Growth & Development

Virginia Business
March 2007

Spotsylvania Technology Center proposed for Massaponax area
The Spotsylvania Technology Center is planned for the Massaponax area. The center will be part of the Summit Crossing development proposed by Tricord Cos. The developers say that it will serve as a venue for representatives from industry, academia and government working on national defense issues. When completed, the center is expected to provide 300,000 square feet of office space and employ 1,000 people.

GEICO hiring 790 employees in Stafford
GEICO is adding 790 employees to its existing staff of more than 3,700 at its Stafford County operations center. The company’s plans called for the hiring of 240 workers by the end of last year and another 550 during 2007. The company is filling positions in its property insurance and auto insurance units. GEICO, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, opened the operations center in 1989.

WorldStreet project under way
The Silver Cos. has begun work on WorldStreet, a $200 million-plus retail development that will be part of the 2,400-acre Celebrate Virginia project in Fredericksburg and Stafford County. WorldStreet is expected to have 750,000 square feet of space that will include showroom and distribution facilities. The development will house 250 to 300 stores offering products from around the world. The project is scheduled for completion next year. The Silver Cos. plan to roll out the concept in other metro areas in North America.

German munitions company to open U.S. office
American Rheinmetall Munition Inc., a subsidiary of German-based Rheinmetall AG, will open its first office in the United States at the Quantico Corporate Center in Stafford. Rheinmetall AG is an international producer of automotive component and defense products, employing about 18,500 people around the world. When completed in November, the 7,500-square-foot American division office will employ four to six people managing production contracts for the manufacture of training ammunition under a five-year contract with the Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico. The Quantico Corporate Center will eventually include 1 million square feet of office space.

Fredericksburg Area Museum expanding
The Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center is undergoing expansion. The project includes renovation of the former First Virginia Bank building at Princess Anne and William streets, and the adjoining Carley Building. The buildings contain 19,000 square feet and will more than double the exhibit space at the present museum in the former Fredericksburg Town Hall. The new exhibition space will open early next year. The museum has raised $9.7 million of an $11.5 million goal to finance the expansion.

Complex in Caroline to create 140 jobs
M.C. Dean Inc., a Dulles-based systems engineering and integration firm, is building a fabrication and logistics complex in Caroline County. The first phase will include a 360,000-square-foot building that will contain space for manufacturing, logistics and offices. The company expects to occupy the first 100,000 square feet this spring. When completed, the project has the potential to create 140 new jobs for the area at a total investment of $15 million. The facility will support M.C. Dean’s security, communications, advanced networking and critical power systems engineering and integration efforts.