Virginia Tech campus

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

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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Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team, Community Lodgings top Chamber ALX’s Best in Business Awards

By James Cullum

Published October 24, 2025 at 4:00AM | Updated October 24, 2025 at 5:46AM

Lance Collins, the vice president and executive director of Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus, with his launch team at the Chamber ALX's Best in Business Awards, Oct. 23, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Since it was announced in August, it was no surprise that the Chamber ALX‘s 2025 Business Leader of the Year Award was presented Thursday night (Oct. 23) to the Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team.

Still, there were a number of other contentious business awards, and ALXnow was at the Westin Alexandria Old Town (400 Courthouse Square) to see them handed out. Below are the winners of the micro, small, medium, large, rising star, non-profit, and overall businesses of the year in Alexandria.

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Alexandria to hold inaugural State of the Arts event Oct. 15

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2025 at 2:30PM

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

Alexandria will host its first-ever State of the Arts ALX event this month at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus (3625 Potomac Avenue).

The city’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities — Office of Arts is hosting the free event on Oct. 15 at 8:30 a.m. Speakers discussing the local art scene and artistic accomplishments in Alexandria include Poet Laureate Maria Cristina Donoso and Jen Goold, executive director of the Neighborhood Design Center.

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Kids in Alexandria’s Summer Youth Employment Program get free laptops from Comcast

By James Cullum

Published August 8, 2025 at 11:30AM | Updated August 8, 2025 at 11:56AM

Comcast donated 100 new Dell laptops to participants in Alexandria's Summer Youth Employment Program, Aug. 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Participants in Alexandria’s Summer Youth Employment Program got a pleasant surprise at their closing ceremony on Thursday — free Dell laptops from Comcast.

The program, which started on June 30 and pays $12.41 per hour, recognized nearly 100 students Thursday night (Aug. 7) at the Virginia Tech Innovation campus. Katrina Ashmore, chief of the city’s Workforce Development Center, said that the program is more than just a summer job.

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Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team named Alexandria Business Leader of the Year

By James Cullum

Published July 25, 2025 at 10:15AM

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

The Virginia Tech DC Area Launch Team has been named the Chamber ALX’s Business Leader of the Year.

The first of three Virginia Tech academic buildings held its grand opening in February, ushering in computer science research and development programs to hundreds of master’s degree students. The first academic building is 11 stories, 300,000 square feet and located next door to the Potomac Yard Metro station.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 30, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated May 31, 2025 at 12:49AM

Alexandria City High School's graduation at George Mason University's EagleBank Arena, May 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What a week we just had in Alexandria!

Here’s our recap of everything worth talking and reading about over the past week in the Port City. This week, Alexandria was named a Sanctuary Jurisdiction by the Trump administration, a distinction Mayor Alyia Gaskins said “wrongly targets and mischaracterizes Alexandria and dismisses core principles that make up the foundation of our democracy.”

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Virginia Tech rebrands Alexandria campus, unveils Institute for Advanced Computing

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 29, 2025 at 6:00AM

Virginia Tech Innovation Campus (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Tech is setting up a new Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria. The university-wide institute will be based in Academic Building One, focusing on cutting-edge research and education in computing and technology.

Graduate programs in computer science and computer engineering will be offered at the institute. It’s also aiming to build strong partnerships with industry leaders and government organizations.

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CareerCon offers career exploration and $4,000 in scholarships for high school and college attendees

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 24, 2025 at 7:45PM

Hosted by The Chamber ALX and presented by Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, Careercon connects students with professionals across industries like Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and more. (via The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce)

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual CareerCon, a free event designed to help high school and college students explore career options and get valuable tips on college applications, resume writing, and scholarships.

Set for May 3, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., the event will take place at the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus (3625 Potomac Avenue).

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Va. research colleges poised to face ‘devastating’ consequences from federal cuts, experts say

By Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury

Published April 9, 2025 at 7:30AM

A view outside the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Academic Building One in Alexandria. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

Research colleges and universities in Virginia are at risk of taking significant cuts, state lawmakers in the House of Delegates and education experts revealed Tuesday, as the country’s executive branch continues to trim down operations and funding in the federal government.

According to data collected by the National Center for Science and Engineering, Virginia ranks 13th in the nation in research and development (R&D) performance.

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WHAT’S NEW: Visit Alexandria unveils new waterfront experiences, dining options and major events

By Ryan Belmore

Published March 11, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated March 11, 2025 at 1:37PM

Running along the Alexandria waterfront with the Tall Ship Providence in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)

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Running along the Alexandria waterfront with the Tall Ship Providence in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)[/caption]

Alexandria is welcoming a wave of new developments across the city, from waterfront dining to boutique retail and major upcoming events that promise to draw visitors from around the world.

Claire Mouledoux, Visit Alexandria's senior vice president of marketing and communications, presented the city's latest attractions during the "What's New 2025" event at Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard on Tuesday.