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In Prince William County, Virginia, a university discovery is becoming a local business. This summer, NanOptical Biomedical began operations at the County’s Endeavor incubator, bringing imaging technology developed at George Mason University toward commercial use. The company chose to stay near the researchers and facilities that helped make its work possible.
It is a story worth paying attention to. Behind that decision are years of public investment in research partnerships and places where young companies can get started. The next challenge is helping more businesses find a future here, with room to expand and opportunities for residents to build careers alongside them.
CivicSol is excited to partner with the Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism on its Target Industry Study and Policy Alignment. Together, we will examine which industries the County should pursue and where public support can make the greatest difference.
THE MOMENT
Prince William has given businesses real reasons to put down roots. Innovation Park brings George Mason’s research together with companies such as ATCC and Corning Life Sciences. The Endeavor incubator and Northern Virginia Bioscience Center offer laboratory space for businesses at different stages of growth.
That work now connects to a wider regional effort. George Mason, Prince William County, and the independent City of Manassas unveiled the Nexus234 Innovation District name this spring, bringing a shared identity to research and industry along the Route 234 corridor.
The practical question is what happens as those companies grow. In December 2025, the County approved a land sale in Innovation Park for approximately 100,000 square feet of proposed industrial and technology space. For a business outgrowing its first lab, the availability of its next facility can help determine whether it stays in the community.
Decisions like these give industry policy its significance. Prince William’s Targeted Industry Program offers selected industries access to expedited permitting and potential economic development assistance. Choosing which industries qualify helps determine where public resources go and what kind of economy the County helps build.
THE CIVIC SOLUTION
We will work with County staff and the project’s Steering Committee to connect those choices to the opportunities taking shape here. With economic and workforce analysis from Lightcast and conversations with employers, educators, and investors, we will examine where Prince William can compete, what businesses need to succeed, and how residents can share in that success.
That means looking closely at fields such as life sciences, advanced manufacturing, unmanned systems, and applied artificial intelligence. A promising industry still needs suitable space, infrastructure, and people with the skills to do the work. Our recommendations will help the County decide where to actively recruit, where support should depend on specific commitments, and where targeted status is no longer warranted.
Data centers bring those choices into sharp focus. The Board of County Supervisors has requested a path for considering their removal from the targeted industry list. We will examine the implications for public revenue, land, infrastructure, and jobs, so the Board can weigh its options with a clear understanding of the tradeoffs.
The work will also account for small businesses and retail, drawing in the County’s separate research on agriculture, agritourism, and maritime industries. The final recommendations will give staff practical steps for carrying the Board’s direction into everyday decisions.
THE IMPACT
A community’s industry priorities should evolve as its opportunities change. Prince William’s investments have helped create possibilities that its next policy decisions can advance.
For this engagement, that means connecting the County’s ambitions to choices it can act on: which employers to pursue, what to ask of businesses receiving public support, and how to put local assets to work for residents.
We are proud to help Prince William take that next step. The promise of a company like NanOptical extends beyond its arrival. It is in what can follow: a growing business, careers close to home, and a discovery that continues to create value in the community where it began.
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