Friday, February 13, 2026 | | |
The process of moving the Franconia District Supervisor's office from 6121 Franconia Road to its new location at 7130 Silver Lake Blvd has begun. Staff from my office and I will continuously serve you remotely by phone (703) 971-6262, by e-mail at franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov and via virtual teleconferencing during the move process. Unfortunately, walk-in services and community room use will not be available beginning Tuesday, February 17, 2026, through Sunday, March 15, 2026.
This new co-located facility houses the Franconia District Supervisor's Office, Franconia Police Station, Franconia Museum, Active Adult Center, and Childcare Center for infants to pre-kindergarten children. The Kingstowne Community Library will be expanded to a Regional Library and will occupy approximately 30,000 square feet. One consolidated location will deliver services to the public in an efficient way.
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Meetings of the Board of Supervisors Economic Initiatives, Health and Human Services, and Housing Committees were held on Tuesday, February 10.
Economic Initiatives
Fairfax County is still feeling the effects of federal government reductions. Reductions were the primary driver of a 1.1% increase in the unemployment rate in Fairfax County to 3.3%. At the same time, federal procurement increased by $400 million during that time, demonstrating minimal impacts on overall government contract dollars.
Fairfax County saw venture capital dollars subside in the beginning of 2025, but has seen a rebound in investment activity, especially among the AI and defense technology startups. For the fifth year in a row, capital investment is expected to surpass $1 billion. This figure demonstrates that companies still want to start, move, and grow businesses in Fairfax County.
Another positive figure is the office elevator market vacancy rate decrease after five years of increases. This is partly due to the removal of obsolete high-vacancy properties for redevelopment or reuse for higher tax revenue uses.
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Health and Human Services
In February 2025, the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) contracted Urban Institute researchers to conduct an exploratory study on the needs and experiences of individuals who panhandle in the county. Between July – November 2025, Urban researchers completed 40 surveys and 6 semi-structured follow-up interviews with individuals who panhandle.
The research team prioritized panhandling “hot spots” identified by the Fairfax County Police Department and county constituents.
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Survey and Interview Findings
- Participants emphasized that panhandling is often misunderstood as a choice, even though most interviewees had worked for the majority of their lives and turned to panhandling only after sudden life changes such as injuries, health problems, or job loss.
- Half earned less than $51 per day from panhandling, while one-third earned between $51 and $100, with wide variation across respondents.
- Interviewees also described living in precarious conditions— sleeping in shared cars, eating infrequently, and managing serious health issues without reliable care or support.
| | Everybody has a story and everybody’s story is different. Panhandlers are just people. An act of kindness can save somebody’s life. There were days I really didn’t think I’d wake up the next morning, and someone would come up and hand me $20 and it would change my whole perspective. –Interview participant | | |
Housing
Affordable housing is a critical issue in Fairfax County in both the ownership and rental markets. From 2013-2023, Fairfax added 43K jobs and permitted 20K homes – adding 2.13 new jobs per new home. The recommended ratio for a healthy market is 1.5 jobs per home. This ratio indicates housing supply is not keeping pace with demand related to job growth and has contributed to the County’s housing shortage.
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In 2024, the median home sales price in Fairfax County was $770,000. A family of four would need a household income of at least $230K to afford the median home. By contrast, the median income of a family of four who rents is $101K. This household could only afford a home priced $365K. More than 1/3 of all new homes sold for over $1.1M, including every single-family detached home built in 2025.
According to staff, Fairfax County will need 41K-95K new homes at all income levels by 2035. Failing to increase new home production could inhibit economic growth in Fairfax County and cause rents and home prices to continue rising faster than households can afford to buy. This would force more households to be burdened by housing costs or even move out of the 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. | | Walk for Peace - February 8 | | |
It was an honor to witness the Walk for Peace pass through the Richmond Highway corridor and assemble at Chùa Hoa Nghiêm in Fort Belvoir. The stop was part of a 2,300-mile trek across the country by venerable monks to spread the message of peace and unity. Congressman Don Beyer, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck spoke on the importance of peace, diversity, equity, and opportunity for all.
Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara challenged attendees to internalize his words and prioritize peace in ourselves and in our communities.
Tea at Historic Huntley - February 12
| | Thank you to the Friends of Historic Huntley for hosting me for tea. | | |
Franconia Development Partners, LLC
RZ/FDP-2025- FR-00005
This application proposes to rezone the 3.32-acre site to allow development of up to 120 multifamily residential units, including public and private open space areas.
