In recent news, Aurora Flight Sciences announced an investment of $13.75 million for operations in the city of Manassas, Virginia. A $3 billion commitment by Micron Technologies, a major semiconductor company, to invest into its existing Manassas plant soon followed. Both timely contributions to further the economic development of this regional hub for technology and advanced manufacturing industries.
According to Micron executives in their press announcement, the company’s expansion in Manassas will address the demand for cars with automated brakes, self-driving features, and other smart technology. It will open up approximately 1100 new jobs through 2030 onto an existing employee base of 1200.
In tandem with these investments the city of Manassas plans to use this expansion to strengthen education in the city by working with institutions like Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University. The goal is to provide a pipeline of qualified individuals to work for Micron and other local tech companies.
“The significant benefits that the company brings Manassas by virtue of their employment and investment help us make advances in public education, infrastructure development and in maintaining a stable tax rate for all of our citizens.” explained Mayor Harry J. Parrish II.
While Micron assessed other U.S states and even foreign countries to invest in, they ultimately chose Manassas due to its tech and manufacturing base and the economic incentives offered by the state.
Currently, Manassas takes pride in being the 10th highest weekly wages and 16th highest per capita income in Virginia. They also offer the fourth highest wages in professional and technical jobs in the Commonwealth, with more than 20,000 people commuting into the city daily to work at jobs in the financial, healthcare, homeland security, and defense contracting industries.
Governor Northam explained the importance of Micron’s investment, saying their “expansion in the City of Manassas represents one of the largest manufacturing investments in the history of Virginia and will position the Commonwealth as a leader in unmanned systems and Internet of Things.”
