"Our proximity to Washington, DC, makes this a natural fit for federal agencies and companies that are expanding to handle defense, intelligence and homeland security projects for the government," FCEDA president and CEO Gerald L. Gordon says of the news. Most of the expansions and relocations involve information technology-related businesses. Just to name a few, in Reston, BAE Systems North America opened a new 135,000-sf, $51.6 million complex last October, while Microsoft opened its $25 million, 63,000-sf Innovation & Technology Conference Center in September.

In addition, Scientific research and systems engineering organization Mitretek Systems moved its headquarters to a 258,000-sf complex. "Fairfax County was our first location choice due to its convenience for our employees as well as the great talent pool that exists in the county and surrounding areas," Mitretex COO Richard P. Granato explains in a statement. The county will continue to solicit businesses to plant their roots in the area, as there is still available space for newcomers and those looking to expand. "Fairfax County has about a 17% office vacancy rate, and we have more large blocks of office space open than we have had in years," Fogg notes.