MANASSAS, Va. – Northern Virginia’s first Innovation District is officially underway, thanks to a major investment from the state.
Governor Glenn Youngkin recently announced a $2.6 million grant from GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative focused on strengthening regional economies and supporting high-wage industries. Local governments, businesses, and educational institutions will contribute an additional $1.3 million, bringing the total initial investment to $3.9 million.
The funding supports the launch of the Innovation District centered around George Mason University’s SciTech Campus in Prince William County and the City of Manassas. The 3,800-acre district is expected to accelerate growth in sectors like life sciences, aerospace, defense, and semiconductors while helping residents build careers without leaving the region.
According to a 2024 concept plan, the Innovation District will serve as a connector between local jurisdictions, research institutions, and private industry. “Serving as a catalyst, convener, connector, communicator and capacity-builder, the Innovation District will be a destination for ambitious minds to fuel lasting economic growth,” the plan states.
Vice Mayor Mark Wolfe of Manassas said the partnership between Manassas, Prince William County, and George Mason University leverages the area’s existing strengths. “We’ve got a critical mass of technology and brain power, and frankly, money, that can come together and create a technology hub that will benefit everyone,” Wolfe said.
The district will be guided by the Innovation District Committee, a public-private partnership chaired by Amy Adams, executive director of George Mason’s Institute for BioHealth Innovation. While the committee will oversee funding, marketing, and outreach, land use decisions will remain with Manassas and Prince William County.
Several programs will roll out over the next 18 months, including a Fall 2025 launch of an International Life Science Soft Landing Program to attract global startups, a corporate mentorship initiative for senior engineering students, and a Winter 2026 launch of a Life Science Certificate Program and Young Professionals Network.
Founding partners include George Mason University, the City of Manassas Department of Economic Development, Prince William County, and private firms such as Micron, ATCC, and Employment Enterprises. Dominion Energy, IMEG, and the Prince William Chamber of Commerce are also backing the effort as SciTech Innovators.
The funding will also help pay for staffing, marketing, and accelerator programming to support start-ups and existing companies in navigating regulatory pathways, building strategic plans, and connecting with investors.
“The Innovation District will connect education, research, and industry,” Adams said. “It gives students and employers new ways to create real-world impact.”
According to a concept plan document from 2024, the goal of the Innovation District — placed around the GMU SciTech Campus — is to connect jurisdictions and industry to create "lasting benefits for the community."
"Serving as a catalyst, convener, connector, communicator and capacity-builder, the Innovation District will be a destination for ambitious minds to fuel lasting economic growth and well-being in the City of Manassas, Prince William County and beyond," the document states.
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Lewis, since the beginning of 2024, has faced medical struggles associated with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, FND is a condition that is caused by changes in how brain networks work rather than changes in the brain's physical structure.
Symptoms vary across the individuals who are diagnosed with FND each year, including seizure-like episodes, dizziness, speech difficulties, pain, numbness and movement problems.
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Emmanuel Nwokeabia, a 2024 graduate of GMU’s Costello College of Business, took home the $13,000 top prize at this year’s Patriot Pitch Competition for his startup, Viralbite. His platform connects content creators—especially those who already post food photos—with restaurants looking to promote their dishes. Instead of relying on follower count, Viralbite rewards users based on actual engagement.
“What sparked the idea was seeing how hard it is for influencers to earn from their content, while restaurants pay heavily for photos and videos,” Nwokeabia said. “I thought, what if we connect the two in a way that benefits both?”
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FAIRFAX, Va. – More than 7,500 Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) students were celebrated this week during one of the college’s largest-ever commencements.
Held May 12 at George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena, the graduation ceremony drew over 1,600 graduates and more than 5,000 guests. The crowd was so big that overflow seating and a livestream were set up in a nearby concert hall, according to a release from the college.
Themed “Rising Beyond,” the event recognized the resilience of the Class of 2025. Keynote speaker and NOVA alum Hannah Williams, now the founder of Salary Transparent Street, encouraged graduates to persevere through uncertainty. NOVA President Anne M. Kress praised the students’ determination in the face of academic and personal challenges.
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), established in 1965, is the largest public educational institution in Virginia and one of the largest community colleges in the U.S. Serving more than 70,000 students across six campuses and multiple centers throughout the region, NOVA provides affordable, accessible, and high-quality education and workforce training.
