Greetings Neighbors,
The County continues to identify
ways we can help during this pandemic. Last week, the Board approved a new
$25 million grant program,
Fairfax RISE, to provide immediate relief assistance to small businesses and non-profits affected by COVID-19. The Board hopes to
help small businesses and non-profits remain in business and address gaps that may exist in federal funding. At least
30% of the program's funds will be allocated to minority-, veteran-, and women-owned businesses. Historically these kinds of businesses have faced difficulty obtaining financing.
Learn more about the program,
who is eligible and
how to be notified when the
program opens in June.
In addition, the Board established a
$5 million
Nonprofit Sustainability Grant Program
to help non-profit organizations whose primary work supports
social safety net services. Applications are being
accepted through 2 p.m. on May 22. This is
in addition to the $20 million of CARES Act funding we previously issued to nonprofits in our community.
The County is also working hard to safely
reopen closed facilities and
resume suspended services. The
phased reopening of parks begins this week and
County yard waste removal resumes next week, read more below! It was also announced that
outdoor
water parks and pools run by the County Park Authority
will be closed this summer and all
2020 Fairfax County summer programs
have been cancelled. I will continue to keep you posted as new information is announced.
Next week, the Board will hold a
special virtual meeting on Thursday, May 28 at 3 p.m. to consider an Emergency Ordinance to
permit existing restaurants, brewery and winery tasting rooms, and
fitness and exercise
facilities to
operate outside, pursuant to the Governor’s Orders, provided they meet certain conditions.
More guidance will be issued after that meeting. This is
great news for the reopening of our economy.
However, as Fairfax moves to reopen, I encourage you to
remain vigilant. Wear a
face mask when you cannot safely social distance in public,
wash your hands and stay home if you are not feeling well.
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As always, take care of yourselves, your family and neighbors, and
support our local businesses and
not-for-profit service providers. Look out for those who
may need help in your neighborhoods and
let our office know if there are ways you or your neighbors need help. Read the
latest COVID-19 updates below.
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Respectfully yours in public service,
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Dan Storck
Supervisor, Mount Vernon District
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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Latest County COVID-19 News Links
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NOTE: Only those topics that are
new since my last newsletter are updated below. For
information sent in previous emails
visit our website
. If you know someone who
would like to
sign up for my newsletter, they can do so
here.
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New COVID-19 Information Chart
Hunter Mill Supervisor Alcorn's team has put together a
daily information chart to compare COVID-19
cases throughout the DMV. Thank you to Supervisor Alcorn and his team for sharing this information with us and allowing us to share it with you. Please note, you can still refer to the
County's COVID-19 Dashboard to get more information and see
cases by zip code.
COVID-19 Case Information Chart (as of 12 p.m. May 20)
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COVID-19 Testing in Fairfax Health District
Update from FCPS
Fairfax County Public Schools announced that they will
continue
distance learning for students during the summer along with targeted intervention services. They also summarized
preliminary discussions on returning to school for the upcoming 2020-21 school year.
- Families of FCPS students that already received free and reduced-priced lunch prior to closures will automatically get this benefit.
- Those not in the program, can apply to free and reduced-priced lunch by June 11 to also receive P-EBT.
- Families can apply online or request a paper application by calling FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.
FCPS
Superintendent Scott Brabrand sent
this note to
all graduating seniors.
Sanitary District Trash & Recycling Services Update
Key Dates for Sanitary District Customers
- Bulk Pick Up Resumes Monday, May 18
- Yard Waste Pick Up Resumes the week of Monday, May 25
$15 Reduction Explanation for Sanitary District Customers
- The Solid Waste Management Program understands that suspending yard waste collection has been inconvenient for our customers. Since yard waste collection is part of the service our customer’s pay for, their bill for Fiscal Year 2021, which starts July 1, 2020, will be reduced by $15. This reduces the cost for FY2021 from $385 to $370 for trash and recycling service.
- In addition, the proposed rate increase of $15 has also been deferred to help alleviate financial hardship caused by the pandemic. Everyone’s patience as we have made operational changes to protect our workforce is greatly appreciated. We value all our customers, and we are committed to keeping our neighborhoods clean and safe.
Email Sign-Up
To remain informed of any
future operational changes, subscribe to Solid Waste Management's
email list. This is the program's
primary means of communicating with our customers. Click the box
"Get Updates by Email".
