Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

Below I have included information about two recent announcements Governor Northam made about increasing the funding and scope of the Rebuild VA grant program, and a new Re-Employing Virginians initiatives to provide scholarships for workforce training. More information is below.

In addition, this email includes information about the importance of getting your flu shot this year, tips for how to celebrate Halloween safely, and details about the upcoming McLean CBC Virtual Open House, which will be held on November 7.
 
Please note that Saturday, October 31, is the last day to vote early. All 15 early voting locations will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, all polling locations will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. This information and more is included below.

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
REBUILD VA Grant Program Increases Scope of Eligibility and Awards
Small Businesses and Nonprofits looking for Grants Now Have Expanded Option
 
Rebuild VA, a grant program to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, is expanding its eligibility criteria to allow more small businesses to apply. Now organizations with less than $10 million in gross revenue or fewer than 250 employees will be eligible under the new criteria, and the maximum grant award will increase from $10,000 to $100,000. 

Rebuild VA will also be open to all types of Virginia small businesses/nonprofits that meet size and other eligibility requirements, from restaurants and summer camps, to farmers and retail shops. Businesses that previously received a Rebuild VA grant will receive a second award correlated with the updated guidelines.

The expanded criteria includes any organization that received funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and supply chain partners of businesses whose normal operations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

For more information and to apply visit REBUILD VA's website here. 
Governor Northam Directs $30 Million to Support Workforce Training for Unemployed Virginians
Re-Employing Virginians initiative will provide scholarships to enroll in programs in high-demand fields

Governor Ralph Northam announced that Virginia is allocating $30 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars to help Virginians whose employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis pursue workforce training in a high-demand field. The new Re-Employing Virginians (REV) initiative will provide scholarships to eligible individuals to enroll in a workforce or community college program in five essential industries, including health care, information technology, skilled trades, public safety, and early childhood education. 
 
The initiative will provide one-time REV scholarships of $3,000 to register in a qualifying full-time workforce program and $1,500 to register part-time or in a short-term, noncredit training program. The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads Local Workforce Development Areas will administer the CARES Act funding for the REV initiative, with $27 million allocated to VCCS for statewide programs and $3 million for the two workforce areas. Together Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia have experienced nearly 50 percent of all the initial and continuing unemployment claims.
 
Interested individuals should contact their local community college as soon as possible to apply before the December 14, 2020 enrollment deadline. Information about eligibility criteria and applying for a REV scholarship is available here. Northern Virginia residents can learn more here. 
Get the Shot, Not the Flu
With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full force and influenza season now starting, it’s more important than ever that everyone do their part to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.

Getting a flu vaccine will: 
  • Reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications. Each year thousands of people die from influenza complications; tens of thousands are hospitalized, and millions become ill.  
  • Help keep you and your loved ones out of a medical setting and lower your risk of COVID-19 exposure.
  • Help protect frontline health care workers and conserve scarce medical resources needed to care for COVID-19 patients, such as facemasks, hospital beds and ventilators.
  • Help “flatten the curve” of respiratory illnesses this fall and winter. The more people who are vaccinated, the more people are protected. 

Flu vaccine is available now in the community, including at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and grocery stores. Most health insurance plans cover flu shots for free. Find a flu vaccine clinic near you.

The Health Department is offering flu shots for children and adults at the following locations by appointment only: 

Joseph Willard Health Center — 3750 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax
Mount Vernon District Office — 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria
Herndon-Reston District Office — 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston
To make an appointment, call 703-246-7100, TTY 711.

The flu vaccine offered at the Health Department protects against four different strains of the flu and is preservative- and latex-free. There is no live flu virus in the injectable vaccine and it cannot cause the flu. To ensure safety, strict protocols are in place and those receiving vaccine will be asked to observe proper masking and social distancing at all times. 
The Health Department is also working with Neighborhood and Community Services to offer flu vaccine at five senior centers and other community locations to target elderly residents and high-risk populations this flu season. Additional information on these flu vaccination opportunities can be found here.  