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MANASSAS, Va. — Bill Reeder, the founding dean of George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), died over the weekend after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by family in hospice care, according to a message shared by current Dean Rick Davis.
Reeder joined George Mason University in 2001 and led the newly established CVPA for 14 years. Under his leadership, the college expanded its offerings to include now-thriving programs in Film and Video Studies, Computer Game Design, and Arts Management. These additions played a pivotal role in shaping the college into a comprehensive institution for arts education.
“He had a transformative physical impact on the arts landscape at Mason,” Davis wrote in a Facebook post announcing Reeder’s passing. “Bill will be remembered for his energetic and passionate advocacy for artists of all kinds and at every stage of their journeys.”
Reeder spearheaded the creation of the Art and Design Building on Mason’s Fairfax Campus and coordinated philanthropic, university, and state support to expand and renovate other key arts facilities.
Perhaps his most enduring legacy lies in Prince William County, where his advocacy and vision led to the creation of the Hylton Performing Arts Center on Mason’s Science and Technology Campus in Manassas. Through countless community meetings, strategic partnerships, and tireless campaigning, Reeder brought to life a long-held dream of an arts hub serving western Northern Virginia.
“At times it seemed as if Bill was almost single-handedly willing the center into existence — but it was really his tireless behind-the-scenes coordination of university, civic, and volunteer energy that carried the day,” Davis wrote.
Former Prince William County Supervisor Marty Nohe shared his personal memories of Reeder in a heartfelt tribute posted to Facebook. Nohe recalled their first meeting, where instead of jumping into a pitch for the Hylton Center, Reeder asked about Nohe’s children and shared advice drawn from his experience at the Newark Community School of the Arts.
“It is still the best lobbying meeting I have ever had,” Nohe wrote. “He explained that he loved talking to parents of young children about their dreams for their kids and about how to help those kids become the best version of themselves, just like he had done with me years before.”
Reeder’s influence extended beyond academia and the arts. In 2015, he ran for a seat on the Prince William County School Board, driven by his belief in public education and support for children’s creative growth. While he did not win the election, Nohe said Reeder described the campaign as “one more chapter in his extraordinary biography.”
“Bill loved being in front of an audience and could command the attention of any room,” Nohe wrote. “He didn’t need trophies or titles or to see his name carved into a plaque. He absolutely had an ego; but it grew not from having people tell him that he was great, but rather from knowing that he had helped others find their own greatness. He certainly did that for me.”
Reeder continued teaching and mentoring students in arts management after stepping down as dean in 2015. Memorial service details will be announced in the coming days.
The Hylton Performing Arts Center will honor Reeder’s legacy at its upcoming gala. “At this year’s Gala we will take a moment — or three — to remember Bill’s foundational contributions,” Davis noted.
George Mason University is leading a major effort to create Northern Virginia’s first Innovation District, a sprawling 3,800-acre economic development zone centered around GMU’s SciTech Campus in Manassas and neighboring areas of Prince William County.
During a presentation at the Manassas City Council meeting on Monday, March 24, Amy Adams, executive director of the Institute for BioHealth Innovation at GMU, detailed the university’s vision for the Innovation District. The project would be anchored by George Mason’s research presence and designed to spur growth in four key sectors: aerospace and defense, life sciences, cybersecurity, and semiconductors.
“This is something that creates a transformational opportunity for our region,” said Adams. “We will be the very first to do that in Northern Virginia — really being a thought leader in this space.”
The Innovation District would connect educational institutions, global companies like Micron and Lockheed Martin, early-stage startups, and local talent in a dynamic ecosystem designed to attract new businesses and generate workforce opportunities.
The university recently applied for a $2.6 million Go Virginia implementation grant to kickstart the Innovation District. GMU must raise $1.3 million in matching contributions to receive the funding. So far, the university and its partners have secured $1.1 million from sources including Prince William County, Micron, ECU Communications, and Employment Enterprises.
Adams asked the Manassas City Council to consider contributing to help close the remaining $180,000 gap.
“For every dollar you have in matching funds, you’re able to lock $2 in Go Virginia,” Adams said. “I would love for the council to consider a contribution toward the match.”
City officials did not make an immediate funding decision but showed interest in the proposal and acknowledged the economic opportunity it could bring.
Adams emphasized that the Innovation District would attract companies and train and support workers through programs such as boot camps, industry certifications, and capstone projects.
