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Board approves $250,000 match for Innovation District grant; staff outlines $9.2 million priority package for Innovation Park infrastructure
Summary
County supervisors on Tuesday authorized a $250,000 county match to a $2.6 million Go Virginia implementation grant intended to launch an Innovation District program, and heard staff proposals for near-term Innovation Park infrastructure improvements totaling about $9.2 million.
County supervisors on Tuesday authorized a $250,000 county match to a $2.6 million Go Virginia implementation grant that staff and George Mason University say will seed an Innovation District program centered on the SciTech campus and surrounding Innovation Park.
The grant and the county’s match are intended to fund a three-part program of (1) marketing and branding the district, (2) industry support and startup acceleration, and (3) workforce programming tied to life-sciences, aerospace/defense, cyber/data infrastructure and semiconductors. Amy Adams of George Mason University said the work will “build the plane while we are flying it,” by launching training, soft-landing and commercial acceleration programs while establishing a permanent governance model.
Why this matters: County staff emphasized that the match is meant to activate private and nonprofit partners already engaged in the district. Christina Wynne, the county’s economic development lead, said the county’s match and the grant would fund programs and staffing to connect university students, research, employers and startups — an effort that county officials said would help attract higher-value employers to the area.
What the board approved and what staff recommended - The board voted to approve a performance agreement and to provide $250,000 from the Economic Development Opportunity Fund as the county match to the Go Virginia grant. The motion passed unanimously. - Separately, county consultants presented an Innovation Park Infrastructure Master Plan that prioritized two near-term projects to be funded from the Innovation Enterprise Fund: (a) Discovery Boulevard multimodal upgrades and a road diet with bike lanes and parking; and (b) an amenitized trail around the stormwater pond near the two-silos entertainment node. Staff estimated about $9.2 million would be needed to design and construct those two projects; the innovation enterprise fund has roughly $15.2 million of unencumbered balance after existing commitments.
Board reaction and next steps: Several supervisors asked detailed questions about who would use Discovery Boulevard once it is reconfigured, the anticipated timeline, and whether the projects would increase land values that could unlock additional land-sale proceeds for future infrastructure. Supervisor Vega and others emphasized that the projects are intended to complete the multimodal network connecting the SciTech campus, the town center and the entertainment node at Two Silos, and to support future employers and students who do not drive.
How this moves forward: Staff said Department of Transportation will request an allocation of about $9.2 million from the innovation enterprise fund so design work can begin; construction contracts would be considered in 2026 with a hoped-for opening in 2027. The county will also proceed with the Go Virginia grant activities immediately if the state grant is approved on schedule.
Speakers quoted or referenced: Christina Wynne (Economic Development and Tourism), Tom Flynn (consultant/advisor), Laura Lehi (Stiletto, consultant), Amy Adams (George Mason University).
Ending note: The board’s vote creates a funded near-term program to activate the Innovation District; staff said the county will return with more detailed implementation agreements and construction contracts once project designs and grant outcomes are known.
