Neighborhood and Community Services

703-324-1050 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
Lloyd Tucker
Director

Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot

Economic Mobility Pilot


FCEMP logoThe Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot (FCEMP) will provide monthly cash payments to eligible, randomly selected households, in addition to optional financial wellness support, to promote economic mobility and social capital. Fairfax County has designed the pilot to focus on ALICE, a United Way acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed population, that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for county/state in which they live. Funding for this program is provided by federal funds as part of the American Recovery Plan Act and supported also by the Fairfax County Human Services Council's Innovation Fund. The FCEMP includes three elements:

  • A monthly payment of $750 to 180 eligible, randomly selected families for 15 months; 
  • Freedom of choice for the families to use the cash as they deem necessary; and 
  • Optional financial wellness supports and the opportunity to increase their social networks through virtual or in-person events. 

The application period for this program has closed.

  • Fairfax County randomly selected 180 eligible families to participate in the pilot for 18 months.
  • Cash disbursements were made from October 2023 through March 2025 (includes a 3-month extension).
  • The payment stage has concluded; however, the research portion will continue through the end of 2025.
  • There are no current plans to continue the pilot.

laptopThe 2023 Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot (FCEMP) application information such as eligibility requirements, application and frequently asked questions and marketing materials used during the pilot are available online.

These existing county resources were intentionally shared with participants through monthly newsletters, phone calls and text messages as part of the pilot program.

 

Fairfax County has partnered with George Mason University to evaluate FCEMP.

The evaluation team is led by researchers from George Mason University’s Center for Social Science Research and guided by a Community Research Advisory Council.

The strengths-based and mixed methods evaluation approach included:

  • Surveys of pilot participants
  • Interviews and community conversations with the pilot households
  • Focus groups with county and non-profit partner staff
  • Observations of pilot implementation team meetings
  • Integration of pilot data with spatial and demographic data from the County’s Vulnerability Index and Community of Opportunities Index
Fairfax Virtual Assistant