Arlington residents can drop off old electronics, household hazardous materials and small metal items next Saturday at a biannual collection event.
The Environmental Collection and Recycling Event (E-CARE) will take place from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Wakefield High School (1325 S. Dinwiddie Street). Accepted materials include automotive fluids, batteries, fluorescent tubes, pesticides, toner cartridges and paint products.
Flooded with email newsletters? Can’t stand Elon? Threads too boring? Facebook only surfacing random videos?
If you answered yes to all of those things, here’s some good news: there’s a brand new way to stay on top of everything Arlington.
Arlington’s startup ecosystem is off to a strong start in 2026, with a wave of new funding, growing innovation spaces and expanding tech companies reinforcing the area’s role in next-generation and national security-focused industries.
From early-stage startups to more established companies, the activity points to a broad and active ecosystem, one increasingly shaped by applied artificial intelligence and “dual-use” technologies with both commercial and government applications.
Big raises highlight AI-driven innovation
Several Arlington-based startups have already landed significant funding this year, led by two of the region’s largest recent deals.
Maritime intelligence company Quartermaster raised a $43 million Series A to expand its “SmartMast” system, which equips ships with sensors and AI-powered analytics to create real-time visibility across global waterways. The company describes the platform as a distributed sensing network designed to improve maritime awareness for commercial operators and governments alike.
Meanwhile, freight intelligence firm GenLogs closed a $60 million Series B earlier this year to grow its AI-driven platform for tracking truck movements nationwide. Using a combination of roadside sensors, satellite data and analytics, the Arlington-based startup aims to reduce fraud and improve efficiency across the logistics industry.
Alongside these larger raises, smaller seed and Series A rounds, including companies like CLEATUS and BriefCatch, continue to drive activity locally. The sectors may differ, but the throughline is similar: companies using advanced technology to tackle practical, real-world problems.
New innovation spaces bring ecosystem together
The momentum isn’t just showing up in funding. It is also visible in new spaces and programming designed to bring people together.
In April, Arlington hosted the kickoff of DMV Deep Tech Week, a region-wide series of events connecting founders, investors and public-sector leaders working across emerging technologies. The first day’s activities took place at JBG Smith’s new Concorde Conference Center in National Landing, a purpose-built venue for convening the innovation community.
Events like these reflect a broader push to build density in the ecosystem by bringing companies, capital and institutions together.
That same idea is behind the launch of National Innovation Quarter (National IQ) earlier this year. Announced in February, the new district spans Arlington and Alexandria and is designed to connect industry, startups, academia and government around shared challenges tied to national competitiveness and emerging technology.
Backed by partners including Amazon, Virginia Tech and Arlington Economic Development, National IQ will host accelerators, investor summits and other programs aimed at helping companies scale.
Additional spaces are also coming online. The Virtus Innovation Hub opened this spring in National Landing, adding another place for startups, investors and ecosystem partners to gather and collaborate.
Corporate expansion reinforces Arlington’s appeal
It’s not just startups driving activity, more established companies are continuing to grow their presence in Arlington, often for the same reasons.
Scale AI, for example, recently opened a significantly larger office in National Landing, leasing about 22,000 square feet with capacity for roughly 100 employees. The move reflects the company’s interest in closer collaboration with federal and defense partners, as well as access to the region’s talent pool.
And just last week, Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT) announced a headquarters expansion in Ballston, a $19 million investment expected to create 210 jobs. The company similarly pointed to access to technical talent and proximity to customers as key factors.
A connected, growing ecosystem
Taken together, the activity shows an ecosystem that continues to build on itself.
Startups are finding early support, while growth-stage companies are scaling. At the same time, new venues, programs and partnerships are making it easier for companies to connect with customers, investors and each other.
While much of the activity is rooted in AI, its applications span logistics, data analytics and government contracting, a reminder that Arlington’s innovation economy isn’t tied to a single factor.
With continued investment, more places to collaborate and a steady flow of new companies, Arlington is becoming a place where technology is both built and applied to the real-world.
