Public Affairs

News Highlights

• New report ranked 40 metropolitan areas based on high-growth entrepreneurship. The report ranked the D.C. region, which includes Fairfax County, as number one.  

San Francisco, San Jose, Austin, and Boston may be the brand names for places where start-ups are born, but a new report shows that the Washington, D.C. metro area tops them all.

The Kauffman Foundation, which studies entrepreneurship, measured high growth entrepreneurship in the forty most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S. The D.C. region, which includes Fairfax County, ranked first.

Among the 25 largest states by population, Virginia also saw the highest growth entrepreneurship activity along with four other states.

Fairfax County officials are encouraged by the news as they work to grow and diversify the economy. High-growth companies, especially young ones, contribute to job growth, according to economists.

To stimulate more high-growth start-ups, the county’s strategic Economic Success plan calls for fostering the innovation ecosystem, expanding firms in emerging industries and fostering more research and development, among other actions.

Kauffman’s study looked at three measures:

• The average growth in employment five years after start-ups are founded
• The percentage of start-ups that grew to 50 people or more after 10 years compared to all firms 10 years and younger
• The number of businesses with at least $2 million dollars in annual revenue with 20 percent annualized revenue growth over a three-year period.

For example, the DC metro area has 271.5 high-growth companies per 100,000 employer businesses, according to the report.

Not only did the DC region rank first in all three measures, but also the area also ranked highly for its share of firms in the top five high-growth industries. The region had the highest density of high-growth firms in IT services, and it placed among the top five metros for business products and software companies.

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News Highlights

• Fairfax leaders are working to create innovation districts in the county.
• Innovation hubs produce new jobs, businesses and economic activity. Each new tech job creates five additional jobs in the local economy, according to economic research.

Silicon Valley, Boston, and Research Triangle Park—these are examples of innovation hubs where tech, biotech, research-and-development labs and other cutting-edge companies cluster.

These innovation districts stimulate the growth of new businesses, new jobs and new economic growth.

In its efforts to diversify and expand the economy, Fairfax officials want to create these districts across the county. This is key action under the county’s strategic Economic Success Plan. Under the plan, Fairfax also seeks to help create and expand world-class research and development in the county.

“Innovation districts are an opportunity to create unique places throughout the county where innovation, which is directly correlated to diversifying our economy, can take place,” said Fairfax County Deputy County Executive Rob Stalzer.

What are Innovation Hubs?

These hubs are defined as dense, city-like, transit-accessible places that offer mixed use housing, offices, and retail, according to the Brookings Institution which is studying these centers.

“Innovation districts represent the new geography of research in the United States,” says Scott Andes, a senior policy analyst at Brookings. “They’re dense cores where there’s an unusual amount of activity, both residential, real estate, commercial activity, but then also research occurring inside transit-accessible areas that are connected with broadband and other amenities.”

Within Fairfax County, places like Tysons, Reston, Merrifield and Seven Corners may be candidates for these districts because they offer transit accessible, mixed use, urban geographies, say officials.

Innovation districts create distinct economic benefits

• They help to create a tipping point that draws even greater numbers of innovative startups and entrepreneurs to the area. They make the ecosystem more attractive to cutting-edge companies that want to be surround by other similar firms. In economy that’s moving towards “open innovation,” geographic clustering helps companies share new ideas to power new innovations that grow the economy and new businesses.

• They help to produce more jobs. Every new high-tech job creates five additional jobs in the local economy. Enrico Moretti, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley, made this finding after studying data on nine million workers in 320 U.S. metropolitan areas in the U.S. These new jobs are both professional—and nonprofessional, like construction workers, waiters, and taxi drivers.

• They help to boost social equity and inclusion, generating jobs for people with vocational or technical skills. Brookings finds that half of all science, technology, engineering and math jobs are open to workers without a college degree. These jobs also pay $53,000 on average—10 percent higher than jobs with similar educational requirements. Economist Moretti also found that jurisdictions with innovation hubs produce higher paying jobs for high school graduates. Austin and Raleigh grads had salaries that were lower than the national average before these cities became innovation hubs. After their transformation, wages climbed 45 percent higher for these workers.

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News Highlights

• University and medical research activities are transforming Fairfax County into an innovation hub.
• Innovation hubs produce new jobs, businesses and economic activity, and the county is actively working to foster these hubs as part of its strategic plan to boost economic growth.

Fairfax County is turning into an innovation hub in the D.C. region due to the growth in scientific research happening here, say officials.

This is critical to grow and diversify the county’s economy, and Fairfax is working to create innovation hubs as part of its strategic economic plan to kick start greater growth.