Monday, November 9, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Lewinsville Senior Center
1613 Great Falls Street, McLean

In addition to getting vaccinated, these simple steps can help stop the spread of germs and help protect you from getting sick:
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick, which will help prevent others from catching your illness.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  • Clean your hands often.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Learn more about flu prevention at www.cdc.gov/flu or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/flu/.
Reminder to Have a Safe Halloween
In a previous COVID notice we shared information from health officials for Hallowing activities that were not recommended, moderate risk, and safe alternatives.

Low-risk activities that can be safe alternatives include:

  • Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household, or outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends.
  • Decorating your house, apartment or living space.
  • Holding a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed items to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.
  • Hosting virtual Halloween costume contests or parties.
  • Having a Halloween movie night with people in your household.

Read the full article here.
McLean Community Business Center (CBC) Study Virtual Community Open House
Over the past two years a task force of McLean area residents and stakeholders has worked with County staff to develop recommendations for updating the Comprehensive Plan that will guide development in downtown McLean over the next 20 years. The County is sponsoring a virtual open house to provide an update on their work on November 7. I hope you can attend to learn more and share your thoughts on the draft plan.

The Comprehensive Plan is used to guide future planning and development, including land uses, development intensities, transportation, public facilities, and design standards. The last significant review of the Comprehensive Plan recommendations for the McLean Community Business Center (CBC), more commonly known as Downtown McLean, occurred over 20 years ago. 
The community-driven planning study for the CBC started with a series of workshops in the summer of 2018. Hundreds of residents participated and learned about potential market demand for development and shared their vision for a reimagined downtown McLean. 

Following the community meetings, the task force set about to incorporate the vision into recommendations for Comprehensive Plan changes. The draft Plan retains the neighborhood serving aspect of the downtown area but identifies the center of the downtown as an area of taller mixed-use buildings that create a sense of vibrancy and support walkability. A signature urban park is expected to be a major placemaking element in the center of the CBC. Development intensities would taper away from the core area, and existing development intensities around the edge of the CBC are expected to be retained.
Details on the draft Plan for the CBC, including recordings of past meetings and a series of short videos that highlight some of the recommendations can be found on the project website here.  

Event Details
Saturday, November 7 
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Virtual WebEx Meeting

Contact Ben Wiles in my office at Benjamin.Wiles@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 356-0551 if you have any questions or comments. For any procedural questions about the meeting, contact David Stinson with the Department of Planning and Development at David.Stinson@fairfaxcounty.gov or by phone at (703) 324-1370. 
Voting Information
3 ways to vote:

  1. Vote on Election Day - November 3 all regular polling locations will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. To check your polling location click here and enter your address. You must bring an acceptable form of identification when you come to vote.
  2. Absentee/Early Voting - Any registered Fairfax County voter can vote early, and can cast their ballot at any early voting site. You do not need to submit an application to early vote, but you must be registered to vote. Check your voter registration before you come. Locations, dates, and hours below. Curbside voting is available at every early voting location for people 65 or older or with a physical disability. Voters are recommended to go to the Fairfax County Government Center with 20 curbside spaces set aside.
  3. Voting by Mail - The application deadline for vote by mail requests has passed, but if you are one of the many voters who have not returned your ballot yet, please make sure to return your ballot soon. Learn more about other important actions to properly fill out and return your ballot here.
Returning Your Vote by Mail Ballot
  • If using USPS to mail your ballot it must be postmarked by Nov. 3, and it must be received by the Office of Elections by noon on Nov. 6. However with only a few days left it is recommended that you use a drop box to make sure your ballot arrives in time to be counted.
  • Put it in a ballot drop-off box at any Fairfax County early voting location. These boxes are only available during the hours early voting sites are open, and you may use a box at any location. There’s also a secure, 24-hour drop-off box outside the Fairfax County Government Center you can use anytime.
  • Put it in a drop-off box on Election Day, November 3. Boxes will be available at every precinct (outside the voting room) from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and you may go to any polling place.

This and more information is available on the Office of Elections website here.
Stay Informed about COVID-19
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: