A company in the information technology sector that had received offers from Texas, Florida and West Virginia but chose to remain in Tysons despite receiving competing bids.
22nd Century Technologies, described by Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) as “one the fastest-growing” IT service company in the U.S. is investing $1 million in an expansion of their headquarters at the EastBoro I building located at 8251 Greensboro Drive.
The FCEDA, company leaders and Governor have all agreed to work together. Glenn Youngkin, the Governor of Virginia and the FCEDA announced on Friday, June 27, that the expansion would create 880 jobs with the support of the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
In a release, Youngkin said that the decision by 22nd Century to expand their Tysons operation was due to Virginia’s “technical talent pipeline” as well as its “leadership to serve the nation’s critical missions.”
The governor stated that “this company is an important partner for the public sector. It delivers innovative IT solutions to government agencies and workforce support at all levels.” “We are so proud that great companies such as 22nd Century Technologies choose Virginia when they want to expand or invest.
This news was less high-profile and more straightforward in terms of economic development for Virginia than Youngkin’s announcement earlier this week, made jointly with federal officials that the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development would move its headquarters from Washington to Alexandria and replace the National Science Foundation.
Michael Peters of the General Services Administration (GSA), FFXnow’s sister site, told ALXnow on June 25, that he “would bet” that the NSF would relocate to another Virginia site. However, he said “that isn’t a promise.”
22nd Century, which was founded in New Jersey in 1998, moved its headquarters to Tysons by 2008. Anil Sharma, the CEO, said that since then, 22nd Century has grown from a $6-million business to a government contractor worth $600-millions. He praised Virginia’s “access to talent and partnerships” as well as its “pro-business environment”.
Sharma stated that Virginia has changed the game for them. This expansion reflects the commitment we have to innovation and service to the public.”
22nd Century has 14 regional offices in the U.S., including its Tysons headquarters. Customers are located throughout all 50 states as well as Canada and Mexico. According to the FCEDA, it currently employs more than 6,000 people.
The company’s main business is government contracting. It counts federal civilian, military and intelligence agencies, as well as state agencies, local governments, and school districts, among its clients.
In a press release, the FCEDA stated that it had entered the commercial world about three years ago. It now supports more than 80 private clients. An Innovation Lab, which was started in 2023, allows it to launch “customer-centric technology products”.
The growth of 22nd Century has attracted the attention of business media, including Forbes. In fact, this year, ranked it as one the country’s top large employers after ranking it 2024 among the best employers for women, veterans and new graduates.
McKay stated that “this latest expansion, which will create nearly 900 new jobs, reflects our economy’s resilience and the access to the best talent and customers in the public and private sector,” McKay added. We thank you for continuing to invest in our community, people and future.
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