Officials point to recent developments that demonstrate the area’s emergence as a technology and biotechnology center.

For example, George Mason University received the highest ranking for research activity from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the reasons for this top classification was its increase in research spending, driven by a growth in science and engineering dollars.

Virginia Tech is working on expanding its role as an innovation hub in the region, and it plans to play a leading role in promoting regional innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer and translational research. The university is looking to grow in the areas of cyber security, genomics and other emerging fields.

“We’re looking at doing that in the National Capital Region specifically because of its importance to the Commonwealth, so places like Fairfax and the surrounding counties are very important for us to consider as we look forward in that plan,” said Steven McKnight, Virginia Tech’s vice president for National Capital Region.

Private sector players like Inova Health Systems are playing a major role too. At Exxon Mobil’s former 117-acre campus in Fairfax, the health care provider will be creating a center for personalized medicine. It includes an advanced cancer care and research center, research labs and a biotech incubator.

At this new campus, Inova will focus on genomics and bioinformatics research, and the institution entered into a partnership with George Mason University at the end of last year. Two shared research facilities will be based at the campus, and Mason’s researchers will bring their expertise in proteomics, the study of proteins.

This is focus on biotech is central to the state’s new economy, Governor Terry McAuliffe has said.

Biotech and six other knowledge-based industries accounted for 800,000 jobs in the D.C. metro area in 2014, according to an analysis by the 2030 Group. This area coalition of universities, business leaders and others found that these seven industry clusters grew by 15 percent from 2003 to 2014—compared to 9 percent for the region’s economy as a whole.

Economists have found a strong link between research and economic competitiveness. Universities and other research institutions help to generate the innovations that can lead to new jobs, industries and economic expansion.

Clustering this activity geographically helps to create knowledge networks that spark innovation and entrepreneurship.

“Innovation districts represent the new geography of research in the United States,” says Scott Andes, a senior policy analyst at Brookings. “They’re dense cores where there’s an unusual amount of activity, both residential, real estate, commercial activity, but then also research occurring inside transit-accessible areas that are connected with broadband and other amenities.”

These districts are usually anchored by university, medical center or other major research facility, says Brookings.

Outside the county, a good example is Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. Originally founded by three universities, RTP is now home to more than 200 companies and over 50,000 experts in micro-electronics, biotechnology and more. The park produced more than 1,500 companies since 1970, according to a Duke University study. And since 1976, more than 3,500 patents have come from work done there.

Because of their outsized economic impact, Fairfax County is actively working to foster innovation hubs across the county in places Tysons, Reston and elsewhere.

“Innovation districts are an opportunity to create unique places throughout the county where innovation, which is directly correlated to diversifying our economy, can take place,” said Fairfax County Deputy County Executive Rob Stalzer.

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News Highlights

• Board of Supervisors adopt One Fairfax Resolution that directs the development of a racial and social equity policy to ensure all individuals in Fairfax have an opportunity to reach their highest level of personal achievement.
• Board Chairman Sharon Bulova said: "This is a formal declaration that will help shape decisions regarding education, land use, zoning and public-private partnerships."
• As recognized in the board's Economic Success Plan, equity is a driver of the county’s future economic growth.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted the One Fairfax Resolution. The resolution directs the development of a racial and social equity policy to ensure all individuals in Fairfax have an opportunity to reach their highest level of personal achievement.

An intentional focus on racial and social equity positions Fairfax County to proactively and collectively, with schools and communities, including businesses, faith organizations, nonprofits and others, identify and improve policy and institutional strategies that will not just eliminate gaps, but increase success for all. The resolution is intended as a joint effort between the Board of Supervisors and Fairfax County School Board, with the School Board slated to review the resolution later this month. 

“One Fairfax emphasizes the importance of making County-wide decisions through the lens of racial and social equity,” said Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova. “This is a formal declaration that will help shape decisions regarding education, land use, zoning and public-private partnerships. I am proud to represent a county that values our diverse community and supports our students, residents, workforce, and business owners of every race, socio-economic status, and background.”  

Over the last several years, Fairfax County has undertaken several initiatives to address disparities in a variety of areas including juvenile justice, education, employment, self-sufficiency, health, and child welfare. Most recently, the Board of Supervisors recognized the importance of equity as a driver of the county’s future economic success in its 2015 adoption of the Strategic Plan to Facilitate Economic Success; and the Successful Children and Youth Policy Team (SCYPT), comprised of County and school leadership and community representatives, has identified racial and social equity as an integral component to improving educational, health, and life outcomes for youth.

