What it is

The Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism is the county government office that works to attract and grow businesses, create jobs and support tourism in Prince William County, Virginia. For founders, its main entry points are the Calibrate small business hub, free consultative services for existing businesses, and guidance on county and Commonwealth incentives.

What it offers founders

  • Calibrate: the county's small business resource hub, organized into eight stages from exploring entrepreneurship and writing a plan to funding, hiring and scaling. It connects founders to SCORE and the Small Business Development Center for counseling and mentorship.
  • Support types: one-on-one business counseling, educational workshops, marketing and networking, help with county permits, taxes and licensing, data and research, ribbon-cutting events, and site and building searches.
  • Existing business services: complimentary services including market research, public branding and exposure, executive networking, relocation help, a liaison with planning and development, and expansion incentives.
  • Incentives: county programs such as expedited permitting for target industries and the Economic Development Opportunity Fund, plus state programs such as the Virginia Jobs Investment Program and the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund.

Who it is for

The department serves companies that are starting, operating or considering a location in Prince William County. Its target industries include life sciences and biotechnology, information and communication technology, specialized logistics and supply chain, government contractors, and corporate facilities. Calibrate is meant for entrepreneurs at any stage, whether still testing an idea or growing an established business.

How to engage

Begin with the Small Business and Entrepreneurs (Calibrate) page, which includes a check-in form asking whether you are starting up or growing. Established companies can review existing business services, and growing firms can compare programs on the incentives page. You can call 703-792-5500 or use the contact form; the team says it responds to business inquiries within two business days. Many state incentives have job creation and investment thresholds, so check each program's eligibility before planning around it.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

Prince William County sits outside the core Northern Virginia jurisdictions served by the SBA's Washington Metropolitan Area District Office, so this department is an important local starting point for founders based there. It is most useful for practical needs such as licensing, finding space, hiring and training support, local visibility and access to incentive programs, rather than direct investment in startups.