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The next big thing: Fairfax County is the “big kahuna” of the region, says Virginia Business magazine, and has the stats around jobs, Fortune 500 companies, the unemployment rate, workforce and household income to prove it. And what does the county need to do to stay a big kahuna? Try an emphasis on talent and on placemaking, say FCEDA President and CEO Victor Hoskins and Fairfax County Deputy County Executive Rachel Flynn among other notables quoted in this Virginia Business piece.

For the record books: Fairfax County’s 2 percent unemployment rate in September was among the lowest among Virginia’s counties and cities, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. Your job is to read this InsideNOVA piece with more data.

A journey of  a (few) thousand miles…: Reston-based Bechtel, among other companies, was profiled in a piece by Fortune about the migration of businesses from San Francisco to other tech hubs around the U.S., including Fairfax County.

Culture club: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to develop a cultural center on the historic Woodlawn property off Richmond Highway. The estate owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation also includes Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House. Covering The Corridor reports that the plan includes an event space, outdoor teaching kitchen, a restaurant, a nano-brewery, educational facilities and a trail system.

Imagination Corner: At last week’s Tysons 2050 event, panelists imagined how people might live, work and play in Tysons several decades from now — and what needs to happen to foster a stronger sense of community. Tysons Reporter has more about their ideas.

Room with a view: Work on the Archer Hotel, part of the Scotts Run development in Tysons, is now underway. Tysons Reporter notes that the hotel will have 178 rooms and will feature a rooftop terrace, event space among other amenities.

Like clockwork: Tysons-based LMI, a non-profit consulting firm, acquired software company Clockwork Solutions in Austin. Washington Technology reports that LMI sought to acquire a company focused on predictive analytics.

A new solution: Tech Data Corp. will acquire Herndon-based DLT Solutions, in an effort to deepen its footprint in public-sector markets. According to the Washington Business Journal, DLT Solutions had grown to be a mammoth player by tailoring and reselling other companies’ software products to government agencies.

Room to grow: ICF International Inc. plans to uproot from its longtime home adjacent to the Vienna Metro Station for a new headquarters at Reston Station at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. The company plans to move in 2022. According to the Washington Business Journal, ICF chose Reston Station for a number of reasons, including the ability to house an expanding workforce over time.

Surf’s up: OBXtek announced the relocation of its headquarters from outside the Beltway in Tysons to just inside the Beltway in Tysons to support the rapid growth of the business. A release picked up by citybizlist says the new digs will promote better productivity, functionality and collaboration.

Notable contract wins by firms in Fairfax County:

• Lockheed Martin and the Department of Defense finalized a $34 billion contract for the company to produce and deliver 478 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to the U.S. and military allies. GovConWire
• Hexagon US Federal won a prime contract worth up to $107 million from the Naval Sea Systems Command to support multiple executive offices and ship programs. Potomac Tech Wire carried the release.
• BAE Systems will produce 30 amphibious combat vehicles for the Marine Corps under a three-year, $119.9 million contract modification. GovConWire
• SAIC secured a $68 million follow-on contract to help the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency procure applications and data products from multiple providers. GovConWire
• Perspecta Labs won a potential five-year, $25 million task order by the Army to continue applied research. ExecutiveGov
• CACI International landed a potential five-year, $907 million task order to support Army personnel analyze and manage intelligence mission in Afghanistan. GovConWire
• A business unit of General Dynamics received a potential five-year, $393.8 million contract to help the Navy sustain the integrated combat management system of Littoral Combat Ships. GovConWire

Featured business events

• November 7 — Autonomous Technology Summit. The event will showcase Virginia’s leadership in autonomous systems technology and highlight best practices, new business models and technology transfer. Presented by the Northern Virginia Technology Council in partnership with the Virginia Unmanned Systems Center at the Center for Innovative Technology. Click here.
• November 13 — Procurement Academy: U.S.-Israel Innovation in Cyber, Homeland Security, Government.  An FCEDA Procurement Academy workshop that will highlight opportunities in government contracting for next-generation technology used by law-enforcement agencies, solutions for securing critical infrastructure, and cooperation between the United States and Israel on a range of technology-related projects. Event partners are BIRD, a bi-national industrial research and development foundation, and 22nd Century Technologies. Click here.
• November 13 — Making an Effective Process in 30 Minutes. Part of the Business Education Series presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Click here.
• November 14 — BL Small Business Expo. Visit with about 70 different exhibitors presenting a wide range of products and services that could help you enhance your business and/or life. Keynote speaker will be Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. Click here.
• November 14 — Opportunity Richmond Highway. Learn about new financial incentives for new development on Richmond Highway such as Opportunity Zones and the Economic Growth Improvement Program. Presented by the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation and the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce. Speakers include Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. Click here.