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Issue 127
Friday, July 29, 2022
Prince William County
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Dear Neighbors,
Next week's meeting on Tuesday, August 2, will be the last before the Board's recess until the Tuesday, September 6, meeting. During the August recess, you may see a few less Wheeler Reports. Don't forget though, you can always follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Wishing you all a fun and safe August!
In Service,
Chair Ann Wheeler
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Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Webinar | |
Tuesday, July 26, Chair Wheeler attended a webinar hosted by U.S. Senator Mark Warner with the White House Infrastructure Team to help Virginia stakeholders understand how to access funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The webinar covered the various formula-based funding streams within the law and provided information on some of the competitive grant programs. The presentation was followed by a Q&A. | |
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Details of the Bill
The IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021. The law authorizes $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending with $550 billion of that figure going toward “new” investments and programs. Funding from the IIJA is expansive in its reach, addressing energy and power infrastructure, access to broadband internet, water infrastructure, and more. Some of the new programs funded by the bill could provide the resources needed to address a variety of infrastructure needs at the local level. You can read the IIJA White House Guidebook here.
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Education and Workforce Discussion | |
Wednesday, July 27, Chair Wheeler participated in a lunch and roundtable discussion on higher education and workforce with Caren Merrick, Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade. Attendees included the PWC life sciences business community and George Mason University leadership. The event was held at the NOVA Bioscience Center in Innovation Park. | |
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On Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30, Chair Wheeler will be attending the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Conference and Board Meeting. Conference topics include:
- Pivoting from COVID-19 to Focus on our Future
- Violent Crime: Current Scope and Reduction Strategies
- Accelerating Action on Electric Vehicle Deployment
- Keynote: Federal Priorities and Opportunities for the Region
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The Virginia Department of Health Variant Dashboard dated Monday, July 25, three-week case breakdown by variant in Virginia from Saturday, July 2 through Saturday, July 23 showed 59.6% of cases were the BA.5 Omicron Variant. This is an increase from the 46.2% of the cases during the three-week period from Saturday, June 9 through Saturday, June 25 (issue126). | |
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The CDC Community Level Tool dated Thursday, July 28, showed Prince William County's community level continues to be medium. This tool looks at hospital beds being used and hospital admissions, as well as number of new cases. The CDC advises when the community level is medium to:
You can check the community levels in other areas here.
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Protecting Yourself and Others:
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Tuesday, August 2
2:00 pm
For Public Comment Time options, visit SpeakUp! Prince William. Remote speakers must sign-up by 5:00 pm on Monday, August 1. In-person speakers can sign up at the meeting.
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Moving Forward in County Environment Goals | | |
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The PWC Department of Facilities & Fleet Management (issue 104) recently received its first new, all-electric vehicle (EV). The County’s new Chevrolet Bolt joins the fleet of 1,458 County vehicles that includes 24 hybrids along with its gas-powered vehicles. The County has had hybrid vehicles since 2008 and is expected to have 80 all-electric, plug-in-hybrid or hybrid vehicles in its fleet by 2024. | |
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EVs and hybrids save expenses in maintenance and fuel. The County recently installed 10 charging stations at the McCoart Government Center and will install more at locations across the County as the need arises.
The addition of EVs to the County's fleet aligns with the BOCS endorsement in November 2020 of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Certified Resolution Endorsing Regional Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Goals. Goals in the PWC Government endorsement include:
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50% greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030.
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100% of electricity to be from renewable sources by 2035.
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100% carbon neutral by 2050.
If you would like to learn more about the EV revolution, check out this July 20 Washington Post article.
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“All statistics state that there are 1,000 less moving parts in an EV, which means that you’re going to save money for maintenance and repairs. For example, oil changes are a thing of the past with EVs. Your brake wear is reduced because you’re using regenerative braking to slow the vehicle, hence that kinetic energy is put back into the battery if you’re using a hybrid.”