“We are excited to work with the schools and all of our partners in SCYPT to collectively identify gaps and intentionally adopt policy and strategies that will help to ensure all youth have an opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Patricia Harrison, deputy county executive of health and human Services.

Fairfax County’s Strategic Plan to Facilitate Economic Success adopted in 2015 also lays out goals and strategies to maintain and enhance our strong and vital community in order to sustain and grow our economic prosperity. One of the unique elements of this plan is the inclusion of social equity as a primary component. Specifically, Goal 5, Action Item 5.5 of the Plan calls for the exploration of policy opportunities, strategies or frameworks to address the issue of social equity within the context of economic success. Adoption of the One Fairfax Resolution is the first step to meeting this requirement.

One Fairfax moves us beyond embracing our growing diverse population to implementing a growth model driven by equity. A racial and social equity policy provides both the direction and means to work together with schools and communities to eliminate disparities and build a vibrant and opportunity-rich society for all.  

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News Highlights

• County receives second place national technology award as an innovator and leading jurisdiction of its size.
• County recognized for aligning IT strategy with business objectives.
• Honor highlights county's citizen communication and engagement, social media strategy, MyFairfax personalized user portal and regional emergency coordination.

Fairfax County was again honored as a technical innovator, placing second among counties of its size in the annual Digital Counties Survey. Fairfax County has been ranked in the top five for six consecutive years, earning first place two times during this span.

The award was presented at the National Association of Counties (NACo) annual conference on July 23 and accepted by Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross. Deputy County Executives David Molchany and Pat Harrison, Chief Information Security Officer Mike Dent and Community Services Board Director Tisha Deeghan were also in attendance.

The evaluation and awards are given through a partnership between the National Association of Counties, Government Technology magazine and the Center for Digital Government (CDG). Wanda Gibson, Chief Technology Officer and Director of the Department of Information Technology, credits "the visionary leadership and governance model in Fairfax County, which fuels our agile innovation strategy that aligns with County goals, includes participation of the tech-savvy citizenry and adjusts to community needs.”

The county was recognized for milestone achievements in citizen communication and engagement including:

• The NewsCenter publishing platform and social media strategy.
• MyFairfax personalized single sign-on web portal to securely conduct business with the county, including electronic payments.
• Best governance practices to align IT strategies with county business objectives.
• High achievement in flexible technology infrastructure, agile development, and effective use of resources. 
• Leading and coordinating emergency response across the national capital region (NCR) through interoperable communications initiatives including identity management and data exchange.

The Digital Counties Survey evaluates localities on their ability to demonstrate successful outcomes, improve services and boost efficiencies through the strategic use of technology. Winners were chosen based on their work to innovate, improve transparency and proactively address citizen demands and expectations.

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More Information:

• NewsCenter and Social Media Hub
• MyFairfax
• Fairfax County FY 2016 Information Technology Plan (PDF)
• Fairfax County Awards

At its Feb. 14 meeting, the Board of Supervisors appointed Richard G. Schott, a 27-year Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) veteran, as Fairfax County’s first independent police auditor. Schott will report directly to the board, which approved the creation of the position in September 2016 as a follow up to one of the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission. He will begin on April 17.

Among his roles, Schott will be responsible for:

• Monitoring and reviewing internal investigations of Police Department officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths and use-of-force cases in which an individual is killed or seriously injured.
• Requesting further investigations if he determines that an internal investigation was deficient or conclusions were not supported by the evidence.
• Issuing public reports for each reviewed internal investigation.
• Reviewing all resident complaint investigations of alleged excessive or unnecessary force by officers.
• Producing annual reports that analyze trends and recommend improvements.

“I am pleased to welcome Richard Schott as the county’s first police auditor,” says Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “This is one of the major recommendations of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission. In this newly established position, Mr. Schott will provide increased accountability and transparency to the Fairfax County Police Department.”

Schott has spent his entire 27-year FBI career as a special agent working with local law enforcement officers, and for the past 16 years has provided training to members of state and local law enforcement agencies, including legal issues associated with police officers’ use of force and deadly force.

He has extensive experience with Color of Law violations, including reviewing police reports and citizen complaints, recommending to U.S. Department of Justice attorneys whether or not to proceed with investigations and conducting the ensuing investigations.

Schott is also an instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico, where he has taught thousands of new agents on basic constitutional criminal procedure and the legal ramifications involved when an agent uses force.

