E-Bird Daily News Brief

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Hot off the presses:

The Sun Gazette notes in its latest Fairfax Video Update that the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority snagged a 2010 Community Economic Development Award from the Southern Economic Development Council in recognition of Fairfax County's success in business attraction. Film at 11? Nah, you can see the video update right now.

Movin' on up: Loyal readers will recall the recent national survey conducted by the Fairfax County EDA showing that almost half of working Americans would move to a location that they perceive has a higher quality of life if they could get the same job. Cara Baruzzi at the New Haven (Conn.) Register worked up a story about the survey, and now your job is to check out this link.

Inquiring minds want to know: With Metro coming, what will Tysons Corner look like five years from now? The Connection Newspapers got pithy comments from a range of experts including Fairfax County EDA President/CEO Jerry Gordon, Fairfax County EDA board member Mark Lowham and Fairfax County Supervisor Linda Smyth (Providence District). No need to inquire about finding Julia O'Donoghue's piece, because here's the link.

Space cowboys: A Virginia Business article about the state's strengths in the space program mentions a couple of companies based in hardworking Fairfax County: Reston-based International Launch Services, which in July launched a satellite for DISH Network, and Tysons Corner-based Space Adventures, which organizes space missions for non-astronauts. The article also mentions Northrop Grumman, which will move its headquarters to Fairfax County next year, as another company busy with support services for space missions. This story by Robert Burke rocketed onto the Virginia Business Web site.

Wyse move: Reston-based federal IT services provider Carahsoft Technology will partner with California-based Wyse Technology to make Wyse's cloud computing desktop virtualization software, hardware and services available to the public sector. We're happy to make this news, spotted on the Bradenton (Fla.) Sun Herald Web site, available to you.

Catapulting ahead: Tysons Corner-based Catapult Consultants snagged contracts from several federal agencies to provide support services, development and IT consulting related to Microsoft products. Customers include the Air Force, the Army Medical Information Technology Center and U.S. courts. Barring any unforeseen difficulties, you'll be able to read more at this link to a story by GovConExecutive's Camille Tuutti.

Plaza sweet: The new owners of the 246,800-square-foot Plaza East complex in the Westfields business area of fair Chantilly say they are finding more interest from prospective tenants. Find a comfortable space and read Erika Morphy's story on GlobeSt.com. Loyal E-Bird readers know that economic development builds the commercial tax base, which the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors uses to fund public services for a growing and diversifying population.

Driven to succeed: Tysons Corner-based engineering and research outfit Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) will help the Department of Transportation develop its IntelliDrive Program, which aims to use wireless technology to make driving safer. The contract is worth up to $16 million over five years, writes Jeff Clabaugh of the Washington Business Journal. The intelligent thing to do is read the rest of Jeff's story.

Ammo memo: Tysons Corner-based munitions maker Allied Defense Group says it completed the sale of most of its assets to London-based defense outfit Chemring Group. Blow some time reading this release picked up on Marketwatch.com.

Sunrise, Sunset-tles: Shares of Tysons Corner-based Sunrise Senior Living, the largest owner and manager of senior living properties, jumped about 48 percent this week after it settled lawsuits with peer HCP leading to a $50 million payment to Sunrise. Rise to the occasion and read more in this dispatch at Reuters.com.

Events presented or sponsored by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority:

• September 16 --The Northern Virginia Technology Council's (NVTC) Technology Innovations Committee presents Mobile Applications Now Mean Business, part of its Gurus and Gadgets Series.
  Alan Snyder, CEO of BoxTone, will moderate a panel discussion with executives of local mobile applications companies to discuss the latest trends, challenges and applications in this market. Info and registration is here.
• September 17--ViennaTysons Regional Chamber of Commerce Brown Bag University. "Sales Made Simple" -- David MacGillivray, ActionCOACH divulges the 9 keys to winning sales so you and help prospects make informed buying decisions. Info and Registration here.
• October 15 -- Business Alliance for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Bootcamp for Growing Companies and Entrepreneurs. Click here to register or get information on sponsorships.
• November 2 -- "Entrepreneurship 101" -- a monthly workshop for people interested in starting a business in Fairfax County. Held in partnership with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (DBA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), “Entrepreneurship 101” sessions provide overviews of: Business start-up basics (licenses and permits), DBA workforce service and training programs, SBA financing and resources and SDB, MDE and 8(a) certification. Get more info and register here.