Board of Supervisors public hearing: February 17, 2026
Ways to provide public hearing testimony
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Steven Michael Sushner, Tr. and Adam Kirschenbaum, Tr.
RZ-2022-LE-00016
Rezoning from R1 to PDH-2 to develop eight single family detached dwellings
Board of Supervisors public hearing: February 17, 2026
Ways to provide public hearing testimony
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Share Your Thoughts on Potential Changes to Regulations for Accessory Living Units
Potential updates to the county’s zoning regulations for accessory living units (ALUs) are under consideration. The survey will be open through February 28.
| | HVCC Black History Month Celebration | | Future Forward: Federal Talent Transition Career Fair | | |
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 1-4 p.m.
Fairfax County Government Center
Register
Who Should Attend?
- Federal government employees and contractors, current or former
- Professionals with Top Secret (TS or TS/SCI) clearances (not required by all employers)
- Individuals impacted by federal workforce changes
What You’ll Gain
- Access to employers actively hiring candidates with federal government and contracting experience
- Information on career transition resources and support services
- Networking opportunities with workforce professionals
- Educational workshops to successfully translate your experience to your next chapter
Who You'll Meet
| | | CACI International Inc. | Fairfax and Loudoun County Public Schools | Trewon Technologies, LLC | | Fairfax County Government | PRISM Inc. | PEG, LLC | | City of Manassas | CMC Electronics | And many more | | | |
It takes a special kind of courage to turn a "what if" into a "what’s next." If you’ve been dreaming of launching your own venture, there is no better time to stop dreaming and start doing. In celebration of Entrepreneurship Week (February 14–21), we’re focusing on the visionaries ready to build something from the ground up. Whether your business idea is currently a sketch on a napkin or a fully formed plan, Fairfax County is ready to help you lay the foundation.
Build Your Dream with These Resources
The best founders never stop learning. Subscribe to the Fairfax CORE newsletter to get the latest on grants, workshops, and the game-changing insights you need to move from "aspiring" to "owner."
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Don’t Miss Out: Upcoming Grant Opportunities
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Amber Grant for Women: Women-owned businesses are eligible for monthly $10,000 awards and an annual $50,000 grand prize. Deadline: The last day of every month (e.g., Feb 28, March 31).
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The Kitty Fund: $1,000 micro-grants for mother-led businesses with 2–100 employees. Pre-registration is open now. Deadline: Full applications open in March.
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Secretsos Small Business Grant: $2,500 quarterly grants to help entrepreneurs overcome growth challenges. Deadline: March 31.
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Breva Thrive Grant: $5,000 grants for revenue-generating businesses that show a clear community impact. Deadline: April 30, July 31, and October 31.
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Halstead Grant: Jewelry entrepreneurs can win a $7,500 cash prize plus a $1,000 gift card to jumpstart their careers. Deadline: May 1.
| | Congressional Art Competition | | |
Congressman James Walkinshaw invites high school students who are residents of the 11th Congressional District to participate in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Public, private, and home-schooled students are all invited to participate. Entries are due Tuesday, March 3.
All entries will be displayed at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia from March 7, 2026, to March 15, 2026. The winning piece will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for one year, the second-place entry will be exhibited at the Workhouse Arts Gallery for a year, and with the permission of the artists, the third-place piece will be displayed in Representative Walkinshaw's district office.
For application materials and more information: Art Competition | U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw
| | Bridges to Success Career Fair | | Bridges to Success: Career Pathways for Military-Connected Families | | Free Trees for Community Organizations | | |
Community-based organizations in Fairfax County can apply to receive free trees for planting on private properties, through a program by Fairfax County’s Urban and Community Forestry Division (UCFD) of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
The program, offered in partnership with Casey Trees, is designed to help community organizations in Fairfax County – such as volunteer groups, civic associations and faith-based organizations – obtain high-quality, professionally grown trees suitable for planting. Purchasing top-quality trees can be a challenge for these organizations.
This opportunity focuses on increasing tree cover in economically disadvantaged communities, which typically do not benefit from moderate to high tree cover.
How to Apply: Fairfax County Tree Distribution to Community Organizations | Public Works and Environmental Services
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February 20: Unite, Uplift & Celebrate: A Black History Month Celebration
February 21: "Fall in Love with the Highway: A Youth Photovoice Event" (RSVP)
February 23 (extended): Deadline to complete Fairfax County Veterans and Military Families Commission Military Community Survey (Take the survey)
March 15: Waste Management Facilities Customer Input Survey deadline (Take the survey)
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