He was previously the associate division counsel for the Atlanta Division of the FBI, where he supervised the division’s forfeiture program. As a special agent for the Birmingham Division, he orchestrated security for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games’ soccer events in the area.

Schott has published 12 articles on various legal topics and is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Schott is also an adjunct faculty member for the University of Virginia.

Schott received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Orleans and his juris doctorate from the Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans. He will receive an annual salary of $143,000.

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Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh informed Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, on Friday, May 19, that he found no basis for criminal liability on the part of the Fairfax County police officer involved in the deployment of deadly force on Jan. 16, 2017, at 13316 Covered Wagon Lane, Herndon,Va. The Fairfax County Police Department will conduct an internal investigation in accordance with its standard operating procedures. Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh's report can be found here.

News Highlights

• The approved real estate agreement supports the revitalization of Bailey's Crossroads, bringing about 355 new apartments, site for a possible new, future county or private office building and new connector road.
• The deal involves a land swap. As a result of the transaction, the developer Columbia Crossing will end up with a consolidated 4.47 acre property along Moncure Avenue where it can build new housing, and the county will own an approximately 2.76 acre plot.
• The Bailey's Community Shelter will remain at its current location until a new facility is ready.

Fairfax County’s plans to revitalize the location for the current Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter were revived on Tuesday after an attempt that stalled last year.

The Board of Supervisors approved a real estate deal that will bring new housing, a site appropriate for a future new county or private office building, and a future connector road to the neighborhood. The agreement is with Columbia Crossing, and it involves a land swap that gives the county and developer consolidated properties for their respective plans.

Last year, the county negotiated an almost identical agreement with AvalonBay, but the developer terminated the contract. Following the deal’s end, Columbia Crossing expressed interest in a similar agreement with the county. The company owns the land that AvalonBay had planned to buy to trade with the county.

Columbia Crossing proposes to build approximately 355 mid-rise apartments along Moncure Avenue, and the county wants a consolidated parcel for a future office building and road extension to connect Seminary Road and Columbia Pike. Under the deal, the county and the developer also agreed to seek a joint rezoning that will be needed before either can move forward.

Agreement Details

The county owns an approximately 1.32 acre property at Columbia Pike and Moncure Avenue and has an interest in adjoining right-of-way. This property is where the Bailey’s shelter is located today.

The county will swap this land for an adjacent 1.49 acre property that is owned by Columbia Crossing.

In separate transaction, the county will buy a 1.44 acre site owned by Landmark Atlantic where the 52-year-old Bailey’s International Center stands today. The county entered into a contract to buy the Landmark property last April, and it expects to close on the deal later this year.

As a result of these transactions, the developer will end up with a consolidated 4.47 acre property along Moncure Avenue for its proposed mid-rise apartment development. The county will own an approximately 2.76 acre consolidated plot for a possible future new office building and connector road.

As a key component of the deal, the county does not need to vacate the current Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter until Oct. 31, 2019. This will allow the Bailey’s shelter to operate at its current location until a new facility opens on a commercial property a quarter mile away at 5914 Seminary Road.

It should also be noted that the agreement with Columbia Crossing doesn't commit the county to build an office building on its parcel.  The consolidated county property could accommodate a possible East County Human Services Center as identified in the county’s Capital Improvement Program. This center would consolidate human services functions currently operating from various leased spaces in the area. The decision to build a new county human services center, or to continue leasing space, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at a future time.

Advancing Economic Success

This project supports the county’s Economic Success Strategic Plan, which calls for creating higher density developments in revitalization areas and realizing the value of county land. Columbia Crossing’s housing will be located in the heart of the revitalization district for Baileys Crossroads.

Our economic success plan also seeks to use public-private partnerships to maximize the return on investment potential for all county assets, including land and facilities, by leveraging partnership opportunities to construct and operate infrastructure and facilities throughout the county.

In 2010, the county updated the land use plan for the Bailey’s Community Business Center to recommend the development of a “town center” with a mix of uses. Columbia Crossing’s proposal helps to advance the broader vision for a revitalized Bailey’s Crossroads.

When the joint rezoning moves forward, county officials and staff will seek public input, and they look forward to working with the developer and all stakeholders, including the Mason District Land Use Committee and others. The rezoning will be reviewed by the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors will ultimately decide on this important revitalization project.

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News Highlights

• New report card highlights health and human services performance in six areas: connected individuals, economic self-sufficiency, healthy people, positive living for older adults and individuals with disabilities, successful children and youth, and sustainable housing.
• Data and information outlined will help form HHS priorities.
• Report card will be updated annually.

