean technology companies and three law firms also announced new jobs.

"In a time when job growth is slowing in other areas, we are delighted that excellent companies are still finding great opportunities in Fairfax County," said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA. "They are creating jobs and wealth for our residents and as they become part of our community they contribute substantially to the extraordinary quality of life we all enjoy."

Relocations and expansions during April and May were:

* Foreign-owned firm.

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) promotes Fairfax County as the business and technology hub of the Washington, D.C., area and the east coast. The FCEDA assists firms by identifying possible sites and facilities, sources of funding and other business connections, and is a source for up-to-date demographic and economic statistics.  The FCEDA maintains marketing offices in London, Frankfurt and Tokyo.

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