The doors opened this week on the new Northern Virginia BioScience Center.
The $17.5 million base at Innovation Park Prince William provides new wet lab space for fledgling life-science companies. The area is designed to be the next step up for companies graduating from the Prince William County Science Accelerator at George Mason University’s Science and Technology Campus outside Manassas, serving as an incubator for scientists at start-up life-science companies.
New commercial products will be developed and tested inside the new facility.
“This project was for who we like to call our American heroes. People forget about the people who take risks and experiment with products that we use every day,” said commercial Real Estate developer Austin Haynes of Holladay Properties, who began pushing for the center’s creation in 2016.
One scientist who spoke during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 30, called the center a “breath of fresh air.” “We know the safety standards are up to par, and me and my coworkers are safe,” she said.
The center has biosafety level-two laboratories, allowing research for pharmaceuticals, immunotherapy, and cancer research. Four companies — ISOThrive, iQ Genetix, SYSTAQQ Diagnostics, and Virongy Biosciences — are now operating in the facility.
Prince William County taxpayers signed an initial lease for the project, renting 8,000 square feet of the facility. The move allowed Holiday Properties to secure bank financing for the project.
The taxpayer investment will divest as new companies lease space in the new center. According to Haynes, returns on investment for research centers is about 2 percent, making them not as lucrative as other Real Estate ventures and ripe for public-private government investment.
It took 16 months to construct the new bioscience center. No stranger to large projects, Haynes’ Holladay Properties built a Tru By Hilton hotel near the Manassas Regional Airport and a Bass Pro Shops off Interstate 95, just north of Richmond.
“Innovation is now on the map, and we can now compete with Bethesda [Maryland], where we were losing business,” said Prince William County Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, whose office sits nearby the new lab.
Haynes named a conference room inside the bioscience center for Tom Flynn of the Prince William County Economic Development Department. Flynn has worked in Prince William County since 2013 and in economic development for 25 years.
The lab sits at 11225 Asset Loop on four acres. More than 650 feet of the property will remain untouched wetlands, said Haynes.
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FREE Leadership Sessions will be conducted at the George Mason University –Arlington Campus for High School Latinas. The program runs from Monday 7/15 through Friday 7/19 from 10:00AM to 3:00PM EST each day (1-week).
Las sesiones de liderazgo GRATUITAS se llevarán a cabo en el campus de George Mason University – Arlington para latinas de secundaria. El programa se desarrollará desde el lunes 15 de julio hasta el viernes 19 de julio, de 10:00 a.m. a 3:00 p.m. EST cada día (1 semana).
Our goal is to equip students with the fundamentals of self-promotion and guide them in shaping their personal brand for future success. What sets this program apart is its integration of self-awareness activities and mentorship by seasoned professionals.
Sessions begin with a thorough assessment of leadership dynamics on July 15th, participants delve into the intricacies of personal branding and etiquette on July 16th, followed by practical guidance on crafting compelling LinkedIn profiles and resumes on July 17th. July 18th emphasizes the art of storytelling through personal statements, while July 19th culminates in portfolio presentations, allowing participants to showcase their newfound skills. The program concludes on July 20th with a memorable graduation ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of the ELITE Academy’s graduates and their journey towards leadership excellence.
We are honored to have the Honorable Andrea O. Bailey of the Potomac District, along with the esteemed leadership of Prince William County, hosting our 4th Annual 5K Walk for Mental Health Awareness. This event is a testament to their commitment to educate, advocate for, and dispel myths and stigma surrounding mental illness.
Dust off your running or walking shoes, bring your pets, and move with us in this county-wide FREE event in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month on Saturday, May 18th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. This year’s theme is Movement: Moving for Your Mental Health.
We will walk along a scenic multi-purpose trail in a wooded setting with sufficient signage to meet the needs of the walkers at Locust Shade Park, 4701 Locust Shade Drive, Triangle, Virginia 22192.
![Northern Virginia Bioscience Center [Photo: Prince William County Government]](https://www.potomaclocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Northern-Virginia-BioScience-Center.jpg){kind=link}
