City Awards Grants to Eight Local Nonprofits

he City of Fairfax has awarded grants totaling $217,827 to eight human services organizations through the city’s new nonprofit grant program. The organizations, which serve clients of various ages and provide a range of vital human services and support, all are located in Fairfax City and/or provide services to city residents.

“I appreciate the Fairfax City Council’s support for the nonprofit organizations who provide vital services to our community,” said Mayor Catherine Read. “It’s important for the city to invest in organizations who are committed to improving the wellbeing of our city’s most vulnerable residents.”

Grant Recipients: 

• Britepaths, which helps individuals and families build resilience and financial stability ($49,827).
• Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), which advocates for children referred by Fairfax County court who are experiencing abuse and neglect ($20,000).
• The Heart Leaf Center, which aims to expand the accessibility of mental health services to children ($28,000).
• The Lamb Center, a daytime drop-in shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness ($35,000).
• Pathway Homes, which process non-time-limited housing and supportive services to adults with serious mental illness and other co-occurring disabilities ($50,000.
• Salvation Army, which provides social services and humanitarian aid to people in need ($15,000).

 Two mini-grants of $10,000 were awarded to:

• A Place to Stand, which works with existing organizations to connect people who are unhoused or in danger of losing their housing to proper resources and basic needs.
• George Mason University Foundation, which receives, manages, invests, and administers private gifts made in support of George Mason University.

The City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts has selected 15 arts organizations to receive $22,700 in project support grants. These recipients represent a diverse selection of artistic disciplines in Fairfax City for all ages, including playwriting, brass music, multimedia art, fashion design, and The Nutcracker — to name just a few.

These select projects are intended to increase understanding and appreciation of the arts; provide access to high-quality art in Fairfax City; offer opportunities for artists to develop skills and demonstrate their abilities; and support emerging art organizations and activities. Grant funding is provided by the City of Fairfax and the Virginia Commission for the Arts Creative Communities Partnership Grant.

Grant recipients for fiscal year 2024-25 are:

• Acting for Young People – Young Playwrights Festival
• Better Said Than Done — The Malaga Ship: A Story of Maine and the Middle Passage
• Cathedral Brass - Day of Brass
• DanceArtTheatre - Transformations Dance Festival
• Fairfax Academy's Music & Computer Technology – MCT Fest
• Fairfax Academy's Musical Theatre and Actors Studio – Once Upon a One More Time
• Fairfax Art League - The FAL Art Education Project
• Fairfax Ballet Company – Nutcracker
• Fairfax Symphony Orchestra - Link Up
• FX Players - She Kills Monsters: Teen Edition
• Jazz4Justice - Warren Wolf in Concert
• Mason Community Arts Academy – Spring Recital
• Music to Free - Jingle Bronze: A Christmas Handbell Concert
• Next Reflex – Collaboration with Fairfax Art League
• Virginia Opera - Building a 'Loving' Community

Learn more.

Tuesday, Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve

Closed:

• City government offices
• DMV Select
• General District Court
• Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
• Historic Blenheim
• CUE Bus: regular service until service ends at 7 p.m.
• Refuse and recycling service: regular service

Wednesday, Dec. 25 — Christmas Day

Closed:

• City government offices
• DMV Select
• General District Court
• Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
• Historic Blenheim
• CUE Bus: no service
• Refuse and recycling service: no service; Wednesday and Thursday routes collected Thursday, Dec. 26*

See schedule for Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.

Virginia buys goods and services totaling more than $6 billion every year. This free workshop from 10-11:30 a.m. on Jan. 22 will educate small, woman, and/or minority business owners about opportunities to sell their goods and services to the Commonwealth of Virginia and many local governments.

The workshop will be held at WillowWood Plaza, 10300 Eaton Place, Fairfax, in the large conference room. Spots are limited; register today.

The workshop will provide information about the Virginia procurement process (the eVA system) and the benefits of SWaM certification. The featured guest speaker is Chris Tran Ley, business services manager, Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

This event is being held by the Fairfax City Office of Procurement Services, Fairfax Water Procurement, and the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity. 

The Council Reporter for the Dec. 10 meeting includes video segments linked to agenda items. View the Reporter. A summary of the meeting is provided below.

• Mayor Catherine Read, the City of Fairfax Fire Department, and City of Fairfax Local 2702 made presentations to honor the service of outgoing City Council members Kate Doyle-Feingold, Jeff Greenfield, Jon Stehle, and Tom Ross.
  
