Press Room

For Immediate Release

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

Fairfax County EDA worked with 112 companies that created 6,107 jobs in ’02 as economy bucks national trend

112 companies announce expansion or relocation plans during the year

Fairfax County, Virginia, January 20, 2003—Bucking a trend in which many technology centers lost jobs during the year, more than 6,100 jobs —most in information technology fields—were or will be added to the Fairfax County economy by 112 companies that worked with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) in 2002. San Jose and Boston each lost about 30,000 jobs between October 2001 and October 2002, while Atlanta lost about 60,000 jobs in the same period, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Our proximity to Washington, D.C., and Washington Dulles International Airport, the highly skilled work force here, the top-ranked school system and the quality of life has kept companies coming and expanding here,” said Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the FCEDA. Some of the most significant location announcements during the year came from BAE SYSTEMS North America, Microsoft, WAM!NET, Deutsche Post Global Mail, PEC Solutions and Affiliated Computer Services.

Typically, every new job in the primary economy spins off 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. Fairfax County, which has a population of 1 million, has the highest median household income in the nation of any locality with more than 200,000 residents, the U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2002.

The 2002 job total includes 341 jobs that were or will be added by 11 companies that worked with the FCEDA in November and December. These companies include Mitretek Systems and China Telecom USA. Mitretek is a non-profit scientific research and systems engineering organization that specializes in the areas of criminal justice, environment, health, safety, energy, homeland security and counter-terrorism, space, transportation and telecommunications. China Telecom USA is the first company to offer single-provider telecommunications services between the United States and China.

“We recently relocated our headquarters to a new 258,000-square foot facility. Fairfax County was our first location choice due to its convenience for our employees as well as the great talent pool that exists in the county and surrounding areas,” said Richard P. Granato, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Mitretek Systems. “Mitretek has found it can deliver its services best in an area that is close to the nerve center of the government and has the kind of work force that can get the job done.”

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

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 November and December include:

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