George Mason University, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas revealed the name of Northern Virginia’s first Innovation District: Nexus234.
The name draws inspiration from the central transportation corridor, Route 234, that runs through the district like a spinal cord. The name roots the district in the infrastructure that has shaped its trajectory for more than three decades; it is both a physical backbone and a symbolic throughline, tying past vision to future momentum.
"Prince William County is building a destination for discovery," said Chair-at-Large Deshundra Jefferson, Prince William Board of County Supervisors at the press conference event today on the NOVA LIVE campus, at the heart of the district. "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."
After launching the district in June 2025 with a $2.6M GO Virginia implementation grant and $1.3M founding partner match, Amy Adams, executive director of Nexus234, convened a volunteer-led task force along with consultant agency Stiletto that spent six months refining the district’s brand position and promise.
One of the most important takeaways from this phase was getting a clear, accurate picture of the district’s size and boundaries. Working with the county’s GIS teams and Planning Office, the task force confirmed that the district spans just over 5,900 acres, significantly larger than the 3,800 acres originally referenced in the grant.
More importantly, within that footprint are approximately 1,000 acres of land at different stages of the development process, creating opportunities for growth alongside long-term planning.
"One of our department goals with supporting the Nexus234 Innovation District is to position available land for our county’s targeted industries and the district’s priority sectors, which will bring high-quality, high-wage jobs to our community," said Christina Winn, executive director, PWCDEDT. "Smaller sites require coordination and we are prepared for that complexity because it allows for more intentional and flexible development outcomes. It’s what our county has become known for: we think outside the box about what’s next."
The brand launch event coincided with the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) conference, which brought attendees to the region to tour George Mason University’s anchor 134-acre Science & Technology research campus and engage with researchers, students, and companies. Attendees also learned about workforce training programs, an international soft-landing initiative, and the county’s Endeavor incubator program.
"Nexus234 serves as a front door for companies like ours,” said Ross Dunlap, CEO of Ceres Nanosciences. "As the first Endeavor incubator graduate, we have continued to grow within the innovation district and now operate more than 12,000 square feet of wet‑lab and manufacturing space, supporting the global distribution of our products. We’ve benefited from collaboration with local scientists, access to shared university facilities and equipment, hiring local talent, and regular opportunities to engage."
Learn more at Nexus234.org.