The FAIRFAXINNOVATIONCENTER GRADUATES TWO IN JUNE

FIC Celebrates the Expansion and Relocation of MediaForce PR and VECTARE in the City of Fairfax Fairfax, VA, May, 20, 2011-The FIC and the City of Fairfax Economic Development Authority (EDA) will host an event for MediaForce PR and VECTARE to celebrate their successful growth and expansion in recent years. Both businesses have been hosted by the FairfaxInnovationCenter s (FIC), Incubator Program as start-ups. Since then, they have each grown substantially and have outgrown their respective office space and are relocating within the City of Fairfax. The FIC and the City of Fairfax EDA will congratulate the companies on their many achievements and present them with a certificate of achievement. The event takes place on June 23 at 4pm at the FIC, located at 4031 University Drive, Fairfax, VA22030. MediaForce PR is a social marketing firm providing national public service messaging and public education campaigns for government agencies and non-profit organizations. Today, the firm counts on a full-time staff of 13 and a host of regular contractors to provide its marketing and communications services. The FairfaxInnovationCenter and Mason Enterprise Center (MEC) have provided MediaForce PR with extraordinary support since we approached them in our first year said Robert Gaudian, president of MediaForce PR. Furthermore, we look forward to the new partnerships that may evolve with our continued presence in the City of Fairfax as MediaForce PR continues to innovate and expand. MediaForce PR s new office will be located at 10427 North Street in the OldTownVillageFairfax-WebbBuilding. VECTARE Inc. is an engineering firm specializing in wireless sensor networks and smart grid applications in support of the water and gas utility sectors. The Computer Science Department at GMU houses one of the leading research groups in wireless sensor networks and ad hoc networking, which has been instrumental in our success. The FairfaxInnovationCenter played a key role in establishing our relationship with the researchers at GMU, said Barth Pitchford, president of VECTARE. Over the past five years, VECTARE expanded to ten employees before relocating to its new office in FairfaxCity located at 3871 Plaza Drive, Fairfax. The City of Fairfax EDA works to foster and promote economic development within the region. EDA activities include facilitating business recruiting and expansion and small business improvement. Through its resources such as the small business Incubator program, many businesses have thrived and contributed to the City s position as a leading entrepreneurial and small business center in the region. With the support of GeorgeMasonUniversity and the City of Fairfax, small businesses like MediaForce and VECTARE have achieved great success in their fields. They both serve as a perfect example of the FIC and EDA achieving their mission to advance small business, said Michael DeMarco, Chairman of the EDA. About the FairfaxInnovationCenter (FIC) FairfaxInnovationCenter is a business accelerator program designed to help start-up businesses grow and achieve maximum success. A joint venture of GeorgeMasonUniversity and the City of Fairfax EDA, the FIC is located in Old Town Fairfax. The FIC provides furnished office space, telephone and receptionist service, but unlike typical executive suites, FIC also offers access to business advisors, networking opportunities, and all of the quality educational programs offered at the Mason Enterprise Center. ###