Friday, December 19, 2025 | | |
On Tuesday, December 16, the Council for Economic Opportunity convened to hear an update on the AI Coalition and a discussion entitled, "Employers Perspectives on Housing." The AI Coalition is made up of industry business leaders, economic professionals, education leaders, and nonprofit organizations. The Board of Supervisors representatives on the coalition are Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman and Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity.
The goal of the AI Coalition is to set the industry standard for investment, research, and talent pipeline in Fairfax County. This can be accomplished by creating workforce credential pathways which would allow residents to "ladder-up" to higher paying jobs, ensuring safe and equitable privacy, and accelerating AI adoption across industry. In order to maintain Fairfax County's competitive edge, it is imperative that we incentivize companies in high-growth industries, such as AI, to grow their businesses in Fairfax County.
After the update, business and education leaders discussed the issues that their employees and students are facing regarding housing. Barriers beyond high cost included long commutes from as far away as West Virginia, childcare costs, and retention concerns. According to County staff, the median home cost in Fairfax County is $735k -- a family must earn at least $240k per year to afford a home at the median cost. While Fairfax County added 43,000 jobs between 2013-2023, only 20,000 houses were permitted (not necessarily delivered). As a result, housing supply is not keeping pace with demand, creating a rise in housing costs at all income levels.
| | At the Joint Meeting of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board and Board of Supervisors, Executive Director Jai Cole presented on initiatives and priorities for 2026. I am appreciative to the Park Authority and Park Authority Board for their investment in the Franconia District in the past year. The Hybla Valley Park, which opened in November, features a dedicated futsal court, basketball court, brand-new playground, and picnic area. The construction of a new skatepark at Mount Vernon Woods Park began in September -- the ribbon-cutting is expected in 2026. | | Hybla Valley Park (left) and Mount Vernon Woods Park rendering | | |
The Park Authority is also working to address food insecurity at County farmers markets. Five of the ten markets currently accept SNAP benefits and match up to $40 with free fruit and vegetable tokens. Since 2022, over $325k in SNAP and Virginia Fresh Match benefits were distributed to those in need. Staff are working to expand this program to all ten farmers markets.
Renovations to either Franconia Rec Center or Providence Rec Center are being considered for capital improvements. Public engagement will begin in April 2026, and the public will vote in November 2026.
Lastly, the Board of Supervisors met with the Fairfax County Delegation to the General Assembly to discuss Fairfax County’s "Legislative Priorities and Initiatives" for the 2026 General Assembly and hear presentations from County staff on such topics as regional transit and housing.
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Swearing in ceremony of Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer on December 16
Congratulations to Rachna Sizemore Heizer on her election to the Board of Supervisors, serving the Braddock District after the election of Congressman James Walkinshaw. Racha served on the Fairfax County School Board as the Braddock District member, Vice Chair, and Chair. She was the first Asian American woman to serve on the School Board and is now the first Asian American person to serve on the Board of Supervisors. I look forward to working with her on behalf of the residents of Fairfax County.
| | It is both an honor and a privilege for me to serve as your representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. | | |
Rodney L. Lusk
Franconia District Supervisor
| | One of the best parts of my job as Supervisor is getting to know you in your communities. I would like to attend your next homeowner, civic, or citizen association meeting to share information and hear what's important to you. If there is a community association meeting or event you would like me to attend, please contact my office at 703-971-6262. | | If this email was forwarded to you, consider signing up for my email list to receive newsletters and other important announcements. | | Wickford-Wellfleet Civic Association Holiday Party - December 13 | | |
Thank you to the Wickford-Wellfleet Civic Association for including me in your holiday party.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Toy Distribution - December 16
| | Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Station 11 | | |
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department holds a toy drive and distributes the donations to local schools and nonprofit organizations each year. I am appreciative to Willie Bailey from Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue for reserving five bags of toys for residents of the Franconia District.
Holiday Haircuts with a Cop - December 17
| | (From left) Community Outreach Officer PFC Kevin Rosa, Principal Heber Paredes, Student, Anthony Tran | | Holidays Haircuts with a Cop is an annual event at Lynbrook Elementary School where male students in Grades 3-6 have the opportunity to get a free haircut. | | Hayfield Secondary School Visit - December 17 | | |
I appreciated the opportunity to speak with AP Government classes at Hayfield Secondary School. We discussed land development, affordable housing, budget issues, and collaboration with the Commonwealth.
Franconia District Police Station Holiday Party - December 18
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It was a pleasure to the attend the Franconia District Police Station holiday party.
Second Story Toy Distribution - December 18
| | The Journey Church Toy Distribution - December 18 | | Click to expand and view links | | Franconia Rec Center Skate Night | | |
Show off your holiday spirit, sweater style at Family Skate and Dance Night on Saturday, December 20 at Franconia Rec Center. This festive celebration is being held in partnership with Fairfax County Therapeutic Recreation Services. Come dressed in your best — and loudest — holiday outfits to celebrate the season on wheels (or dancing shoes).