Courts
Housing
The State has launched the
Stay Home Virginia website to provide resources and information to
renters, homeowners, property owners, developers and the homeless. Because of the phased in
reopening of the District Courts, Governor Northam noted that
eviction processes and orders may start resuming, but there has been
legislation enacted to support renters. Renters should know their rights:
Your landlord cannot evict you without a court order, no matter what your lease says.
- Call 703-222-0880, TTY 711
- Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Transportation
- Face coverings or masks are now required when traveling on Metro. Learn more...
- Beginning Monday, May 18, travel on Fairfax Connector buses requires face coverings or masks, however, there will be a one week grace period through Monday, May 25. Learn more...
Shopping and Pharmacy Pick Up for Older Adults
- The County Health Department's Neighbor to Neighbor Program has launched a grocery shopping and pharmacy pick-up service for County residents age 60 and over.
- To request shopping and pharmacy pick-up, or to find out if you are eligible for financial assistance to obtain food, call: 703-324-7948.
Update from the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness
As of May 12,
152 individuals have moved to
shelter in three hotels for isolation, quarantine and protection. Approximately
70 hotel rooms remain available and two additional hotels with approximately 160 rooms are identified for use in the north and south county areas.
In addition to sheltering homeless individuals, the
hotel rooms are
also now being used for sheltering clients of the Community Services Board, the Department of Family Services, and families and individuals referred by Healthworks of Northern Virginia and Neighborhood Health,
that have been affected by the pandemic.
Virtual Activities and Education
South County at Home - Don’t GO (Yet), But Still “Visit”
Just as I reported to you about our non-profits and local small businesses,
our many historic, cultural and arts sites in the MVD are currently closed to visitors. Our favorite sites are using their time to
create virtual experiences to engage their visitors in new ways and
leading fundraising efforts to offset lost revenue.
Click here for a sampling of the various South County Virtual Experiences that have been created in the past several weeks. I encourage you to
“visit”, enjoy, learn and provide support if you are able! In addition, several of the sites have
on-line gift shops, if you are looking for something special and unique, without leaving your home.
Keep reading...
Highway Happy Hour
Join SFDC
every Thursday at 5 p.m. live on their
Facebook page for the Richmond Highway Happy Hour
featuring local small businesses and creatives along the corridor! This week features
Barry Biggar, CEO of Visit Fairfax, and
Candice Bennett, Development Director of Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services.
Learn more...
Fairfax County Bike Trails Map
Looking for something new, or want to pick up an old activity?
Its just like riding a bike! Many of you are are
grabbing your bikes and heading out to enjoy some stress reducing exercise, including me, or as
alternate transportation to work. The County is rich in bike trails and routes that are suitable for
all ages and abilities. The
County's interactive Bike Map can help you find the
best and most enjoyable ones around you!
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How You Can Help
Good Shepherd Housing Weekly Online Auctions
Over the
next 6 weeks, GSH will be holding week-long online auctions to help
raise funds for our affordable housing mission and various support programs. The auctions will feature
2-3 items that can be viewed and bid on throughout the week.
Learn more and bid today!
Fired Up to Help Memorial Day BBQ
This Memorial Day,
support GSH with your purchase of
Fired Up To Help's BBQ for Four meal! The
$50 meal package includes: 1/2 lb pulled pork, 1/2 lb bbq chicken, 1 rack of pork ribs, 1 lb of vegetarian dirty rice, and 8 ozs of coleslaw.
7017 Vanderbilt Dr., Alexandria, on
Sunday, May 24 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. This great deal is
limited to 100 orders, so place your order NOW!
Stuff the Bus Food Drive for COVID-19 Response Is a Resounding Success
We asked you to
feed hope and fight hunger. And
you did! On May 16 and 19, Fastran, CUE and Fairfax County Public Schools buses parked in
21 locations throughout the County and Fairfax City to collect food donations benefitting
10 different nonprofit organizations.
Over 33.6 tons of food was donated to help meet the food needs of our communities during these unprecedented times.
For those who were unable to donate in person, it is
not too late to contribute! Visit Volunteer Fairfax’s
Donation Page to connect with nonprofits serving our community.
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Other News
- A new video public service announcement featuring members of the Fairfax community urges everyone to keep taking simple actions to slow the spread of COVID-19. Visit the county’s COVID-19 prevention page for additional information and education on how to take the actions that keep everyone safe. Our health is in our hands.
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Additional Resources
Fairfax County Health Department
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Mount Vernon District Office | 703-780-7518
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