Now hear this: The FCEDA’s web site offers a wealth of information on subjects ranging from county demographics and key industries to real estate and education. Among recently update information is our Capital Investment Fact Sheet. Check it out by clicking here.

Next step to the cloud: Amazon Web Services, which last year partnered with Northern Virginia Community College to offer a two-year cloud-computing associate degree program, will begin offering new degree programs to facilitate a tech-ready workforce. AWS vice president Teresa Carlson revealed the news at FedScoop’s 2019 FedTalks event. She did not say if the new programs, expected to focus on advanced and the most up-to-date skills, would be exclusive to NOVA. The Washington Business Journal’s Carten Cordell reports that NOVA’s associate degree program offers students free access to the AWS Educate program, which includes additional tech training and resources. AWS operates its East Coast Campus in Herndon.

Proof positive: Reston-based venture firm Proof.VC, which raised $34.5 million in its first round of funding is looking exceed that total in a second round. Reporting for Washington Business Journal subscribers, Andy Medici has more on the fund-raising methodology Proof.VC has been perfecting since 2015 to invest in billion-dollar unicorns including Beyond Meat Inc., Bird Rides Inc. and Casper Sleep Inc.

Hail to the chiefs: The Northern Virginia Technology Council has named Mike Sicoli of GTT its Public Company CFO of the Year and Greg Fink of Comscore its Transformational CFO of the Year. NVTC, which annually honors D.C.-area chief financial officers for achievements in the tech community, this year added a Rising Star class of honorees, to recognize mid-career finance professionals.Those honorees included: Danielle Brogan of Cvent, Henry Heuer of Intelsat, Adam Morson of ScienceLogic, David Mutryn of MAXIMUS and Craig Vaughan of Sonatype. Potomac Tech Wire picked up the release which includes major award nominees.

Unearthing Arrowhead: Long-awaited development of a mixed-use Herndon site appears closer to fruition. Bisnow’s Jon Banister writes that a portion of Arrowhead Centre, a 2 million-square-foot Herndon site approved for development in 2005, will become home to a 274-unit workforce housing project expected to deliver in 2022. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a $7.8 million loan to help SCG Development finance the project on a 4.6-acre portion of the parcel near the future Innovation Center Metro station. Bisnow reports that Pulte Homes has acquired part of the site from the Ruth and Hal Launders Charitable Foundation and has plans to build townhomes and condos.

In the zone: Zoning changes that allow for the construction of single-family detached homes and townhomes is spurring McLean-based Elm Street Development to submit plans for a new townhome project near the Westfields International Corporate Center in Chantilly. Elm Street says its Retreat at Westfields will help “reinvigorate the Westfields Business Park with the introduction of residential uses” according to Alex Koma’s story in the Washington Business Journal.

Making it affordable: Four Fairfax County developments are on a list of 17 Virginia projects set to receive a total of $11 million in affordable and special needs housing loans from the state to help create or preserve nearly 1,300 affordable units. Michael Neibauer of the Washington Business Journal reports that The Residences at North Hill  Bond 94 from Community Housing Partners ($1.3 million), The Residences at North Hill Bond 47 ($1 million), New Lake Anne Housing from Community Housing Inc. ($700,000) and The Arden, Building A, from Wesley Housing Development Corp ($700,000) stand to benefit.

Positive Impact: Virginia Business offers a story about Impact Makers, a Richmond-based management and technology consulting firm that has opened offices in Tysons. The company operates as a Benefit Corporation, channeling net profits to facilitate positive social change. M.J. McAteer reports that Impact Makers is working with Homestretch, a Falls Church nonprofit that helps families become self-sufficient.

On the case: General Dynamics Information Technology of Falls Church will pilot, test and implement new technology within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s daily work processes. Michelai Graham of Technical.ly/DC reports that the Falls Church-based contractor will utilize its expertise in AI, blockchain and other technologies to help transform HHS business processes and improve mission delivery.

ITS about mentoring: The U.S. Air Force awarded a two-year Mentor Protégé program contract to Raytheon and Infinity Technology Services of Tysons. Raytheon will help ITS mature its cybersecurity design, testing, defense and verification capabilities according to William McCormick in ExecutiveGov. The agreement also helps the Department of Defense diversify its supplier base by giving small businesses experience in high-demand disciplines.

Send in the shrimp: Might shrimp and plankton emerge as tools in our maritime security? According to Mandy Mayfield’s story in National Defense magazine, Northrop Grumman and DARPA will investigate sensing capabilities that will employ underwater organisms to perceive threats. Northrop received a contract to build biological sensing technology for DARPA’s Persistent Aquatic Living Sensors program, which will rely on the inherent capabilities of sea life and incorporate AI and machine learning to identify man-made objects below sea level.

Notable contract wins by firms in Fairfax County

• Paragon Systems booked a potential five-year, $95.6 million contract from DHS to deploy armed security officers to protect federal personnel and property at multiple Virginia locations. GovConWire
• Alion Science and Technology received a three-year, $34 million task order to help the Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center create technology to improve combat and defense potential of manned and unmanned vehicles. ExecutiveBiz
• Carahsoft will provide McAfee-branded hardware, software and services to U.S. defense, intelligence and Coast Guard operations under a potential four-year, $440 million blanket purchase agreement. GovConWire
• Bechtel leads National Aerospace Solutions, a joint venture along with GP Strategies and Sierra Lobo, that received a $179 million contract modification from the Air Force to continue testing support at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tennessee. GovConWire
• Under a potential five-year, $500 blanket purchase agreement Research Innovations will lead an industry team that will help the Department of Justice implement data analytics tools. GovConWireL3 Technologies won a potential $499.6 million contract to update the avionics system of C-130H airlifters operated by Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command. GovConWire
• Salient CRGT won a blanket purchase agreement from the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to provide enterprise data support services. Potomac Tech Wire picked up the release.

Upcoming Business Events

• June 12: Security Tokens 101 — Blockchain-based Investing in Growing Businesses: Event will feature a panel discussion about security tokens as a blockchain-based way to invest in companies. Presented by the FCEDA and the Chamber of Digital Commerce. Click here.
• June 12: Become a Better Boss to Engage and Retain Employees: Discussion will include practical steps for implementing influential leadership, key drivers of employee engagement and a self-assessment for attendees. Part of the Business Education Series presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Click here.
• June 26: Access to Success Multicultural Business Conference — Roadmap to Resources. Free event designed to provide practical knowledge to small, women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. Presented by the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity. Click here.
• June 26: No Pressure Prospecting: Techniques to improve sales performance. Part of the Business Education Series presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Click here.

FAIRFACT: Ten companies with headquarters in Fairfax County have a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2019 Corporate Equality Index, which rates workplaces on LGBTQ equality.