economic development | FFXnow

County to consider contributing funds to new McLean arts center

Published June 28, 2024 at 10:30AM

The McLean Project for the Arts hopes to build a new arts and education center at the Signet condominiums (rendering by CannonDesign)

The McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) could potentially get a financial assist from Fairfax County for its campaign to turn a long-vacant retail space into a new arts center.

The Board of Supervisors directed staff on Tuesday (June 25) to evaluate whether the MPA Downtown project might be eligible for a public investment from the county’s Economic Opportunity Reserve (EOR), which can be used to support “economic development activities of strategic importance,” along with capital development projects and real estate purchases.

News

Tax breaks considered for Lake Anne, Huntington developers to spur revitalization

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 20, 2024 at 10:30AM | Updated July 1, 2024 at 3:48PM

Lake Anne Plaza in late March (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is looking at Reston’s Lake Anne area and the Huntington Metro station as the next candidates for a program that offers tax breaks and other incentives to jumpstart revitalization efforts.

Both areas have proven difficult to redevelop and are seeing stagnant real estate values, despite their prime locations and the county’s overall economic growth, according to Elizabeth Hagg, director of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development’s community revitalization section.

Around Town

Fairfax City brews up fun with annual summer beer crawl this weekend

By James Jarvis

Published June 18, 2024 at 1:30PM

Pouring a beer (courtesy Fairfax City Economic Development)

Fairfax City is gearing up for its annual summer beer crawl this weekend.

The event, hosted by Fairfax City Economic Development, the Old Town Fairfax Business Association, and the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, will take place this Saturday, June 22, from noon to 6 p.m.

News

Google to invest $1 billion to expand data centers in Northern Virginia

By Acacia James

Published April 29, 2024 at 9:45AM

Google Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat announces future plans in a press conference at the company's Reston offices (courtesy Google)

Google plans to invest $1 billion to expand data center campuses in Northern Virginia this year, including two Loudoun County sites and a newly opened site in Prince William County.

Ruth Porat, the president, chief investment officer and chief financial officer of Google and its parent company, Alphabet, announced the funds on Friday (April 26) at the company’s Reston headquarters. They will bring Google’s total investment in the state to more than $4.2 billion to date.

News

Herndon hires new economic development director to support businesses

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 23, 2024 at 1:15PM

Marc Smith will serve as the new Herndon economic development director starting in May (courtesy Town of Herndon)

The Town of Herndon is getting a new director of economic development.

Marc G. Smith will assume the position starting on May 13, the town announced today (Tuesday). He will succeed previous economic development manager Dennis Holste, who was appointed to that newly created position in 2013 and vacated the job last year to move to his native Florida.

News

Potomac Yard developer blames Tysons talk for failure of pro sports arena deal

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 28, 2024 at 11:00AM

A rendering of Monumental's proposed sports arena in Alexandria's Potomac Yard (courtesy JBG Smith)

The deal to bring the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Alexandria’s Potomac Yard is officially dead, and the developer says suggestions that an arena could be built in Tysons instead were the final nail in the coffin.

Alexandria City officials revealed yesterday (Wednesday) that they had ended negotiations with developer JBG Smith, Wizards and Capitals owner Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and other stakeholders for a stadium in the proposed Potomac Yard Entertainment District. About an hour later, Monumental owner Ted Leonsis and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the two professional sports teams will stay at Capital One Arena in Chinatown after all.

Around Town

New Fairfax pickleball center serves up grand opening with pro players exhibition

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 28, 2024 at 2:30PM

Down the Line Sports Center's Fairfax location has five indoor pickleball courts (courtesy Fairfax City Economic Development)

Professional pickleball players, local officials and community members are expected to turn out in abundance for the upcoming grand opening of Down the Line Sports Center in Fairfax City.

After a soft opening in early February, the indoor pickleball facility at Courthouse Plaza (10390 Willard Way) will officially introduce itself to the city tomorrow (Thursday). The event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting, followed by a meet-and-greet with six pro athletes visiting from around the country.

Around Town

Vienna Restaurant Week to return for third year with over 40 participants

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 27, 2024 at 10:15AM | Updated February 28, 2024 at 4:32PM

Businesses in and near Vienna will offer special deals during Vienna Restaurant Week, returning March 3-10, 2024 (courtesy Caboose Tavern)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m. on 2/28/2024) The Town of Vienna will kick off March with its third annual Restaurant Week.

More than 40 restaurants in the town will offer special deals during the promotional campaign, which will run from March 3-10. For the first time, the town will celebrate the week by hosting a drop-in social event near the Town Green on Tuesday, March 5 from 4-6 p.m. with giveaways and live music.

Around Town

Fairfax City Restaurant Week returns soon with diverse cuisine options

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published February 22, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:18AM

The Korean restaurant Meokja Meokja is among the 2024 participants in Fairfax City Restaurant Week (courtesy Meokja Meokja

(Updated at 11:50 a.m.) Fairfax City will soon invite community members to experience cuisines from Azerbaijan and the Caribbean to Ireland and Vietnam for its seventh annual Restaurant Week.

From Monday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 3, promotions will be available to diners at more than 25 restaurants, according to the event’s website.

News

Local experts propose strategies for turning Richmond Highway into vibrant community hub

By James Jarvis

Published February 9, 2024 at 11:45AM

Cars head south on Richmond Highway (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Public art and social spaces will be key to transforming southern Richmond Highway into a community, a panel of local land use experts says.

Last week, the consulting nonprofit Urban Land Institute (ULI) presented recommendations at the Hybla Valley Community Center for how to foster economic growth in the corridor, while preserving its cultural identity through “placemaking.”