On Wednesday, May 12, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced that providers across the Commonwealth can begin vaccinating those aged 12-15 following federal approval today of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in adolescents.

On Friday, May 14, the Community Vaccination Center (CVC), the former Gander Mountain store, located at 14041 Worth Ave in Woodbridge will begin administering this vaccine to adolescents aged 12-15. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

A pop-up community vaccination clinic will be held Monday, May 17, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Graham Park Middle School located at 3613 Graham Park Road in Triangle. The clinic will be administering the Moderna vaccine. Pre-registration is encouraged. Go to vase.vdh.virginia.gov, enter your zip code, select “25-miles” for Distance Range, and search for Vaccine Type “Moderna.” Walk-ups will be accommodated based on vaccine availability.

If you are looking for Pharmacy locations near you which are administering the vaccine, text your zip code to 438829. You will immediately receive a list of locations near you, with their address and phone number. You will also receive a link to a website with those and more locations. The website also indicates if the location has vaccines in stock or out of stock.

To utilize the new program (issue 64) for veterans who are disabled or over 65 in need of transportation to COVID-19 vaccination appointments, contact the Northern Virginia Veterans Association by either:

Saturday, May 8, Chair Wheeler participated in the Stepping Out of Covid – Walking into Wellness – 5K Mental Health Awareness Walk (issue 63).Over 200 people attended the event, held in Prince William Forest Park. In addition to the 5K, there were 17 informational tables from mental health service providers.

On Saturday, May 8, Chair Wheeler and Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin met with Frank and Delaney Washington in person as a follow-up to phone calls and emails about issues that had arisen in the recent past. They walked the Thoroughfare community, an area west of Haymarket and home to three historic gravesites of 100 freed slaves and Native Americans. Chair Wheeler has thanked county staff for continuing to prioritize preserving this area, so together, PWC and the residents of Thoroughfare can identify a path forward.

On Wednesday, May 12, Chair Wheeler was invited to have the last meal of Ramadan with the American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA). ATFA is dedicated to addressing the social, spiritual, cultural, and educational needs of the people living in Northern Virginia. It works with people and organizations of all backgrounds and faiths to promote greater understanding, cooperate on meaningful projects, and build stronger bonds amongst diverse communities.

Tuesday, May 18

at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

visit SpeakUp! Prince William.

In-person speakers can sign up at the meeting.

At the Tuesday, May 11, work session, an overview of a preliminary draft of PWC's 2021 - 2024 Community Strategic Plan was presented to the BOCS. It outlined the goal statement, objectives, action strategies, and key performance indicators/measures for the following 7 goals:

You can read the draft in its entirety here.

At the May 4 meeting, the BOCS adopted a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program to help conserve land in the County's current rural area. A land preservation tool, it allows property owners in the rural area with 20+ acres of contiguous A-1, Agricultural land to submit an application to sell their development rights to the County. The entirely voluntary program will allow landowners to retain ownership of their land while conserving it for natural, historical, or agricultural purposes. More than a dozen similar programs in Virginia have had success in protecting and preserving land for education, farming, and environmental stewardship. The PDR slide deck presented at meeting can be viewed below.

The Department of Economic Development (DED) had a record year in 2020 with the completion of 40 projects expected to add $2.4 billion in capital investment and 1,531 new jobs. With 29 new business attractions, 8 expansions of existing businesses, and 3 business retentions, approximately 99% of the new jobs will be in a range of industry sectors targeted by the county, including life sciences and biotechnology, IT, data centers, advanced manufacturing, federal contracting, and distribution. Much of these successes were due to the Economic Development Task Force.

The Capital Investment and Innovation Grant program provided up to $200,000 in funding for each business to make needed physical improvements or innovations to help them operate safely during COVID-19 pandemic (issue 25). Of the more than 160 businesses that applied, 127 were awarded grants. Learn more about this grant program and its impact in the video below.

For Emerald Ironworks, the grant was key to ensuring that expansion continued and the retention of employees during the pandemic was never in question.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything for Dulles Glass & Mirror, including the co-owners' business mentality, specifically on the production and retail experience.

Small businesses that serve people, especially children, are the bedrock of community. Showcase Dance embraced the opportunity to innovate in the face of the pandemic.

The Ignite grant program (issue 45) was established to provide up to $50,000 to selected high-growth companies and tech catalyst organizations. The first round of recipients of the program awards has been announced. The next round of the IGNITE grant program is open and applications should be submitted by Monday, May 31.

In honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month, members of the Prevention Coalition of Greater Prince William have partnered to provide wellness messages at nine of our county trail locations through Saturday, June 5. Scan the QR code at the trailhead for the messages and submit trail photos for a chance to win wellness prizes! Visit the Walk and Talk Wellness website for the participating trails, as well as, information on local resources, workshops, and services.

Saturday, May 15, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, come to the Harris Pavillion at 9201 Center Street in Manassas for the second annual Latinamerica Artisans and Entrepreneur Expo! There will be music, artisans, food, folklore, and much more. Check out the Facebook page to learn more about the Expo and who is participating.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary Federal Communications Commission program to help households struggling to afford internet service during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household. Learn more about the program, eligibility, and how to apply here.

The public parking lot of the James J. McCoart County Administration Building, located at 1 County Complex in Woodbridge, will be closed Thursday May 20 through Monday, May 24, for repairs. Public parking is available on Asdee Lane and has sidewalks to the McCoart Building. The building will remain open for business throughout all construction activities.

Starting Tuesday, June 1, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will resume its full-service schedule. Railcars will remain marked for social distancing, with window seats available in every other row. On its train utilization webpage, passengers can find the train that matches their social distance comfort level. An enhanced, twice-daily cleaning of railcars and federal and state face mask requirements will also remain in place.

VRE has four stations in PWC – Woodbridge, Quantico, and Rippon on its Fredericksburg Line and Broad Run on its Manassas Line. Trains generally run northbound weekday mornings and southbound in the evenings. The VRE mobile app allows for the contactless purchase and validation of tickets.

Timothy and Jessica Woodcock have been named PWC's 2021 Foster Parents of the Year by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Timothy and Jessica, along with their three children, Kylie, Lexie, and Logan joined the PWC Foster Parent Program in 2016. They have provided care for several children, including a sibling group and respite care for many foster children. They continually make themselves and their home available for emergency situations, no matter the day or time. They are a humble family who willingly display their commitment and kindness with every interaction, including foster care program staff, biological families, and, especially, the children. Hear from the Woodcock family and other 2021 Foster Parents of the Year from around the region in the video below.