Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI)

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open 8:30AM-4:30PM M-F
703-324-5171 TTY 711
12015 Route 50, Suite 510
Fairfax, VA 22033
Rebecca Moudry
Director

Catalytic Development

Catalytic Development

This division of Department of Economic Initiatives assists, incentivizes and analyzes catalytic development including public-private partnerships, place-led economic development and incentive opportunities to meet county goals and maximize value for residents.

Department Resources

Bunnyman Brewing Open at the Workhouse

Bunnyman Brewing opened in 2024 at the Workhouse Arts Center with a brewery, coffee shop, and restaurant. The newly renovated building at the front of the campus includes indoor and outdoor dining and social spaces.

Interested in joining Bunnyman Brewing and being a retailer at the vibrant Workhouse Arts Campus?  There are additional leasing opportunities available. Visit the leasing page for more information.


Financial Incentive Programs Led or Supported by Fairfax County:

The EOR is designed to invest one-time, funding into projects that will provide economic benefits to Fairfax County. Projects are focused on Capital development; purchasing real estate and programming support for economic development activities identified in the Economic Success Plan. Selected projects are expected to create value, increase economic growth, and generate taxable revenue. Learn More...

Fairfax County has nine (9) Federal Opportunity Zones. The areas provide deferral of some Federal taxable capital gains businesses that make long term investments in property and employment in the area.  DEI leads the county effort to attract business and capital to OZs. Learn More

Public-Private Partnerships and Joint-Development Projects

Workhouse Arts Campus, a 501(c)(3), sits on 55-acre portion of the former DC correctional facility owned by Fairfax County. It opened in 2008 as a visual and performing arts center and currently offers more than 800 art education classes, 100 exhibitions, 300 performances and large-scale community events. As the owner of the workhouse campus, the county, along with a steering committee, oversees the strategic plan priorities of the workhouse and assists with its operational plans. DEI, along with other agencies, support the steering committee.

Interested in retail space at the vibrant Workhouse Arts Campus?  There are opportunities available. Visit the leasing page for more information.

Fairfax County matches Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID) grant funding to local companies to boost agriculture and forestry businesses that would otherwise be too small to qualify for state incentives. AFID is a tool to create new jobs and investment from companies that add value to Virginia-grown agriculture and forestry products. 

Grants may be used for a variety of purposes, including public and private utility extension or capacity development on- and off-site; high-speed or broadband internet access extension or capacity development; road, rail, or other transportation access costs beyond the funding capability of existing programs; site acquisition; grading, drainage, paving, and any other activity required to prepare a site for construction; construction or build-out of buildings; or training.

To date Fairfax County has matched three AFID Grants: Beanstalk Farms, Bull Run Winery and OmMade Peanut Butter

The Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure act of 2002 allows Fairfax County to work with private developers to acquire, design and construct a facility that is beneficial to both the private sector and government agencies. Since enacted, Fairfax County has completed several PPEA projects and has others underway. 

Place Led Economic Development Policy & Programs

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) and the County worked together on repurposing a portion of the county-owned property at 7200 Columbia Pike in Annandale to create a versatile civic park space for the community.  The underused parking lot at the former Annandale Elementary School was transformed into a “unique hybrid park” that includes a civic plaza with seating, an educational garden, a playground, a lawn, and an open space that can be used as a flexible “pop-up” space for performances, community activities, and special events.

There will also be fully ADA-accessible paths that connect the park to Daniels Avenue and Columbia Pike.

Learn More

 

The primary objective of the Commercial Profiles Pilot is to gain valuable insights into the chosen districts, consumer behavior, local demographics, and visitor patterns. The profiles are a data template assembled as a tool to enhance county staff’s ability to make data driven decisions about future interventions, strategy, or program recommendations, as well as to support local commercial district organization efforts.  Data synthesized in the profiles provide relevant demographic, performance, and economic health insights for Fairfax County’s commercial districts

Uses for the data and insights include: 

  • Future place-led economic development work 
  • Evaluate future commercial district interventions
  • Business investment and promotion opportunities
  • Market identification opportunities 
  • Community empowerment

Phase II of the study will select additional commercial districts to study.  This includes current planning areas, shopping centers that are outside of the county’s special planning areas, areas with existing partnership or organizations, economic impact, and use One Fairfax’s vulnerability index. 

 

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