Bring your own skates (or other wheels) and dance to festive tunes by a live DJ. Tickets are on sale online and at the door.
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Families, friends, and neighbors are invited to Lake Accotink Park on Saturday, December 20 when Santa comes to town. This community favorite offers a lively outdoor experience for all ages, featuring holiday activities, photo opportunities, and seasonal fun!
Attendees can enjoy a variety of cheerful holiday touches, including:
- Holiday photo opportunities with Santa starting at noon.
- A festive backdrop for family pictures.
- Pet-friendly fun - leashed dogs are welcome.
- Seasonal treats and activities for children and families.
- Volunteer support provided by the Friends of Lake Accotink Park.
For more information or to register, visit the Friends of Lake Accotink Park webpage.
Park Authority Winter Camps
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Start 2026 on the right foot with the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation’s annual First Hike Photo Contest! Community members of all ages and abilities are invited to join the fun and explore the beauty of Fairfax County parks.
How to Participate:
- Take a Hike. Enjoy a stroll through any of the Park Authority’s 420 parks or along more than 334 miles of trails on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.
- Capture the Moment. Snap a fantastic photo during your adventure.
- Submit Your Best Shot. Upload your photo online by noon on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, for a chance to win great prizes!
Learn more.
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Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services' Discover Your Path Expo will offer career resources for youth and young adults on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.) at Thomas Edison High School (5801 Franconia Rd). The program is open to all ages, but there will be special activities for ages 14-24.
At the Expo, there will be opportunities to:
- Connect with employers and resources.
- Enjoy workshops and speaker panels.
- Register for free GED, SAT, ACT and GMAT prep classes.
- Win door prizes and giveaways, including a $100 Gift Card (Must be ages 14-24 and be present to win.)
Admission is free. Register to attend.
| | FCRHA Strategic Plan Outcomes | | |
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) released its fiscal year 2025 Strategic Plan Outcomes Report. The report provides an overview of the outcomes and accomplishments of the agency, including data and information about affordable housing development, rental housing, and other services.
Highlights include:
- $50 million made available for affordable housing and development projects
- More than 1,500 new affordable homes under construction or in development
- 5,300 households served through federal housing vouchers
- More than 3,800 affordable homes are owned by the FCRHA
- 84 households became new homeowners
Download the Strategic Plan Outcomes Report
Download the Summary
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Calling all Entrepreneurs
Join the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority at the "Entrepreneurs Conference: From Inspiration to Growth," a dynamic event bringing together experts, business leaders, and innovators to share real-world insights on growing stronger, smarter, and more resilient businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, this conference is designed to help you take your next big step.
Date: January 13, 2026
Ready to take your business to the next level? Register: https://hubs.li/Q03Yt44f0
| | Used Book Reuse & Recycling Program | | |
Residents can now drop off unwanted hardcover, paperback, and textbooks in the green donation bins at the I-66 Transfer Station in Fairfax. In partnership with New Legacy Books, the county’s Solid Waste Management Program is launching a program to keep used books out of the landfill. Only books with an ISBN barcode are accepted for collection.
New Legacy Books will resell the books with a portion of the sales supporting county residential recycling services. Books with lower value are sent to wholesale book companies for resale. Remaining books that cannot be resold will be recycled.
The program offers the public a practical way to divert waste and supports the county’s long-term zero waste goal, which aims to divert 90 percent of the overall waste stream away from disposal.
For more information on this program and other sustainable recycling and disposal options, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/recycling-trash/.
We’re social! For updates on DPWES projects, services and events, follow us on Facebook @ffxpublicworks, X (formerly Twitter) @ffxpublicworks, and on LinkedIn @Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
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Fairfax County has been made aware of fraudulent emails sent to applicants that appear to come from the Department of Planning and Development. These messages may reference real application numbers or upcoming hearings and may include fake invoices requesting wire transfers or other forms of payment.
We have identified a specific scam email with the subject line "Immediate Action Needed –Final Approval Fee for {SP-2025-PR-00077}." This email falsely claims to be from the “Fairfax County Planning Department” and urgently requests a wire transfer to secure project placement on a hearing agenda, stating that online payment is unavailable. This is a scam.
These emails are not from the county. Staff will never request payment through unsolicited emails, wire transfers or invoices sent outside of the official PLUS system. Official fee payments are exclusively processed through the PLUS system using ACH/eCheck, credit card or, in limited instances, a physical check.
If you receive an email that seems suspicious, contains unexpected payment instructions (especially a request for a wire transfer), or appears to impersonate a county employee:
- Do not click links, open attachments or send payment.
- Verify directly with staff by contacting the agency or the staff member working on your application.
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To confirm an email's authenticity or to report a suspicious message related to PLUS fees, email plussupport@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-2222. All official fee payments must be completed only through the PLUS system.
Protect yourself by confirming the source of any financial request before responding.
FCPD Community Engagement in 2025
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Annual Santa's Ride
As we wrap up 2025, the Fairfax County Police Department remains deeply committed to serving and connecting with our community across all eight police districts. This year reflected the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our officers and professional staff, and the continued growth of programs designed to educate, engage, and maintain trust with the people we serve.
