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Green Business Partners Allies are organizations or companies that work directly with businesses in Fairfax County to further the mission and vision of the GBP program. On this page, we are featuring a conversation with our inaugural Ally, Fairfax County Commuter Services (FCCS).
Can you tell us how your organization supports businesses in Fairfax County?
Fairfax County Commuter Services (FCCS) supports employers throughout the county in creating and maintaining sustainable transportation opportunities for their employees. Our programs and services are designed to reduce traffic congestion, maintain the air quality in the region, and support employers’ recruitment and retention activities.
Are there particular types of business that your organization focuses on?
We work with organizations of all sizes and all types. From two-person offices to multi-thousand employee organizations, we custom-design programs to support their commute solution needs.
What types of resources are available from your organization for businesses to support sustainable business practices? Or, Fairfax County in general as a location for green businesses to thrive?
FCCS can work with employers to enhance or create commuter benefits programs that enable their employees to take advantage of the many transit, active transportation, and ride-sharing commute options available to them. All of the programs and services offered by FCCS are completely free to Fairfax County employers; our team can help create surveys or transportation meetings and events to engage employees in exploring their commute options, provide route maps, ride-matching support, provide incentives, and assist in enabling employees to rethink their commute.
One of the most popular programs we provide is the SmartBenefits Plu$50 program; FCCS provides a free $50 SmarTrip card to employees who enroll in their employers’ pre-tax commuter benefits program. The SmartTrip card allows them to take advantage of the transit options in our region, including Metrorail, Metrobus, Connector, and VRE.
What do you see as the key incentives or motivators for businesses to adopt sustainable business practices?
Commuting is a key factor for many employees in their work-life balance equation, and employers in our region recognize the importance of offering commuter benefits programs as part of their employee recruitment and retention plans.
How does the mission of the Green Business Partners program fit into the mission of your organization as a whole?
The Green Business Partners program aligns with the Fairfax County Commuter Services program goals in promoting the adoption of sustainable multi-modal transportation options in order to reduce traffic congestion and preserve the air quality in our region.
What is something more businesses in Fairfax County could benefit from if they knew about it?
Organizations of all sizes would benefit from taking advantage of the staff at FCCS to assist them in creating and promoting their commuter benefits options. Our staff can support an employer in any stage of their employee commuter benefit needs; from helping them explore incentive programs, providing commuter information for their on-boarding materials packages, working with employees to consider ride-sharing options, bringing bike maps and route maps onsite, as well as supporting employer transportation events, our staff is ready to be of assistance.
Is there anything else you would like to highlight to GBP Members and Leaders?
Each year, Fairfax County is honored to recognize 10 to 15 employers who provide sustainable commuter programs to their employees through our Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) Award program. FCCS partners with the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida to recognize employers that promote environmentally-friendly commuting and encourage the use of multi-modal transportation. Our team is always watching for employers that meet the criteria, and we can work with any organization to strengthen their commuter benefits and help them qualify for the award nomination. In partnership with the Green Business Partners program, Fairfax County BWC awardees are eligible to be recognized as a GBP Leader.
Learn More
Visit Fairfax County Commuter Services website for more information.