Solidcore Sold — “The private equity owners of Solidcore Holdings LLC have reached a deal to sell the Arlington-based fitness chain to L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by luxury giant LVMH SE. Terms have not been disclosed, but Reuters reported the deal values Solidcore between $600 million and $700 million. Solidcore’s investors began exploring a sale of the Pilates chain in May.” [WBJ]
Chase Through Arlington — “The Alexandria Police Department said a suspect pursued by the Arlington County Police Department crashed at the intersection of N. Van Dorn Street and W. Braddock Road just off I-395 near Fort Ward. Scanner traffic indicated that the Arlington County Police Department was following up on D.C. police pursuit of a homicide suspect. The suspect drove over the 14th Street Bridge into Arlington on I-395.” [ALXnow, Twitter]
Closures for Clarendon Day — “The 2024 Clarendon Day will take place on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from approximately 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The Arlington County Police Department will conduct the following road closures from approximately 3:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28 to accommodate the event.” [ACPD]
Governance Task Force Considered — “Is a county-government task force the way to advance the ball down the field on proposed changes to the governance structure that has been in place in Arlington for nearly a century? That’s a request being made by the Arlington County Civic Federation. Whether county officials take the group up on its proposal remains to be seen.” [GazetteLeader]
VHC Launches New Podcast — “Coming soon, VHC Health and the Washington Business Journal will launch a new podcast called Living Well with Alison Starling. Join the former ABC 7News anchor and Emmy Award winner for exclusive conversations with health care advocates and experts on today’s most timely health topics.” [WBJ]
Senior Program Keeping Staff Busy — “An increase in community needs, coupled with staffing challenges, has led the Arlington Area Agency on Aging (AAAA) to cut back slightly on walk-up services for those seeking assistance from the county’s Aging & Disability Resource Center. Walk-ins are now curtailed on Fridays, ‘primarily to give staff time to catch up with their administrative duties.'” [GazettLeader]
Beyer Statement on Crime Stats — “According to the FBI’s release of 2023 hate crimes statistics, only 16,009 agencies out of out of 18,800 agencies nationwide participated in hate crimes data collection. The 2023 hate crimes statistics illustrate the urgent need to improve hate crimes reporting across the country.” [Press Release]
Nearby: Squirrel Befriends Gas Man — “Every day at the Exxon at 4001 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, attendant Ghulam Rabani has fed peanut M&Ms to a squirrel. ‘I see him every day,’ Rabani told ALXnow. ‘He loves the M&Ms. He’ll take them and hide them and then come back.'” [ALXnow]
Watching Hurricane Helene — “Helene should manage to send its remnant rains our way Friday into Friday night. There’s a chance of some thunderstorms, but the higher threat of severe weather and tornadoes will probably remain to the southwest of the D.C. area… It’s still early to predict rainfall totals with much confidence, but models suggest 0.75 to 2 inches is possible through Sunday night.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Thursday — Expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 11am, with cloudy skies and a high of 79°F accompanied by a south wind at 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. For Thursday night, there’s a 20% chance of showers, with otherwise cloudy conditions and a low around 69°F. [NWS]
Exciting Full-Court 3×3 Basketball League is BACK!!
DMV 3×3 announces that its 3×3 Youth Basketball Full Court League is returning for a sophomore season!
Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Sep 25, 2024.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 11am, with cloudy skies and a high of 79°F accompanied by a south wind at 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. For Thursday night, there’s a slight chance of showers, along with cloudy conditions and a low around 69°F. A southeast wind will blow at 3 to 5 mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Join Kaiser Permanente for Healthy at the Harbor, a free community health and wellness event taking place Saturday, June 6, from 11 am to 4 pm at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Bring your family and friends for free full day of fun, fitness, and preventive care along the waterfront.
Throughout the day, Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians will offer no-cost health screenings, alongside a health and wellness expo focused on preventive care education. A lively Kids’ Zone will keep children active and entertained with spin-art bikes, face painting, balloon art, games, and more.
Arlington Public Schools is proposing to significantly increase its budget next year to support more staffing and a pay raise for personnel.
The proposal, which Superintendent Francisco Durán and the Arlington School Board discussed at a work session yesterday (Tuesday), calls for gradually adding 252 new full-time positions and a 3% cost-of-living increase over the next three years.
Spotted lanternflies continue to appear in Arlington and other parts of Northern Virginia — but while the insects are invasive, experts say there’s no need to panic.
“These invasive insects do not bite, sting, or otherwise harm people or pets,” Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Kirsten Conrad told ARLnow. “They feed on a wide variety of plants and are especially attracted to the invasive non-native Tree of Heaven.”
As the temperature cools and leaves begin to change, a wide array of activities are planned in Arlington this harvest season.
Whether marveling at fall foliage, attending a seasonal festival or celebrating Halloween with one’s dog, fans of fall will have no shortage of events to attend in the coming weeks.
A couple weeks after a tongue-in-cheek installation called attention to safety concerns on S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington County hosted an open house last night (Tuesday).
The theme of the event: safety along Carlin Springs.
ARLnow’s parent company has acquired the GazetteLeader amid an expansion of local news coverage.
Arlington-based Local News Now acquired the newspaper’s assets, including its archives, from Arizona-based O’Rourke Media Group, which operates 50 local publications in more than three dozen markets across the U.S.
