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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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.
