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Renowned for its small and local businesses and recognized as a top innovation hub and home to the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, Virginia, is at the forefront of the growing Northern Virginia innovation economy.
To build on that success, the City recently engaged in a year-long strategic planning and community engagement process to define Alexandria’s approach to economic development moving forward.
ALX Forward Vision Statement
Alexandria is a resilient, competitive, future-ready city where innovation thrives,
opportunity is accessible to all, and economic growth enhances quality of life.
The product of a yearlong engagement effort, culminating in a May 8, 2025, Economic Summit, and adopted by City Council in January 2026. ALX Forward lays out three areas of economic development focus and a plan of immediate-, near-, and long-term actions for citywide coordination and collaboration to ensure Alexandria’s economic competitiveness and continued prosperity for residents and businesses.
| Read the full ALX Forward Plan | Read the ALX Forward Executive Summary |
Guiding Principles
Equity
Resilience
Authenticity
Accountability
Catalyst Initiatives
Place-Based Development
Pursue bold, transformative investments in catalyst sites and underutilized assets to spur mixed-use development, enhance Alexandria’s quality of place, and generate new revenue.
• Accelerate catalyst site development.
• Leverage City-owned assets and resources.
• Streamline development and placemaking efforts.
• Focus on the experience economy.
Business Retention & Recruitment
Focus on retaining local businesses and attracting high-growth industries to diversify Alexandria’s economy and create quality jobs.
• Foster a collaborative business environment.
• Position Alexandria as a premier business destination.
• Strengthen talent pipelines.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Strengthen Alexandria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by expanding support for small businesses and fostering the growth of innovative, high-growth startups.
• Build the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Expand incubator and accelerator spaces.
• Foster entrepreneurial skills.
Learn More
Accelerate ALX Cohort
The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, in partnership with FedTech and the City of Alexandria, has launched the inaugural Accelerate ALX cohort.
Chosen through a competitive selection process that drew 41 total applications, the 10 selected companies represent high-growth sectors including defense, aerospace, health tech, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and cybersecurity. Over the coming months, founders will receive individualized mentorship, expert instruction, and opportunities to connect with peers, customers, investors, and the broader innovation ecosystem regionally.
FedTech will administer the program. The company specializes in designing and operating innovation programs for federal agencies, state and local governments, prime contractors, and corporate R&D organizations. FedTech has operated more than 130 custom studios and accelerators, with 120 partner labs across the world, and their alumni companies have raised more than $7.5 billion in investment.
The cohort is reflective of both the diversity of Alexandria’s neighborhoods as well as its population, with three female founders, three veteran founders, and five founders from underrepresented races or ethnicities. Companies are located in Old Town, the West End, Del Ray/Arlandria/Potomac Yard, and one is relocating from DC to Alexandria.
Accelerate ALX will culminate in a public showcase event in December. The accelerator is the City’s first initiative under ALX Forward targeted at supporting entrepreneurship and innovation and will integrate as appropriate with programming offered through National IQ, the new innovation district in National Landing.