Strengthening Faith-Based Partnerships
Through Faith and Blue initiatives, the Fairfax County Police Department continued to build and strengthen relationships with houses of worship across Fairfax County. Officers participated in public events, delivered safety and security presentations, conducted security assessments, and hosted active violence preparedness trainings. These partnerships remain a vital part of our outreach strategy, helping faith communities feel informed, prepared, and supported.
Expanding Outreach Through New Programs
In 2025, Fairfax County launched its first Junior Police Academy for youth ages 10–14. Meeting monthly, participants gained firsthand exposure to various units and functions within the department, including the Helicopter Unit, Crime Scene Investigations, K-9, and other specialized areas.
Another standout initiative was Everyone Eats, a six-week cooking and leadership program for youth ages 12–18. Participants learned essential cooking skills, received cookware, and developed leadership and life skills.
Learn more about community engagement initiatives.
| | Food & Beverage Tax for Businesses | | |
Presentation from December 8, 2025
Join the Department of Tax Administration for an overview on the county’s Food and Beverage Tax and what you need to know to collect the tax beginning January 1, 2026. Following the presentation, county experts will be available to answer your questions. A video of the presentation will be available if you cannot attend the event.
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January 5, 2026
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Register
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February 2, 2026
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Register
| | Volunteer Income Tax Assistance | | |
If you or your family earned less than $69,000 in 2025, you may qualify for this free service.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is a national program sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to help families maximize their tax returns and avoid the fees businesses charge to prepare taxes.
In-person VITA services are available at several sites in Northern Virginia. Walk-ins are welcome, no appointments are needed. For more information, please send an email or call 703-533-5320 (please leave a message).
VITA Tax Season 2025 preparation services begin January 2026. Learn more.
| Volunteers are needed. Tax Preparers and screeners will need up to eight hours of training and screeners and translators will need up to one hour. Training is provided. Volunteer sessions are one weeknight and/or Saturdays each week for 12 weeks. Each volunteer session lasts between 3 and 5 hours. Interested in volunteering? Complete the online registration form. | | Franconia Red Cross Blood Drive | | The Red Cross has added more appointment times! Sign up at www.RedCrossBlood.org sponsor code LDSFranconia. | | Enhances Mobility Grant Program | | |
On Wednesday, December 17, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) approved funding for 25 projects that support mobility for older adults and individuals with disabilities across the region. The $10.7 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s Enhanced Mobility program removes barriers to transportation services and expands transportation mobility options.
The awarded projects fall under the categories of vehicle acquisition, mobility management, travel training, and others. 14 of the 25 projects are for vehicle acquisition, which will fund 44 vehicles to provide service to eligible clients. Learn more.
| | Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Demolitions | | |
As part of the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Project, multiple properties along the Richmond Highway corridor are scheduled to begin demolition in the coming weeks.
- 6701 Richmond Highway
- 6969 Richmond Highway
- 6951 Richmond Highway
- 7330 Richmond Highway
For 6701, demolition work will begin in late December 2025, with substantial completion by January 31, 2026. For 6969/6951, demolition work will begin in early January 2026, with substantial completion by February 28, 2026. 7330 is currently set to begin around January 15, 2026 with substantial completion by February 15, 2026. These completion dates are dependent on receipt of the demolition permit and weather. More information on the Richmond Highway BRT Project is available at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/richmond-hwy-BRT.
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The South Van Dorn Street STARS Study has been assessing potential safety, operational, transit and bicycle/pedestrian improvements along the two-and-a-half mile stretch of South Van Dorn Street (Route 613) between Telegraph Road (Route 611) and the Alexandria city limits, and three-quarters of a mile of Franconia Road (Route 644) between Grovedale Drive and South Van Dorn Street.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is hosting a public workshop on the study at Edison High School (5801 Franconia Road) on January 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
The preferred alternatives that will be detailed at the open house are for the following locations within the study corridor:
- South Van Dorn Street and I-95/I-495 (Capital Beltway) ramps.
- South Van Dorn Street and Crown Royal Drive.
- South Van Dorn Street and Franconia Road.
- Franconia Road and Beulah Street.
- South Van Dorn Street and Kingstowne Boulevard.
- South Van Dorn Street and Telegraph Road.
- Multimodal improvements throughout the South Van Dorn Street corridor and along Franconia Road between Grovedale Drive and South Van Dorn Street.
| | What's Happening at the WISH | | Federal Workforce Resource Hub | | |
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. The Federal Workforce Resource Hub serves as a resource to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes or disruptions to federal services or employment.
Northern Virginia is stepping up for recently unemployed federal employees and contractors with major new resources.
Key Updates
Follow our official Fairfax County Government LinkedIn page to stay updated on local information and resources available to job seekers and others impacted by federal workforce actions. Additionally, Fairfax County Public Library offers the LinkedIn Learning platform to residents with a library card.
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