Microsoft to invest $64M in Fairfax County expansion, create 1,500 jobs

Company expects Reston Town Center project to be ready in 2021.

Published May 27, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Microsoft Corp. will invest $64 million to expand its presence in Reston Town Center in western Fairfax County, creating 1,500 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday.

The software giant will occupy 400,000 square feet in the Reston Town Center, which will include a software development and research hub, as well as retail space. The project is expected to be ready for employees in summer 2021. Microsoft established its first Virginia facility at Reston Town Center in 2002, the Innovation & Technology Conference Center. Since then, the company has built a corporate presence in Richmond and a data center in Mecklenburg County.

“One of Microsoft’s core principles is actively listening to our customers, so we can build and improve our technology based on their feedback. Being close to our customer base is extremely important to our ongoing collaborations,” Terrell Cox, general manager at Microsoft, said in a statement. “We’ve had a presence in Reston for many years now, and this expansion will allow Microsoft to deliver even more solutions from a region known for its innovation and passion for technology.”

Microsoft also has partnered with Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corp. in building the SOVA Innovation Hub in South Boston, expected to be finished in the fall. The company plans to move its TechSpark Virginia job-creation initiative to the building.

“Virginia, like the rest of the nation, is facing unprecedented job loss due to COVID-19, so this announcement couldn’t come at a better time,” Northam said in a statement. “Virginia is a leader in the information technology industry, and Microsoft’s continued investment here is a testament to our top-ranked business climate, infrastructure, and world-class workforce.”

“Microsoft is a valued corporate partner, and we are excited to see the company expanding its footprint at its new software and R&D regional hub in Fairfax County,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball said in a statement. “The demand for cloud services is steadily increasing, and Microsoft’s newest operation will serve its growing customer base while developing cutting-edge software and creating 21st-century tech jobs.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project Approval Commission to secure the investment for Fairfax County. Microsoft will be eligible for a $22.5 million grant to fund partnerships with local colleges and universities for tech talent pipeline development.