Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
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Dear Neighbor,
Today the Board of Supervisors approved the County's FY 2021 budget. As I mentioned
last week, this is no
t the budget that we anticipated earlier this year
, but it is one that addresses both the impact that COVID-19 has already had on our local economy and its future effects. Though we could not fund all of our priorities, this budget
makes a significant investment in the programs, services, and infrastructure that are necessary to support economic recovery.
The Board also voted to create the Fairfax Relief Initiative to Support Employers (Fairfax RISE) — a new $25 million grant program to assist small businesses and nonprofits affected by COVID-19. I have included more information about Fairfax RISE below.
Also today, Governor Northam announced that he will delay the first phase of reopening for localities in Northern Virginia. More information on that decision as well as an update on the additional information that is now available on the County's COVID-19 Data Dashboard below. I am also pleased to share that the purple glass recycling bins have been reinstalled throughout the County.
Please share this email with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email
Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.
Sincerely,
John
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Adopted FY 2021 Budget Package
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The Board approved the Revised Budget Proposal as presented in early April. My summary of that proposal is available online
here.
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The Board of Supervisors voted today to create the Fairfax Relief Initiative to Support Employers (Fairfax RISE) — a new $25 million grant program to assist small businesses and nonprofits affected by COVID-19. The program will be funded using federal CARES Act funds provided to the County.
The program’s primary purpose is to provide immediate relief to small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fairfax County hopes to help small businesses and organizations remain in business through the COVID-19 emergency and address gaps that may exist among complementary programs.
Fairfax RISE will offer grants to qualified businesses or nonprofits that will not have to be repaid. It also specifically establishes a minimum allocation of 30% of the program’s total dollars — or $7.5 million — towards awards for minority–, veteran– and women-owned businesses. Minority-owned companies with employees account for 32% percent of businesses in Fairfax County, and collectively, all minority, women and veteran-owned businesses employ 80,000 people in the County with total annual revenues of $14.4 billion.
The grant application process is expected to begin in early June. To qualify, applicants must be established and have one or more locations in Fairfax County, including the principal place of business. This includes businesses and nonprofit organizations located in the towns of Herndon, Vienna, and Clifton. Additionally, awardees must have less than 50 total employees across all locations, have been in operation over one year, and with the exception of nonprofits, have a valid Business, Professional and Occupational Licenses (BPOL).
The amount of Fairfax RISE awards will be made based upon the number of full-time equivalent employees according to the following structure:
- 1 – 10 employees: $10,000
- 11 – 25 employees: $15,000
- 26 – 49 employees: $20,000
The grant can be used for:
- Employee compensation (including wages and benefits)
- Working capital
- Equipment
- Inventory
- Rent
- Other business critical operating expenses
Funding must be used for an eligible expense to mitigate business interruptions for the grant awardee business. No grant funds can be used to pay debts to close the business or start a new business.
The $25 million Small Business and Nonprofit Relief Grant Program is in addition to two other recently announced Fairfax County small business and non-profit programs to address the COVID-19 economic crisis. This includes the $2.5 million Small Business COVID Recovery Microloan and the $25 million Safety-Net Non-Profit Grant Program.
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Update on Reopening Virginia from Governor Northam
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Governor Northam issued
Executive Order Sixty-Two, allowing specific localities in Northern Virginia to delay entering Phase One of the
“Forward Virginia” plan to ease restrictions on certain business operations that were put in place in response to COVID-19.
Fairfax County, along with other localities in Northern Virginia, sent a
letter to Governor Northam supporting his “Forward Virginia” reopening plan in general but urging him to implement it for the region only once the threshold metrics have been met, taking into account the number of positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the region.
Businesses closed since March 24 must remain closed in the Northern Virginia region. Restaurants can continue to offer take-out service while gyms, movie theaters, and hair salons must stay closed. Other businesses, such as grocery stores and banks, may continue operating under the same rules that have been in place since late March. Residents should continue to stay at home, and employees should telework when possible. Social gatherings of more than 10 people continue to be prohibited.
Governor Northam has said that Virginia as a whole may enter Phase One on Friday, May 15, as outlined in
Executive Order Sixty-One, based on achieving certain health metrics. Executive Order Sixty-Two allows the Northern Virginia localities to delay implementation of Phase One until midnight on Thursday, May 28, to allow those localities more time to meet the health metrics.
In addition to Fairfax County, Executive Order Sixty-Two also applies to the counties of Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William; the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park; and the towns of Dumfries, Herndon, Leesburg, and Vienna.
Governor Northam will hold a news conference tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00 p.m. during which he is expected to discuss his executive order in more detail.
Regardless of the timeline for reopening, it is critical that individuals continue to stay home as much as possible, especially when sick; wash hands frequently; clean and disinfect surfaces regularly; practice social distancing by staying at least six feet apart from others; and wear a cloth face covering over the nose and mouth when it is essential to be in public and physical distancing practices are difficult to maintain.
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Additional Data Now Available on County's COVID-19 Case Data Dashboard
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The Fairfax County Health Department has added new data points to its
COVID-19 Case Data Dashboard in an effort to keep the public informed during the COVID-19 emergency. The Fairfax Health District includes Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, and the towns of Herndon and Vienna.
In addition to cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities; rates by age, racial and ethnic groups; epidemic curve; and trajectory of cases; the Fairfax Health District data dashboard now includes data on probable cases, deceased cases by age group, and COVID-19 testing by week. Per the direction of Governor Northam, and in coordination with Virginia Department of Health, case rates are now presented by 5-digit zip codes.
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Purple Bins Return to Fairfax County
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Collection of glass dropped off at purple, glass-only containers resumed Monday, May 11. Containers have been replaced at locations throughout Fairfax County. Click
here to view the map of purple bin locations throughout Northern Virginia.
Residents can also bring glass to containers at the I-66 transfer station and I-95 landfill complex, or can place glass in the trash.
Glass Drop-off Recommendations
Due to COVID-19, the County recommends that those using the glass drop-off program consider the following:
- Wear a mask and eye protection
- Wear long sleeves and gloves
- Carry hand sanitizer with you and use after removing gloves
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Fairfax County is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for coronavirus text alerts and to visit the frequently updated website listed below.
- Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/covid19/.
- Sign up for text message alerts: text FFXCOVID to 888777.
- Email the Fairfax County Health Department at ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov (monitored 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays).
- Call the Health Department at 703-267-3511 (9:00 a.m. to 7 :00 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekends).
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