Virtual Session To Discuss Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Alexandria residents can find out detailed plans of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in a virtual session Thursday, Feb. 21 from 8 p.m.-9 p.m.

A panel will participate in a roundtable and answer questions from the public. Panelists include Stephanie Landrum, president and CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership; Karl Moritz, the city’s director of planning and zoning; and Brandy Salmon, managing director of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus.

Residents can view the session at www.alexandriava.gov/NationalLanding and via cablecast on AlexTV (Comcast channels 70 and 1084). Viewers can submit questions in advance or ask via text at 703-405-8902, or by phone at 703-746-3300.  A recording of the session will be available online after it ends.

Virginia Tech's decision to build the $1 billion campus played a key role in Amazon's decision to locate its new headquarters in Crystal City and Pentagon City. Amazon announced the new headquarters in November, which will ultimately bring a $2.5 billion investment and 25,000 jobs to the region.

Alexandria's Potomac Yard and Arlington's Crystal City and Pentagon City are part of the rebranded National Landing area where Amazon will locate.

The Virginia Tech campus will offer master's and doctoral level programs aimed at providing Amazon and other companies with high-tech talent. Degree programs and research opportunities will emphasize computer sciences and software engineering with specializations in high-demand areas such as data sciences, analytics and collective decisions, security and the Internet of Things, and technology and policy.

Earlier in February, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam approved up to $750 million in incentives if Amazon creates 37,850 jobs, The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Arlington County's board will vote on its own incentives for Amazon as soon as March.

Since the announcement, Amazon withdrew plans to locate its other new headquarters in New York City. There is no change to plans for the headquarters in Crystal City.