“This is a project for our community — and that is every single person in our community,” she said. “Mason is not an ivory tower institution. We want to make sure we are solving problems of our community and creating opportunities.”
The district would build on existing assets, including the nearby Manassas Regional Airport, where a growing cluster of aerospace firms already operates, and the historic downtown, which Adams described as “a beautiful town with such amazing restaurants and retail.”
Adams invited city officials and the public to two events:
- March 27
April 2: Ribbon cutting for GMU’s new Life Sciences and Engineering Building - April 12: “Eggstravaganza” community conversation at the Marsteller Park facility to engage residents and share project updates
Council members praised the university’s collaborative approach and its potential to create jobs and boost the local economy.
“This is a great advantage for our city to be a part of the future in the region,” said Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis, who noted she had participated in early planning meetings.
The Innovation District’s launch phase will begin in July 2025 if the grant is awarded.
The George Mason University Patriots women’s basketball team secured a hard-fought 76-66 victory over the University of Massachusetts during the annual #Play4Kay Pink Game at EagleBank Arena on Sunday, February 16. The event, sponsored for the sixth consecutive year by Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC), brought together fans, survivors, and medical professionals to raise awareness of women’s cancers and honor those affected by breast cancer.
A Victory Beyond the Scoreboard
With 2,679 fans in attendance, the energy inside EagleBank Arena was electric, as the Patriots not only continued their strong season—now boasting 20+ wins and a second-place standing in the Atlantic 10 Conference—but also played for a cause that extends far beyond basketball.
Before the game, Sentara’s Cancer Network Resource Center hosted a special reception to celebrate breast cancer survivors. Bernadette Soliday, one of the honorees, shared her powerful story of perseverance and support.
“An important thing that I learned through my journey is that there is an army of people behind you to get you through a cancer experience,” said Soliday. “It’s the doctors, the nurses, the nurse navigators, your family, your friends, and community groups that provide supplies and emotional support. I want to say thank you to all of them for standing by us during such a challenging time.”
Supporting Survivors Beyond the Game
Sentara’s Breast Cancer Nurse Navigation Program was critical in Soliday’s journey, guiding diagnosis through recovery. She credited the program for its continued support, even beyond active treatment, as she found solace in joining Sentara’s breast cancer support group.
“It’s a wonderfully diverse and supportive group of women,” Soliday shared. “We’ve all had different diagnoses and treatment paths, but we understand each other and share that support.”
The Sentara Cancer Network Resource Center provides a variety of resources and support for those diagnosed with cancer, their caregivers, and those seeking information about cancer prevention.
“We could not be prouder to be part of the national Play4Kay initiative to raise awareness of cancers affecting women and to honor brave cancer survivors at all points in their journeys,” said Jeff Joyner, president of SNVMC. “Our multidisciplinary team at the Sentara Northern Virginia Comprehensive Breast Center brings together experts and technology to create personalized care plans for each patient.”
The Pink Game is part of the national Play4Kay initiative, named after legendary Hall of Fame Coach Kay Yow. Yow, who battled breast cancer herself, envisioned Play4Kay as a way to unite communities in the fight against cancers affecting women. The initiative continues her legacy by bringing together players, coaches, officials, and fans to support a cause that transcends sports.
Sentara medical experts stress the importance of routine mammograms as one of the most effective methods for early breast cancer detection.
In this episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, host Uriah Kiser interviews Dr. Amarda Shehu, the Associate Vice President of Research for the Institute for Digital Innovation and the inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at George Mason University.
Dr. Shehu discusses her groundbreaking role at Mason, the university’s proactive approach to AI, and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on education, the workforce, and the economy.
Topics Covered:
- The role of a Chief AI Officer in higher education
- How AI is reshaping education and workforce preparation
- Ethical considerations in AI integration
- The intersection of AI and economic transformation
- Mason’s vision for responsible and innovative AI use
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Prince William County could soon be home to a new inline hockey rink at the Hylton Boys and Girls Club in Dale City, following an in-depth discussion by the Board of County Supervisors during their December 17, 2024, meeting. The facility results from a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club, Prince William Ice Center, the Washington Capitals, and George Mason University.
Seth Hendler-Voss, the county’s Director of Parks and Recreation, introduced the project, describing it as “an exciting partnership opportunity to bring a new recreation amenity to Prince William County.” He outlined the proposed location and the collaboration required to make the rink a reality.
