Issue 110

Prince William County

Every year in April the BOCS adopts the County Budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. As the second largest county in the Commonwealth, the over 450-page proposed budget is a big undertaking. Its full of essential information and numbers, but that can't really show the heart of our County.

That why I include my County Department tours and various calendar events in The Wheeler Report. They are a great way of sharing the many exciting things happening in Prince William County, and this issue is full of them. My week included a department making a real impact, a park getting a great amenity, a congested road being improved, an innovative business center opening, an appreciation event for those who have provided life changing help to others, a graduation of first responders, and valor honored.

Also in this issue you'll find important articles on COVID-19, the BOCS, County news, what's happening, and a special shoutout to a division of the Department of Public Works, which was showcased in the last issue. After my office heard from a concerned constituent, I saw first-hand the great work it does. Be sure to read about it in the County Kudos section below.

PWCDED's successfully completed projects in 2021 and 2020 will provide the County with a capital investment of $3.7 billion and create over 2,500 new jobs. The Department's many incentives have created a pro-business climate in PWC, and the Building Momentum initiative accelerated support for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its complimentary consulting services help existing businesses while the robust Steps to Start Your Business resources help future business owners. You can hear directly from businesses some of the many reasons they decided to be in PWC in the video below.

A testament to the Department's efforts, PWC is now home to one of the fastest-growing biotechnology clusters in the Greater Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. At the epicenter is Innovation Park, Northern Virginia’s only university-centered research corporate park, which is anchored by the George Mason University Science and Technology Campus. The campus houses multiple facilities and institutions that foster the life Sciences including the Prince William Science Accelerator, the only public-private commercially available wet lab spaces in Northern Virginia, the Virginia Serious Game Institute, the only one of its kind on the East Coast, and the new Northern Virginia Bioscience Center (see Ribbon Cutting article below).

Want to stay in the knew about all the great economic development in PWC? Signup for the PWCDED Newsletter to receive news and insights into the County's businesses, workforce, and way of life, including important updates, new grant programs, opportunities, webinars, events, and economic indicators.

In addition to housing research companies on the cutting-edge of science and technology, the center will support collaboration and cooperation in research between universities, companies, and government facilities. You can learn more about the Northern Virginia Bioscience Center in the video below.

Following the revocation, DOLI is implementing new guidance for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace. The document, Guidance for Employers to Mitigate the Risk of COVID-19 to Workers, was published in the Virginia Register of Regulations (see Did You Know below) on March 28 and is open for public comment until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, April 27.

The Virginia Register of Regulations is an official state publication issued every other week. New and amended sections of regulations, both as proposed and as finally adopted, are required by law to be published in the Register. It also contains other information about state government, including petitions for rulemaking, emergency regulations, executive orders issued by the Governor, and notices of public hearings on regulations.

The Code of Virginia states a certified guidance document is subject to a 30-day public comment period after publication in the Virginia Register and prior to the guidance document's effective date. During the public comment period, comments may be made through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website or sent to the agency contact. Currently, there are 49 regulatory and guidance documents open for public comment in the Town Hall.

The BOCS appropriated funds to the program from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to provide training programs, support services, and career assistance so residents can get and keep today’s in-demand jobs. A skilled workforce ensures companies can attract the talent they need and that their employees earn the wages they deserve.