The Fairfax County Health and Human Services (HHS) System recently launched an online report card to share how its programs and services strengthen children, adults, and families, and therefore, improves our entire community. The Health and Human Services Report Card highlights the performance of the HHS System around six desired results: connected individuals, economic self-sufficiency, healthy people, positive living for older adults and individuals with disabilities, successful children and youth, and sustainable housing. As the HHS System works to enhance the social and economic well-being of Fairfax County citizens and communities, it is expected that the report card will further motivate community partners to continue contributing to HHS efforts.

“One of the most important advancements driving health and human services delivery in Fairfax County is performance management and using data to drive change,” said Patricia Harrison, Deputy County Executive of HHS. “To demonstrate accountability for the public investment in health and human services, we have committed to doing business in a way that can show how persons we serve are better off as a result of our services. This approach, based on a national Results-Based Accountability™ model, allows us to measure impact and collectively strengthen the well-being of residents through collaboration with the community.”

This dynamic web tool provides a set of goals and indicators which highlight current HHS priorities. Residents and partners are encouraged to access the report card to:

• Get data and information on how HHS is progressing towards goals in six community result areas
• Access brief descriptions about the impact of each indicator
• Link to more details about county trends and emerging issues

Sample data from the report card:

• Successful Children and Youth
  • Goals - Improve the ability of children to get a healthy start in life; Improve the ability of children to enter kindergarten ready to succeed; Improve the ability of children to succeed academically
  • Sample Indicator – Children who have a medical home/primary care provider
  • Trends – Increasing: Currently 95% compared to prior value of 92%
     
• Sustainable Housing
  • Goals – Increase safe, affordable housing; Prevent and end homelessness
  • Sample Indicator - Individuals and families who are housed
  • Trends – Decreasing: Currently 64% compared to prior value of 68%

Data will be updated annually through the ongoing efforts of workgroups comprised of HHS staff and community partners. The Fairfax County HHS System will also use the report card to guide strategies that lead to improved outcomes for individuals served by its programs and services.

The HHS Report Card can be found on the Live Healthy Fairfax Community Health Dashboard at www.livehealthyfairfax.org. The Community Health Dashboard is a web-based data resource that hosts the HHS Report Card and over 100 other indicators from a variety of topic areas, such as health, education, the environment, and public safety. The site also features four short video tutorials to help visitors access and use the site.

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News Highlights

• Over 35% of students have experienced high levels of stress and over 25% reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row.
• Fairfax County has launched a new initiative to help children, youth and families access mental health and substance abuse services called Healthy Minds Fairfax.
• Healthy Minds Fairfax is a community collaborative that strives to build meaningful partnerships to ensure that all youth are socially, emotionally, mentally healthy and resilient.

The teen years can be tough.

With new choices, increased responsibilities from school and planning for the college or the future, teens and young adults are feeling the pressures. According to Fairfax County’s most recent youth survey, over 35% of students experienced high levels of stress and over 25% reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row. More than 13% reported that they had considered suicide.

But help is here.

Fairfax County has launched a new initiative and expanded services to help children, youth and families access mental health and substance abuse services through a coordinated network of county agencies, schools and private providers.

Healthy Minds Fairfax is working to identify high quality resources, supports and opportunities for families to help further social, emotional and healthy growth for all children, youth and young adults across Fairfax County. According to James Gillespie, director of Healthy Minds Fairfax, elevating awareness and helping families navigate access to care is a major component of the initiative. “When people are seeking help - it may be during a crisis, or, at least extremely stressful circumstances - we’re trying to make it easier for families to find, use and pay for mental health and substance abuse services in our community.”

Healthy Minds Fairfax’s new website identifies services for people experiencing mental health and substance abuse issues; offers prevention resources to enhance awareness and help reduce the stigma that can discourage people from seeking help for mental health conditions; as well as intervention services and supports.

Healthy Minds Fairfax is a community collaborative that strives to build meaningful partnerships to ensure that all youth are socially, emotionally, mentally healthy and resilient in Fairfax County communities. Its public partners include:

• Fairfax County Public Schools;
• Falls Church City Public Schools;
• Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board;
• Fairfax County Departments of Health, Family Services, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and Neighborhood and Community Services; and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.

Private partners include: 

• NAMI-Northern Virginia (National Alliance on Mental Illness in Northern Virginia);
• the Autism Society of Northern Virginia;
• Formed Families Forward;
• Inova Kellar Center;
• Dominion Hospital;
• For Children’s Sake of Virginia;
• Northern Virginia Family Service;
• and many other behavioral health providers in the Fairfax-Falls Church community.

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