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Contact: Alan Fogg, FCEDA, afogg@fceda.org,
703-790-0600 (0), 571-213-5065 (m)
Fairfax County to host premier Virginia minority business conference
Virginia Business Opportunity Fair links large corporations with minority businesses
Fairfax County, Virginia USA, February 6, 2006 – For the first time, Fairfax County will play host to the Virginia Business Opportunity Fair (VBOF) set for May 7-9 at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles in Chantilly. The fair, which is the largest minority business conference on the east coast, links large government contractors and corporations with minority-owned businesses to assist with procurement activities. The Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (VMSDC), which organizes the annual fair, announced the Fairfax County event today.
The move of the VBOF fair to Fairfax County, minutes from Washington, D.C., marks the first time in 16 years that it will be held outside of Richmond, the state capital. As the largest business center in the Commonwealth, northern Virginia is home to 131 certified minority businesses, 15 member corporations of the VMSDC and three government entities that support VMSDC.
“What makes the economy of Fairfax County dynamic and its communities strong is the great diversity we enjoy. Fairfax County is home to some of the largest government contractors in the nation and numerous nationally recognized minority companies. As the economic engine of the Commonwealth and the Washington area we are delighted to host this event that improves business opportunities for everyone,” said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). “We want Fairfax County to be known as the best place in the nation for minority-owned companies to locate and grow.”
Fairfax County is home to six of the 100 largest African American-owned companies in the United States, and 11 of the 500 largest Hispanic-owned companies in the nation, according to Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines.
More information about the VBOF can be found at: http://www.vmsdc.org/html/Services/2006/VBOF06RegistrationBrochure.pdf
Business growth helps Fairfax County 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 options near Washington, D.C., 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.
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.
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