Governor Gilmore announces up to 150 new jobs for Virginians
Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that Road Runner, the new high-speed online service jointly owned by MediaOne Group, Time Warner, Microsoft Corporation, Compaq Corporation, and Advance/Newhouse, will relocate its corporate headquarters to Fairfax County. Approximately 70 employees will move from Boston, Stamford and Denver, and up to 150 new jobs will be created by year-end 1999.
"Road Runner's decision to relocate its headquarters to Fairfax County confirms that Virginia is the Information Technology State," said Governor Gilmore. "This company, backed by five of the world's leading media, communications, computer software, hardware and publishing companies, will benefit from the many IT resources and knowledge workers in the Northern Virginia region."
Earlier this year, Time Warner Inc. and MediaOne Group finalized their agreement to merge their respective existing online services to create the nation's largest broadband online business. They were joined by Microsoft Corp., Compaq Corp., and Advance/Newhouse. The partners' existing service now reaches a combined total of over 6 million homes with a potential to reach 27 million. It has over 100,000 existing customers- making it the largest high-speed online service in the United States.
"The decision as to where to locate this new company was based on a number of criteria", said Bob Rusak, Vice President of Business Development for Road Runner. "We are anticipating significant growth and wanted to ensure that we selected a location that would provide quality of life for all employees, both those just starting on their career path and those who are more established. In addition, we needed a convenient business location with first class airport facilities. Fairfax County, Virginia not only beat out the competition on these counts, but it has the added value of having a reputation as a growing high-tech environment."
"We are delighted that Road Runner chose Fairfax County for its new headquarters," said Patricia M. Woolsey, Chairman of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. "They will join the existing IT businesses in the county that is the home of the Internet and a leading center of information technology throughout the world."
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority assisted the company with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services.
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