GO Virginia funds two NoVa tech projects

GO Virginia Region 7 is allocating $2.2 million to two projects in Northern Virginia focused on developing the area’s technology industry, the Northern Virginia arm of the state’s GO Virginia economic development initiative announced Wednesday.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically increased the demand for high-tech jobs, giving our region a unique opportunity to make workforce investments that will pay off for decades to come,” GO Virginia Region 7 Committee Chairman Sid Banerjee said in a statement. “By funding these initiatives, GO Virginia will help create hundreds of jobs right here in Northern Virginia, while better preparing hundreds of people for long-lasting careers in the tech industry.”

GO Virginia is awarding $1.5 million to the Northern Virginia Smart Regional Initiative. Run by Smart City Works, a D.C. metro area business accelerator, the initiative will train 120 angel investors on startup investing, double the number of tech startups through a business acceleration program and develop pilot projects for graduates of the program.

The second program, VA Cyber Skills Academies, will receive $700,000. The academies, run by the Arlington-based nonprofit Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu, will train 75 people for cybersecurity roles. Fifty of those will be in the Reskilling Academy, which trains people who have no background in cybersecurity to earn certifications. The remaining 25 will come from the Upskilling Academy, which trains people who have some IT experience in additional skills.

GO Virginia estimates that the two initiatives will create nearly 300 jobs over three years.

GO Virginia is a business-led economic development initiative focused on strengthening Virginia’s private sector. GO Virginia Region 7 consists of the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William.