Economic development is a process of generating wealth for the benefit of the community. It goes beyond just bringing in new companies and creating job opportunities. The Economic Development Agency (EDA) is responsible for overseeing this process and all related meetings take place at City Hall, unless otherwise specified. The statutes of the EDA can be found here.
This effort will help make available ready-to-use sites for potential businesses, which will in turn create better-paying jobs in the region. Northern Virginia Community College has partnered with several organizations to launch the Dual Enrollment Expansion Program in Information Technology and Engineering (DEEP-IET). This program is designed to increase the regional workforce capacity in the area of IET, with a focus on information technology and engineering technology. The College at Wise at the University of Virginia has also joined forces with SWVA Startup and Opportunity SWVA to increase the number of entrepreneurs in the region by 2027. This partnership will ensure that entrepreneurs have access to a strong ecosystem, including support for existing early-stage companies.
The programs will also support Stafford's technology-based Virginia Smart Community test bench and provide entrepreneurs with access to the accredited regional Internet of Things acceleration program and other community-focused programs.
