Plan Goals:​

• Further Diversify Our Economy​
• Create Places Where People Want to Be​
• Improve the Speed, Consistency, and Predictability of the Development Review Process​
• Invest in Natural and Physical Infrastructure​
• Achieve Economic Success Through Education and Social Equity​
• Increase Agility of County Government​

Project Goals:​

• Programming support of projects and events that further the vision set forth in the ESSP:​
• Tactical Urbanism Events​
• Innovation Salons/Expert Panels​
• Challenge Events (including Pitch & Hackathons)​
• Pilot Projects​
• Smart Cities Strategies​

Funding Summary:​

County Investment: $200,000​
Total Investment: $200,000​

County Funding to Date: $191,334​
Direct Revenue Generated: N/A​

Project Milestones:​

• Tandem Product Academy Pilot (2018)
  With $50,000 in funding, this pilot program provided a four-month startup boot camp for 40 technology entrepreneurs. Led by regional academic and business experts, the academy focused on growing technology product businesses. Participant feedback was highly positive, with over 94% believing the program enhanced their future fundraising prospects and nearly 90% wishing to maintain cohort connections. Subsequently, Tandem partnered with Marymount University on a Go Virginia application to expand the initiative, targeting entrepreneurs from under-represented groups.
   
• Housing Hackathon (Jan 2019)
  Funded with $9,545, the Housing Hackathon connected county leaders with innovators from industry, universities, and non-profits to tackle key housing challenges. The event aimed to generate creative solutions, expand the innovation ecosystem, foster relationships, and advance ESSP goals by showcasing diverse talents. Notably, Smart City Works offered the winning teams incubation support, HCD offered to pilot the solution, and the event spurred a fully sponsor-funded 2020 Housing Challenge and an annual housing-focused event hosted by George Mason University's School of Business
  .
• Launch of Relay, a Connected Autonomous Shuttle (2019-2023)
  This project received $50,000 in ESSP funds, which helped leverage $208,000 from the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and approximately $300,000 in partner contributions for vehicle purchase and storage. The pilot deployed an autonomous shuttle, establishing Fairfax County as a leader in smart city implementation. It successfully tested autonomous public transportation while strengthening collaborations between educational institutions, research bodies, businesses, and public utilities.
   
• Pitch & Pilot: Fairfax County Innovation Challenge (2022-2023)
  Allocated $54,000 ($50,000 plus $4k for administration), this initiative served as match funding for a $750,000 federal i6 grant secured by Smart City Works to foster a regional smart city innovation cluster. It also received $50,000 from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation for the pilot phase. Held in April 2021, the challenge incentivized innovation for pedestrian and bicycle safety. Winner Street Simplified used AI to study intersection safety at 37 locations, leading to specific recommendations and safety improvements implemented at five sites, followed by an evaluation.
   
• Smart City Challenge Competition
  This six-week innovation competition received $25,000 in funding. Organized via Smart City Works, it brought together the local innovation ecosystem to create and celebrate solutions aimed at enhancing the region's intelligence, livability, resilience, and sustainability for all residents. Asoleyo was declared the winner of this challenge.

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