Fairfax City, Virginia: Mayor Catherine Read has announced a renewed push to position Fairfax City, home to 25,000 residents within a 6.2-square-mile area, as a key tourism destination.

“We have not traditionally focused a lot on tourism in the City of Fairfax, but we are now. Tourism has not been something we have previously invested a lot of resources into,” said Mayor Read during the 2025 Economic Development Summit and Breakfast, held on April 4, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn Fairfax.

The Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce (CFCC), hosted the event in collaboration with Capital Bank, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Fairfax City Economic Development, Hilton Garden Inn, and Sandy Springs Bank.

She highlighted Fairfax City’s prime geographic location, situated centrally within Fairfax County and Northern Virginia, and equidistant from Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington, and Alexandria counties.

“So geographically, we have such an advantage. And I think moving forward, we are going to look at the ways in which we can take the resources that we have and leverage them for the things our region wants and needs. We are part of a larger ecosystem,” she added. 

Rather than competing with surrounding areas, Mayor Read emphasized the city’s collaborative approach to regional growth.

“We do not compete. We all work together with the county. We work together with the region,” she said, noting her efforts to assist foreign companies in finding opportunities within the broader Fairfax area.

Speaking about the broader economic environment in the country, she acknowledged current challenges but urged attendees to focus on opportunity amid change.

“Every time there is disruption, there is opportunity. And so while we have to deal with the reality of people and businesses being disrupted by what is happening, we have to look beyond where are the opportunities, and how are we positioning ourselves,” she said.

The city, she added, is well-equipped with assets like a university, a skilled workforce, support systems, infrastructure, and a strategic location that appeals to business interests.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay also addressed the summit, sharing a recent conversation with a George Mason University professor, who talked about significant challenges that is Virginia facing, particularly with its 80,000+ federal employees.

Chairman McKay emphasized the need for regional solidarity during this transitional time. “This is a really dry time,” he noted asking everyone to stick together as a region, and focus on some of the positive things that were built in the past. 

At the same time, he underscored, “But, I will not stop fighting every single day that I am the Chairman of this Board for our federal workers, our federal contractors, and the economy that we have here that is so reliant on that…” 

He reminded attendees that Virginia continues to rank #1 in CNBC’s list of best states for business, thanks in part to its excellent public schools and top rankings in customized workforce training, cybersecurity, and tech talent. Fairfax County remains home to 10 Fortune 500 companies, more than any other region in the country.

Chairman McKay also countered “misinformation,” about population decline in Fairfax County. While the pandemic caused temporary out migration, he noted, the county rebounded.

According to 2023–2024 data from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, he said Fairfax County’s population grew by more than 14,000 residents, with overall Northern Virginia adding over 35,000 new residents in that same period.

Acting Business Development Manager for the Fairfax City Economic Development, Marie Spittell shared updates on the city’s current initiatives. 

Spittell noted that new staff members have joined the economic development team to enhance capacity for tourism, marketing, and business investment, with tourism now officially integrated into the city’s strategic planning framework.

Director of Market Intelligence for the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Stephen Tarditi presented highlights from 2024. He said multiple companies, both from outside the region and outside the county—relocated their headquarters to Fairfax County.

“We’re really working on our industry diversification,” said Tarditi, pointing to notable growth in the aerospace sector, with 70 companies establishing or expanding their presence in the county over the past two years.

He also noted momentum in the AI sector, including Amazon’s headquarters move to Fairfax County. On the international front, CMC Electronics, a Canadian aerospace component manufacturer, has opened a research and development center in Reston.

Executive Director of CFCC, Jennifer Rose expressed appreciation to members and partners for their continued support. “The Chamber makes things happen,” she said.

Senior Vice President and Head of Community Banking at Capital Bank, Masrur (Mas) Hossain, who sponsored the event, underlined the bank’s long-standing partnership with CFCC and its commitment to supporting the event. 

Board Member Doug Church also delivered remarks during the summit.

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