Brent Lineberger
Customer Service Manager
Department of Facilities & Fleet Management
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Saturday July 30, during the overnight hours, I-66 West is scheduled to be closed at Route 28 to allow for installation of bridge beams for a ramp from the future westbound I-66 Express Lanes to Route 28 North. Traffic will be rerouted via Route 28 North, Westfields Boulevard, and Route 28 South to return to I-66 West. Learn more about the closure, which was previously scheduled to occur July 28 and 29, here. This work is part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project (issue 124). | |
Affordable Housing Funding | |
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Local Projects Awarded Funding
Senior Townsquare at Dumfries in PWC will be constructing forty affordable housing rental units, which will be available to seniors earning less than 30-80% of the area median income. This project will feature close proximity to local area amenities, such as public transportation, grocery stores, and medical facilities.
Quarry Station II in the City of Manassas will be conducting substantial renovations to seventy-nine affordable housing rental units, which will be available to seniors earning less than 40-50% of the area median income. This project will partner with Arc of Greater Prince William to provide services and rental subsidies to individuals with developmental disabilities and serious mental illnesses.
You can see the full list of recipients here.
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You may start noticing "artful" changes at some OmniRide bus shelters as you drive about the County. It's all part of a collaborative beautification project by Keep Prince William Beautiful and other community partners (issue 115) that includes installing public artwork at designated shelters. Stay tuned for details about the project, including the artists selected, in a future issue. | | |
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Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL) has been awarded a grant that will fund the extension and enhancement of library services offered earlier this year to the PWC Juvenile Detention Center (JDC). The new grant will allow the PWPL and JDC to offer workshops this Fall, similar to ones offered in the Spring, so youths in the JDC could learn new skills and gain helpful knowledge for when they leave. | |
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Details on the Earlier Workshops
Participants learned about vocational career options, best practices on how to apply to trade schools, job opportunities, as well as how to start and run a business. In addition, students improved their communication skills, explored online classes and on-the-job training opportunities. They also received books on habits to transform one’s business, relationships, and life. Other resources were introduced on learning how to sell products and services, soft skills that can help accelerate career growth, and tips on silencing one’s inner critic and focusing on the strengths. This initiative was made possible by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation's 2021 Youth Literacy Grant.
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Donation Program Revitalized | |
Anything that someone can wear, sleep in, or dry off with can be donated. In addition, apparel accessories, luggage and stuffed animals can also be donated. You can find a complete list of accepted items here. | |
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According to Helpsy:
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85% of clothes wind up in the trash.
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10% of our landfills are textiles.
Yet, 95% of that clothing, shoes, and other textiles can be given a second life, with 50% being reusable and 45% being recyclable.
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Saturday, July 30, Burnside Farms is starting its highly anticipated 2022 Summer of Sunflowers. Over 30 varieties of "cutting" sunflowers on more than 50 acres are planted in successive crops to ensure six weeks of blooms. The popular Sunflower Sunsets happens every evening, weather permitting, from 4:00 pm to dark. Pack a picnic and lay your blanket right out in the field or use the picnic area. Tickets must be pre-purchased and are available here. | |
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More About the Library of Virginia
Located at 800 East Broad Street in Richmond, the Library of Virginia is one of the oldest agencies of Virginia government, founded in 1823 to preserve and provide access to the state's printed and manuscript holdings. Its collection, which has grown steadily through the years, is the most comprehensive resource in the world for the study of Virginia history, culture, and government. You can learn more about the library in the video below narrated by lifelong Virginian and international best-selling author David Baldacci.
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Tuesday, August 2, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the PWC Police Department is participating in the annual National Night Out (issue 126) celebration. County residents are encouraged to lock their doors, turn on outdoor lights, and spend the evening outside with their neighbors. | | |
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The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington awarded Little Miner Taco a 2022 RAMMY for Favorite Fast Bites. Primarily based in Maryland, Little Miner Taco has a location in the Epiq Food Hall located at 14067 Noblewood Plaza in Woodbridge. Birria fans have driven from as far away as Boston and Philadelphia to get a taste, according to Chef Mackenzie Kitburi. “It’s a straightforward recipe,” he says. “We just put a lot of love in it.” | |
Ann B. Wheeler was elected Chair At-Large of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors during the 2019 General Election and assumed office on January 1, 2020. Prince William County is located 25 miles south of Washington, D.C., and is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s second-most populous county with approximately 482,000 residents. | | | | | |
