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Contact: Alan Fogg, afogg@fceda.org,
703-790-0600 (o); 571-213-5065 (m)
And we try harder too: Fairfax County named second best large county for entrepreneurs in the U.S.
Entrepreneur.com names Virginia the second hottest state for entrepreneurs; Inc. names 22 Fairfax County companies as fastest-growing in the U.S.
Fairfax County, Virginia USA, August 23, 2006 -- Fairfax County is ranked second among large U.S. counties for entrepreneurs for starting businesses, according to 2006 rankings compiled by the National Policy Research Council (NPRC) and Entrepreneur magazine. Fairfax County finished number one for rapid growth of companies, number three for “young company” rankings and was second overall behind Mecklenburg County, N.C.
Virginia ranked second among hottest states for entrepreneurs, behind Arizona. The Washington/Baltimore region, of which Fairfax County is a major economic and population center, ranked number six on the metropolitan area list. The complete listing is available at www.entrepreneur.com/bestcities and will be featured in Entrepreneur Magazine’s September issue.
The rankings are based on the NPRC Entrepreneurial Activity Index, which measures locations by the key components of business formation and business growth.
Inc. magazine’s September issue will include annual rankings of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the nation. The Washington area has the most (47) of any metropolitan area. Virginia ranked second among states with 34 of the fastest-growing firms, 22 of which are in Fairfax County. Two Fairfax County-based companies are in the top 50: LanceSoft, an IT consulting firm, ranked number 24, the highest ranked company from the Washington area, and ARES International Security ranked number 47. A list of the Fairfax County companies on the Inc. list is at www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org.
"This is really a tribute to the factors within Fairfax County that inspire and promote the entrepreneurial spirit, such as great public schools and institutions of higher education combined with a high-quality workforce and a premier business location," said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).
Every month, the FCEDA hosts “Starting a Business in Fairfax County” workshops for budding entrepreneurs. Additionally, one-on-one business counseling sessions are held weekly at the FCEDA. The sessions are provided through an arrangement with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and are designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start or build their firms.
Business growth helps Fairfax County fund public services, such as the nation’s top-rated school system and library, park, public safety and human services, which contribute to the quality of life of its residents. Fairfax County offers businesses a state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure, access to domestic and international markets through Washington Dulles International Airport, and a well-educated workforce.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA’s Capital Attraction Program links technology entrepreneurs with potential investors. Another program supports the growth of minority and woman-owned businesses. The FCEDA maintains offices in Silicon Valley, Bangalore, Frankfurt, London, Seoul and Tel Aviv.
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