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Arlington and Alexandria back new National Landing innovation district; speakers say Go Virginia awarded $4 million for initial programming
Summary
Economic development leaders described a new nonprofit to steward an innovation district in National Landing, said private partners seeded nearly $1 million, and announced a $4 million Go Virginia grant to fund accelerators, soft‑landing services and a Virginia Tech workforce program.
Brandon Bedford, acting director of business investment for Arlington Economic Development, and Marian Marquez, senior vice president with Alexandria Economic Development, briefed the Regional Workforce Council on plans to organize an innovation district in the National Landing/Crystal City corridor.
What they described: the initiative has transitioned into a nonprofit organization with a board and is now recruiting an executive director. The partners hired consultants experienced in building innovation districts and said they have at least 20 supporters at varying commitment levels, including Amazon and property owner JBG SMITH. Speakers named Northrop Grumman among other corporate supporters mentioned during the briefing.
Funding and programs: presenters announced a $4 million Go Virginia grant that will be administered by Arlington and used to seed programming including a dual‑use accelerator (to help firms sell to both private and government markets), a soft‑landing program to assist international firms entering the U.S. market, and a workforce development partnership with Virginia Tech’s Institute for Advanced Computing to build cleared‑candidate pipelines. Speakers said the Go Virginia award is a two‑year grant and that draft contract terms were only just received; program design is expected to start in August or September.
Seed funding and next steps: presenters said the nonprofit had already raised close to $1 million in private sector contributions prior to the state grant, citing examples such as a $300,000 private contribution and $150,000 from Amazon. Board members are in place and the group hopes to have an executive director by the fall; staff and the new board will refine the geographic footprint, program design and fundraising goals.
Local context and governance: presenters emphasized the district builds on prior regional economic work, including efforts tied to Amazon’s HQ2; they noted technological investments (spectrum/5G) and anchor institutions (Virginia Tech, federal research offices) that can support technology firms. Council members asked about geographic scope and how to link to other research nodes (ONR, DARPA, NSF); presenters said programming will be inclusive while the board considers where to concentrate early activity to build momentum.
What’s next: staff said a press release is expected within a few days to provide public details on the Go Virginia award; the nonprofit will continue fundraising and begin program design once contract terms are finalized.
