I-66 EMP Becomes Founding Partner of Prince William’s Innovation District
Teaming Up With George Mason University, Prince William County, and the City of Manassas, 66 Express Outside the Beltway Operator Makes Long-Term Investment In Region’s Economic Success
Manassas, Va. July 7, 2025 – With an investment of $50,000 over the next two years, I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP) – the builder and operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway under a 50-year public-private partnership (P3) with the Commonwealth of Virginia – has officially become a Founding Partner of the new Innovation District to be anchored at George Mason University’s SciTech campus in Manassas.
As announced by the Office of the Governor in a June 27 press release, the Innovation District will create an economic hub to catalyze innovation, workforce development, and global business attraction in the City of Manassas and Prince William County.
The Innovation District will drive growth in life sciences, emerging technologies, aerospace and defense, cybersecurity, and data infrastructure, while supporting early-stage entrepreneurship and piloting a soft-landing model for international companies looking to establish a presence in Prince William County and the broader Northern Virginia region.
As a Founding Partner, I-66 EMP will have a seat on the Innovation District’s Implementation Grant Steering Committee, overseeing the initiative’s launch and playing a significant role in the governance and development of this new major employment hub.
“We’re excited to be a Founding Partner of the new Innovation District here in Prince William County, and we’re delighted to join forces with the County, the City of Manassas, and George Mason University to guide its strategic development from the start,” said Ruben Roman, CEO of I-66 EMP. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our goal of being a strong, positive influence in our region’s economic growth. All of us at I-66 EMP look forward to working with our partners in government and academia as we make our local workforce stronger and our region more attractive for business.”
I-66 EMP’s $50,000 investment helped the Innovation District reach the fundraising threshold required to unlock an additional $2,000,000 in matching grants from Growth & Opportunity Virginia (GO Virginia), an initiative of the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development that encourages collaboration among local governments, higher education, private industry, and the workforce.
“Securing the GO Virginia grant to establish this Innovation District in Prince William is big news for our region’s long-term economic prospects and the development of a diverse and highly skilled future workforce,” said Nancy H. Smith, I-66 EMP’s corporate affairs director. “We congratulate our partners at George Mason University as well as the City of Manassas and the County of Prince William for their successful efforts, and we anticipate joining them at the forefront of this game-changing interconnected hub of commerce and community.”
Specific programs of the new Innovation District, including its international life science soft-landing program and its corporate engineering mentorship program, will begin to roll out in the fall of 2025, with additional initiatives to follow.
“This Innovation District will be a transformational opportunity for Northern Virginia,” said Amy Adams, executive director of GMU’s Institute for BioHealth Innovation. “Our local workforce will benefit from access to world-class instruction in high-demand fields, and local industry will benefit from access to core research expertise and an expanded talent pool. We’re grateful that I-66 EMP shares our vision for the future economic vitality of this region and has chosen to become a Founding Partner.”
About the 66 Express Outside the Beltway:
Part of VDOT’s Transform 66 Outside the Beltway program, the lanes of the 66 Express are a transformative 22.5-mile multi-modal mega-project featuring advanced dynamic-tolling systems to keep traffic always flowing. The lanes provide Northern Virginia commuters, businesses, and mass transit with a reliable option to move people, goods, and services throughout the I-66 corridor, allowing drivers to Sit Less, Live More. Visit www.Ride66Express.com to learn more and keep up with the 66 Express on Facebook and Twitter.
About I-66 Express Mobility Partners:
I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP) is a consortium of leading infrastructure companies including Cintra, Meridiam, and APG. In public-private partnership (P3) with VDOT, I-66 EMP is contracted to operate the 66 Express Outside the Beltway through 2066. Connect with I-66 EMP on LinkedIn.
