An information technology company that received competing offers from Texas, Florida and West Virginia has decided to stay put in Tysons.
Described by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority as “one of the fastest growing” IT service companies in the U.S., 22nd Century Technologies is committing $1 million to an expansion of its headquarters in the EastBoro I office building at 8251 Greensboro Drive.
Company leaders, the FCEDA and Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday (June 27) that the expansion will create 880 new jobs with support from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consulting services and funding to companies for employee recruitment and training activities.
In a press release, Youngkin attributed 22nd Century’s decision to expand its Tysons operations to Virginia’s “tech talent pipeline” and “leadership in serving the nation’s most critical missions.”
“This company is a vital partner to the public sector, delivering innovative IT solutions and workforce support to government agencies at every level,” the governor said. “We’re so proud that when great companies like 22nd Century Technologies are looking to expand and invest, they’re choosing Virginia to build their future.”
The news was a lower-profile and more straightforward economic development “win” for Virginia than Youngkin’s joint announcement with federal officials earlier last week that the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development will move its headquarters to Alexandria, displacing the National Science Foundation.
General Services Administration (GSA) Commissioner Michael Peters told ALXnow, FFXnow’s sister site, on June 25 that he “would bet” the NSF will relocate to another site in Virginia, though he added “that is not a promise.”
Originally started in New Jersey in 1997, 22nd Century moved its operational headquarters to Tysons in 2008. Since then, it has grown from a $6 million business to a $600 million government contractor, CEO Anil Sharma said, praising the “access to talent, partnerships, and a pro-business environment” offered by Virginia.
“Virginia has been a game changer for us,” Sharma said. “… This expansion reflects our commitment to innovation and public service.”
In addition to its Tysons headquarters, 22nd Century operates 14 regional offices around the U.S. with customers in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. It currently employs over 6,000 people, according to the FCEDA.
The company primarily works in government contracting, counting federal civilian, defense and intelligence agencies as well as dozens of state agencies, local governments and school districts among its clients.
About three years ago, though, it has ventured into the commercial realm, supporting more than 80 clients in the private sector, and an Innovation Lab started in 2023 enables it to launch “customer-centric tech products,” the FCEDA said in its press release.
As it has grown, 22nd Century has garnered attention from business media, particularly Forbes, which listed it among the country’s best large employers this year after ranking it in 2024 as one of the best employers for tech workers, veterans, women and new graduates.
FCEDA President and CEO Victor Hoskins and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Jeff McKay thanked 22nd Century for its gesture of confidence in Fairfax, even as the D.C. region grapples with the economic fallout of the Trump administration’s widespread federal workforce cuts.
“This latest expansion and the nearly 900 jobs it will create reflects the resilience of our economy, and the access we provide to top talent and the world’s leading customers across public and private sectors,” McKay said. “We thank you for your continued investment in our community, our people, and our future.”
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