Gov. Tim Kaine and Fairfax County officials will announce Monday the creation of a major genetics research institute expected to bring more than 500 high-paying jobs to the county, sources said.
The addition of the Ignite Institute for Individualized Health is the latest in a string of economic boons for the affluent suburban county. Local officials declined to comment on the investment until they and Kaine could publicly to roll it out Monday afternoon.
But sources within the county who had been briefed on the new facility said its planners were looking for a site relatively close to George Mason and George Washington universities, located along a Metro line. One possible location, they said, is a parcel next to the Center for Innovative Technology, near the Loudoun County line.
The Ignite Institute’s chief executive officer, geneticist Dietrich Stephan, did not respond to a request for comment. The institute’s mission will be to “provide the highest quality healthcare in the world, and with our partners, transform healthcare delivery into a highly efficient, effective, and affordable endeavor,” according to its Web site.
The announcement come two months after defense contractor SAIC said it would move its corporate headquarters to Tysons Corner. The relocation followed Hilton Hotels’ decision to move its base of operations to Fairfax. Computer Sciences Corporation and Volkswagen Group of America have also made the county their home in recent years.
“It’s another major coup for the Economic Development Authority and for Fairfax County to land another huge employer, along the lines of Volkswagen and Hilton and SAIC,” said Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay. “This is just one more success we’ve had in luring major employers to the county.”
The announcement stands in sharp contrast with economic news other parts of in Virginia, which has been resoundingly negative as employers shed jobs or close shop. Last month, International Paper announced it would shut down its mill in Franklin, laying off about 1,100.
