By Brian Trompeter
Seeking to boost capital investment in Fairfax County, enhance the startup system for businesses, improve economic competitiveness and diversification, the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 21 was expected to allocate $450,000 to establish the Accelerate Entrepreneur-Investor Forum Program.
The program will be conducted in coordination with George Mason University.
The local and regional business-startup system faces myriad challenges, officials said, including pandemic-related changes in the market, decreasing diversity and inequity in startup funding.
After studying the issue and consulting with people in region’s venture-capital community, county staff in February presented its report to the county’s Economic Advisory Commission. The study recommended the establishment of regular forums for entrepreneurs and investors in order to build relationships, foster collaboration, educate the respective parties, highlight existing programs and ultimately result in investment in local firms.
George Mason University will develop and administer the Accelerate Forums Program, which will offer three investor-pitch events annually. One event will be held in each quarter leading up to the annual Accelerate Investor Conference.
Metrics of the program’s success will include increased funding for businesses, especially private investment; diversity of company founders; and jobs. Officials will report the Accelerate Forums Program’s activities and metric to the Board of Supervisors following the first program in 2024 and do so each year through the county’s Department of Economic Initiatives.
The one-time allocation of $450,000 for the program will come from the county’s Economic Opportunity Reserve Fund. George Mason University officials plan to apply for a GoVirginia grant to support the initiative for two more years and some surrounding jurisdictions, including Arlington and Prince William counties, also likely will contribute annually to the program, Fairfax County officials said.
Fairfax County to Seek Grant Funds to Protect 4 Institutions from Hate Crimes: Following expected authorization Nov. 21 from the Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County police will apply for, and accept if received, $139,250 in state grant funding to help protect four local institutions from potential hate crimes.
If county police receive the funds from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services’ fiscal year 2024 Combating Hate Crime Grant Program, the police department will use the moneys to help Gesher Jewish Day School, Little River United Church of Christ, Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia and Temple B’nai Shalom to secure their facilities better against hate crimes.
All four institutions, which either have been targets of or are at risk of being targeted for hate crimes, will purchase training equipment to support comprehensive preparedness and response training for their staff and constituents, county officials said. The goal is to deter and detect threats and attacks, they said.
The grant funds will not require a local cash match and no new positions will need to be created.
County to Accept Grant Funding for Additional License-Plate Readers: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 21 is set to authorize the county’s police department to accept $136,270 in federal grant moneys to purchase additional license-plate-reading (LPR) cameras.
The funding will come from a 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. No local cash match is required and no new positions will result from accepting the grant funds.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s LPR program in 13 months has helped find 19 missing people and recover 125 stolen vehicles and 22 stolen firearms, county officials said. The program especially is intended to combat the recent rise in violent carjackings and stolen vehicles, officials said.
The initiative prohibits users from using the LPR system to identify, alert or enforce any immigration-related warrants, they said.
Supervisors Set to OK 2 Speed Humps on Glenbrook Road: Fairfax County supervisors were slated Nov. 21 to approve a pair of speed humps along Glenbrook Road in Providence District.
The traffic-calming measures, which will cost an estimated $35,000, will be undertaken under the county’s Residential Traffic Administration Program. The project has the support of the surrounding community, officials said.
Supervisors will request that the Fairfax County Department of Transportation install the speed humps as soon as possible. One will be adjacent to 9117, 9118 and 9119 Glenbrook Road and 9127 Santayana Drive; the other will be located adjacent to 9108, 9109 and 9110 Glenbrook Road.
