Press Room

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

Fairfax County EDA works with 29 companies
that will create 874 jobs

Five new Korean companies set up shop in Fairfax County

Fairfax County , Virginia, October 31, 2005—More than 800 jobs – many in information technology-related fields – were or will be added to the Fairfax County economy by 29 companies that used Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) services and resources during the third quarter of 2005. Combined with totals from the first and second quarter, the FCEDA this year has worked with 91 companies that will add more than 7,170 jobs to one of the fastest-growing economies in the country.

The largest announcement this quarter came from OPTIMUS Corporation, which relocated its headquarters from Montgomery County, Md., and is adding 234 new jobs to the Fairfax County economy. Eight companies are from overseas, including five from South Korea. They join 51 other Korean companies already located in Fairfax County.

“We are excited to bring in more companies from Korea because they will find Fairfax County to be an ideal gateway into the U.S. marketplace, and we know the Fairfax County EDA will provide services to help these companies grow here,' said Do-Hyun Woo, director of the Korea Business Development Center. The South Korean government established the KBDC in the Tysons Corner area of Fairfax County to be a touchdown spot for publicly traded Korean companies expanding into the U.S., and it now houses 12 companies.

“Korean technologies are world-class and that makes them compatible with Fairfax County businesses,” said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA. “We’re proud to be the U.S. home of so many Korean businesses.”

Business growth helps Fairfax County, just outside Washington, D.C., fund public services such as a top-ranked public school system and library, public safety, social services and park systems that improve the quality of life. Fairfax County offers diverse real estate opportunities, access to domestic and international markets through Washington Dulles International Airport, a business community based on technology and professional services, and a well-educated workforce.

Relocations and expansions in July, August and September 2005 include:

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org), which has been recognized by Site Selection magazine as one of the top economic development groups, promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA assists businesses by identifying possible sites and facilities, and provides demographic and economic statistics. The FCEDA’s Capital Attraction Program links technology entrepreneurs with potential investors, and another program supports the growth of small and minority-owned companies. The FCEDA maintains overseas offices in Bangalore, Frankfurt, London, Seoul and Tel Aviv.

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