FBI relocates regional office to Prince William

by Heather Hayes
for Virginia Business
July 2005

Prince William County is continuing its economic transformation. In May, the county announced the arrival of its first major government employer. The Federal Bureau of Investigation plans to relocate its Northern Virginia office from Tysons Corner to leased space in a 200,000 square-foot building in the county’s Innovation@Prince William Technology Park. The FBI will invest $32.6 million and employ 300 linguists, forensic computer scientists and members of the MS-13 gang task force when the project is completed in 2007.

Sean T. Connaughton, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, says the FBI deal “continues our path from being a bedroom community for the federal government to being a place of employment for both the public and private sectors.” He added that the county plans to attract more agencies, with the goal of cutting down on residents’ commutes.

In recent years, Prince William County has seen a flurry of economic development activity and already has landed some major companies. The FBI, for example, will share space in Innovation Park with MediaTech, Inc., a maker of life-sciences products. Eli Lily and Co. will build a 300,000-square-foot insulin plant in Innovation Park, and several defense contractors also are moving to the county.