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For Immediate Release
Alan Fogg,
Director of Communications
afogg@fceda.org, 703-790-0600 (o) or 571-213-5065 (m)
Fairfax County Businesses Still Responding
Two Years after September 11
Innovative companies from Fairfax provide bulk of IT solutions
Fairfax County, Virginia, September 10, 2003 — Fairfax County has become the business base of homeland security. While public policy and government participation form the cornerstone of the war on terrorism, Fairfax County businesses have stepped up to provide the tools to implement those policies. Latest figures indicate Fairfax County companies won $7.2 billion in federal contracts in one year.
On the eve of the second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is praising the local business community’s response.
“Fairfax County is known for innovation and technology. More than 50 percent of worldwide Internet traffic goes through northern Virginia. But it’s bigger than that,” said Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the FCEDA. “Whether it’s information sharing technology or rebuilding the infrastructure of Iraq or Afghanistan, I like to think our companies are in the forefront of these efforts. They are making a difference.”
Fairfax County companies employ more than 550,000 people. Examples of Fairfax County-located companies involved in the war on terrorism:
- Unisys announced this year that it would consolidate its Global Public Sector in Fairfax County and add 900 jobs in part to handle homeland security work for the Transportation Security Administration and other clients.
- STG is a Fairfax-headquartered government contractor that provides defense and homeland security services including humvees with biological, nuclear, and chemical detection capabilities. "The demand for niche services like biometrics, translation and transcription, and force protection continues to grow. Supporting these critical initiatives has been the focus of our efforts over the last two years," said Simon Lee, president of STG.
- Plugged In Software is among several companies that have expanded or relocated to Fairfax County to be closer to federal clients and systems integrators. Plugged In Software produces management software that allows data and information to be shared among users.
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.
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