The Prince William County Heritage Fermentation Collection, a place-based biotechnology initiative from ATCC, a nonprofit biological resource center, and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Tourism (PWCDEDT), will provide participating local craft beverage producers with exclusive access to yeast strains sourced from the county’s historic landscapes.
"Locations may include battlefields, colonial-era homesteads, agricultural properties, orchards, and forested areas, such as the grounds of Rippon Lodge Historic Site in Woodbridge or Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park," said Kevin Costello, Tourism Director, PWCDEDT. "The eventual collection will allow Prince William County producers to create products rooted in our destination, harder to copy, and specifically marketed to consumers who value local storytelling."
The project will start with fieldwork, collecting environmental samples such as bark, fruit skins, soil, and related materials suitable for fermentation.
- Samples will be transported to ATCC laboratories in Innovation Park, Manassas, and analyzed using microbiological and genomic techniques.
- Candidate strains will be screened for fermentation-relevant traits, including sugar utilization, ethanol tolerance, and flavor characteristics.
- Promising strains will be tested by participating brewers and ultimately accessioned into the curated Prince William County Heritage Fermentation Collection under ATCC’s stewardship with its standard culture collection model.
"By studying the microorganisms found across Prince William County's historic sites, agricultural properties, and natural landscapes, we're uncovering a biological fingerprint that is unique to this region," said Rebecca Bradford, Senior Vice President, ATCC. "We are proud to be part of a project that connects the dots between life sciences research, small business innovation, and historic preservation right outside our headquarters doors."
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) approved a $100,000 Economic Development Opportunity Fund (EDOF) grant to support the project.
"Prince William County has always been defined by its people, its landscapes, and its willingness to embrace new ideas," said Deshundra Jefferson, Chair-at-Large, BOCS. "This initiative uncovers new opportunities for innovation while honoring the history and character of our community. It's exactly the kind of creative partnership that helps us build a stronger economy and a stronger sense of place."
About ATCC
ATCC is a premier global biological materials and information resource and standards organization and the leading developer and supplier of authenticated cell lines, microorganisms, and associated data for academia, industry, and government.
With a history of scientific contributions spanning more than a century, ATCC offers an unmatched combination of being the world’s largest and most diverse collection of biological reference materials and data, and is a mission-driven, trusted partner that supports and encourages scientific collaboration. ATCC products, services, partnerships, and people provide the global scientific community with credible, advanced model systems to support complex research and innovations in basic science, drug discovery, translational medicine, and public health.
ATCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, with research and technology centers of excellence in Gaithersburg and Germantown, Maryland.
Learn more about ATCC here: https://www.atcc.org
Media Contact:
Laura Berry, Marketing & Communications Director
lmberry@pwcgov.org
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