U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Published April 13, 2026 at 9:15AM

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) cafeteria reopens under new management. (courtesy of Jay Premack/USPTO)

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s cafeteria has reopened under new management, coinciding with a busy season at the federal campus that recently welcomed the National Science Foundation.

USPTO’s Roundhouse Café officially reopened to the public March 30 at 600 Dulany Street in Carlyle, offering sushi, a made-to-order deli, salad bar, self-serve hot entrées and a hot bar, the agency announced. The venue plans to serve a rotating variety of “chef-curated” menus, seasonal promotions and guest restaurants.

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More than 20 operator proposals received for Alexandria’s new tech accelerator

By Emily Leayman

Published April 1, 2026 at 10:00AM

The Alexandria skyline (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A program operator for a new tech startup accelerator will be selected in mid-April after the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership received numerous applications through its request for proposals process.

AEDP is launching the accelerator program to support new tech startups based in the city — the first direct support the organization has provided for startups in these industries. Attracting high-growth industries and boosting support for entrepreneurs is one of the strategies in ALX Forward, a roadmap for the city’s future economic growth recently approved by City Council.

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New startup accelerator program seeks to foster tech company growth in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published March 4, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard (staff photo by James Cullum)

An accelerator program to support new tech startups is launching in the city, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership announced today (Wednesday).

The program will provide mentorship, coaching, technical support, capital connections and structured founder engagement for up to 15 startups over four to six months. It will serve startups in high-growth sectors such as robotics, aerospace, quantum, artificial intelligence (AI), energy tech, computer services, cybersecurity and defense.

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Old Town property dispute, Alexandria firm wins DHS contract lead ALXnow’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published October 24, 2025 at 3:30PM

510 Wolfe Street in Old Town (courtesy photo)

It’s the end of the week, Alexandria. Here’s a look at ALXnow’s top stories.

The most-read story this week is about the potential sale of two large Alexandria properties that could settle millions owed to the government by real estate developer and former Connection Newspapers CEO Peter Labovitz.

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Patent office lays off staff, closes Denver office amid broader federal workforce cuts

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 1, 2025 at 2:15PM

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (staff photo by James Cullum)

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office laid off employees on Wednesday as part of a reduction-in-force plan that has been in development for months, according to multiple sources and internal emails reviewed by Bloomberg Law.

The Alexandria-based agency cut positions across several departments, including the communications team, the Office of Public Engagement, and the Patents Unit, according to Bloomberg Law. The layoffs occur as the federal government shut down on Wednesday due to a funding impasse in Congress, although the USPTO remains open and operational, funded by operating reserves from fee collections.

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Senate confirms new director for Alexandria’s patent office

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 19, 2025 at 12:20PM | Updated September 22, 2025 at 11:04AM

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (staff photo by James Cullum)

The U.S. Senate confirmed John Squires on Thursday as the new director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, placing a former law firm partner at the helm of one of Alexandria’s major federal employers.

The 51-47 vote followed a contentious confirmation process that required multiple procedural maneuvers to overcome Democratic opposition. The Senate confirmed Squires as part of an “en bloc” vote that approved 48 nominations simultaneously. Both of Virginia’s Democratic senators opposed the nominations—Tim Kaine and Mark Warner voted “nay”—joining all Democrats and independents while Republicans unanimously supported the nominees.

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Federal security chief warns of rising threats at Alexandria conference

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 26, 2025 at 1:15PM

DCSA Director David Cattler speaks to insider threat and security professionals from military, government, industry and academia at the National Insider Threat Awareness Month (NITAM) conference held at the U.S. Patent and Trade Office on Aug. 18. (Photo By Sgt. Marcel Bassett)

The head of a major federal security agency warned Aug. 18 that a “perfect storm” of global threats is targeting the region’s defense contractors and classified government work.

David Cattler, director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, told security professionals that adversaries are increasingly viewing Northern Virginia’s intellectual property and defense workforce as “strategic terrain, as valuable as any battlefield,” according to a DCSA press release.

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619 young inventors showcase creativity at annual Thingamajig convention in Alexandria

By Ryan Belmore

Published August 7, 2025 at 7:30PM

More than 600 local kids participate in the YMCA's 31st Annual Thingamajig Invention Convention (Photo Credit: YMCA of Metropolitan Washington)

More than 600 local children ages 5-14 gathered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria on July 31 for the 31st annual Thingamajig Invention Convention, a free event hosted by the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington.

The convention drew 619 participants who engaged in more than 25 hands-on activities designed to promote science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills during the summer break between school years.