  
• City Council accepted the City of Fairfax FY 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. View presentation. View report. 

Consent Agenda (approved unanimously)

• City Council appointed the following individuals to two-year terms on the Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board: Erika Wilber, program participant (affordable housing and/or formerly homeless); Ashley Anderson, Fairfax City Schools; and Lauren Cattane, nonprofit mental health organization representative.
  
  
• Consideration of a resolution to approve the city’s submission to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for $1,000,000 in FY 25-30 Regional Surface Transportation Program funding. The city is requesting $1,000,000 in FY 31 RSTP funds to rehabilitate six bridges.
  
  
• Consideration of a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign the standardized project agreement with the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for the Jermantown/Route 29 intersection improvements project. The city was awarded $700,000 in 70% regional NVTA funding for this project. No local funding match is required.
  
  
• Consideration of adopting a resolution for the creation of the City of Fairfax Parks Foundation. The formation of this independent nonprofit organization would support Fairfax City Parks and Recreation through fundraising, grants, planned giving, sponsorships, and volunteering.
  
  
• Consideration of adopting a resolution endorsing the Project Play Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports. The Bill of Rights is designed to create a shared cultural understanding that all youth should have the opportunity to develop as people through sports.
  
  
• Consideration of a resolution adopting the City of Fairfax 2025 Legislative Program. The legislative program is assembled annually to inform the city’s delegation of policy statements and priorities the city would like considered.
  
  
• Consideration of a resolution approving and accepting the conveyance of 0.3 acres owned by Calvary United Methodist Church, 3635 Parklane Rd. Since the property is mostly in floodplain and not developable, city staff will maintain it in its current state as part of the Daniels Run Park.

Public Hearings

• City Council approved, 4-2, a request from ABTB Mid-Atlantic, LLC, to allow a Taco Bell restaurant with a drive-through at Boulevard Marketplace Shopping Center. (Council members Lim and Stehle opposed.) View the presentation.
  
  
• City Council approved, 4-2, a request from Olympus Pines, LLC, to redevelop 9917 Fairfax Blvd. with a car wash. (Council members Lim and Stehle opposed.) View the presentation.
  
  
• City Council approved, 4-3, a request from Pathway Homes, Inc., to allow upper story residential/ mixed uses at 4010 University Dr. (Council members Greenfield, Lim, and Doyle-Feingold opposed. Mayor Read broke the tie.) View the presentation.
  
  
• City Council approved, unanimously, an ordinance amending City Code provisions relating to tax relief program exemptions for the elderly and disabled to increase qualifying income levels and asset limits, as well as adding a new 75% exemption category.
  
  
• City Council approved, unanimously, action on a supplemental appropriation resolution in the amount of $650,000 for FY 2025 fall non-discretionary and council authorized expenditures. Funds will be used for an asset management plan, IT strategic plan, market and housing absorption analyses, Lean Six Sigma process improvement evaluation for city permitting, and professional resident surveying. The Capital Improvement Program Fund will receive an additional $50,000 from NVTA 30% to apply toward a transit development plan for CUE.
  
  
• City Council approved, 5-1, a resolution for the reappropriation of general funds in the amount of $5,000,000 within the approved FY 2025 budget. The funds will be allocated to the Economic Development Office. (Council member Lim opposed.)

Public Hearing Not Required

• City Council approved, 5-1, a memorandum of agreement with the Economic Development Authority for city contribution of $5,000,000.00 to the EDA’s Real Estate Resources Fund for acquisition of strategic economic development properties in the city. (Council member Lim opposed.)

Closed Meeting to Discuss Personnel Matters

• City Council approved, unanimously, a memorandum of agreement between the City Council and Melissa E. Shinaberry, as city clerk, on the terms and conditions outlined by the city attorney in closed meeting. 
  
  
• City Council voted, 4-2, to terminate the employment of Laszlo Palko as city manager, not for cause, pursuant to subsection 8.B. of the employment agreement between the City Council, on behalf of the city, and Mr. Palko. (Council members Greenfield and Doyle-Feingold opposed.)

A city council work session is slated for Jan. 7, 2025. View the agenda (subject to change). 

Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights in City Hall. Watch meetings live on Channel 12 (COX/Verizon) and online, or catch a replay at 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.