Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alan Fogg, Director of Communications
afogg@fceda.org, 703-790-0600 (o) or 571-213-5065 (m)

Fairfax County companies create 851 jobs in March and April

Expanding companies include tech training school, software companies, defense contractors, five firms from Korea and two from Canada

Fairfax County, Virginia, May 20, 2002 -- Some 851 jobs - most in information technology fields - were or will be added to the Fairfax County economy by 27 companies that worked with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) in March and April.

WAM!NET, a Minnesota-based provider of secure, digital content delivery and hosting solutions, chose Fairfax County for the headquarters of its Government Services division and was the largest announcement during March and April.

Other companies creating jobs include ITT Educational Services, which opened its first technical training institute in the county and 71st nationwide; ServiceSource, which employs disabled people for jobs including recycling computer equipment; defense contractors ManTech International and L-3 Communications; five companies from Korea and two from Canada.

Typically, every new job in the primary economy spins off about two to three jobs in the secondary economy. Business growth in Fairfax County has helped fund one of the nation's top-rated public school systems and excellent public services. Technology-sector jobs also typically pay higher-than-average salaries. That is why Fairfax County had the nation's highest median household income in 2001, according to the Claritas market research firm.

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.

"My team of real estate planners at ITT Tech selected the Fairfax County region because of its growth as a technology incubator. The new school is available to support the more than 4,000 technology companies located in the county with the skilled entry-level employees needed for future growth and business recruitment," said Omer Waddles, president and COO of ITT Educational Services, Inc. "The technology market is stabilizing and skilled workers will have a wide variety of employment opportunities as our society adopts new technologies."

"The number of companies expanding or locating here and the wide range of work they do highlights the continuing strengths of the diversified economy we have built," said Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the FCEDA.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org) promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA assists businesses by identifying possible sites and facilities, and is a source for up-to-date demographic and economic statistics. The FCEDA also has marketing representatives in London, Frankfurt and Tokyo.

Relocations and expansions in March and April include: