George Mason University, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas officially unveiled Nexus234 Innovation District during a naming event in Manassas, Virginia on April 24. The nearly 6,000-acre district is centered around Route 234 and aims to position Northern Virginia as a national destination for research-driven industry.
The new district brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, and technology companies from sectors such as life sciences, aerospace, defense, semiconductors, data centers, and artificial intelligence infrastructure. It is designed to speed up the transition from discovery to deployment by fostering collaboration between research institutions and industry.
“None of this happened all of a sudden. It was years in the making,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “You have the right community, you have the right components, you have the right leadership. You mix all that together and throw in Virginia’s largest R1 institution. You want an education system that produces a pipeline of high paying jobs, that partners with the business community and provides accountability to the public. That’s what we’ve been putting in place at George Mason.”
The announcement coincided with the Association of University Research Parks conference which brought visitors nationwide to tour Nexus234 facilities and meet anchor companies like Micron and American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Leaders highlighted available tech-flex industrial space as well as incubator programs for startups.
“Prince William County is building a destination for discovery,” said Chair-at-Large Deshundra Jefferson of Prince William Board of County Supervisors. “Nexus234 reflects our long-term strategy to attract high-value industries, support groundbreaking research, and ensure companies have the space, talent, and infrastructure they need to grow.”
Nexus234 builds on three decades of public–private collaboration supported by grants including $2.6 million from GO Virginia matched by $1.3 million from local partners such as ATCC and Micron Technology Inc., among others.
“Nexus234 serves as a front door for companies like ours,” said CEO Ross Dunlap of Ceres Nanosciences. “As the first Endeavor incubator graduate, we have continued to grow within the innovation district… We’ve benefited from collaboration with local scientists… hiring local talent…and regular opportunities to engage.”
Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger of Manassas added: “Beyond economic metrics… Nexus234 represents a community investment—creating high-quality jobs…and reinforcing Manassas as a place where historic charm and forward-looking innovation come together.”
With access to major highways such as Interstate 66 along with rail corridors and airports nearby—including Washington Dulles International Airport—the district aims for strong connectivity supporting both business growth and regional accessibility.
