“As Arlington weathers the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining the triple-Aaa rating is critical to the County’s ability to provide the services and programs that Arlingtonians need,” said Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz. “Holding the highest rating allows Arlington to continue financing and refinancing capital projects at the lowest possible cost.”

The three major bond rating agencies confirmed their ratings in early October. The bond ratings are based on Arlington’s economic base, financial and overall management, debt burden and ability to pay back bonds through taxes and revenues. 

• Moody’s noted the County’s “sound financial operations supported by conservative fiscal management.” 
• Fitch Ratings stated “Arlington County’s dynamic economic base, coupled with a strong revenue framework, solid expenditure flexibility, conservative budgeting and close monitoring of expenditures underpin favorable financial results and support Fitch’s expectation of resilient operations through the current recession and future economic downturns.”  
• Standard & Poor’s acknowledged that the County’s “very strong debt and contingent liability profile, including very well-funded pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) plans, is a credit strength.”   

The triple-Aaa ratings allowed the County to take advantage of the historic drop in interest rates and refinanced more than $238 million of existing general obligation (GO) bonds and Industrial Development Authority (IDA) debt—saving more than $22.6 million in interest that will be spread over the next 13-15 years. The savings will be shared between County funds and Arlington Public Schools. 

Over the past decade, the County has saved taxpayers more than $55 million through the refunding of GO bonds at lower interest rates. 

MORE: Learn how the County uses bonds 

This month, the County also issued $166 million of general obligation bonds for FY 2021 County and APS projects. The bonds were issued in a competitive sale, with the lowest bid coming in at an interest rate of 1.8%. This is lowest recorded rate for a County issuance of general obligation bonds for new projects.  

Additionally, a total of $14 million in IDA revenue bonds were issued for the County’s FY 2021 short-term capital needs at an interest rate of 0.42%.   

These actions were approved at the September 15 County Board meeting.  

The post Arlington Triple-Aaa Bond Rating Reaffirmed  appeared first on Newsroom.

“As the medical and economic emergency caused by COVID-19 continues, more and more families and individuals are facing serious hardship,” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said. “The aid the Board accepted today will help thousands of our residents stay in their homes and put food on the table, help those who have lost jobs get training and find new work, and support our small businesses.”

The Board approved an amended Fiscal Year 2021 federal Housing and Urban Development Action Plan for COVID-19 relief that will provide $2.22 million in funding for seven local nonprofits to provide housing, food security, job training, and placement, and small business retention and support in the coming months. The funding is expected to assist some 4,100 Arlington individuals and families.

Grantees include the Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington Thrive, Doorways for Women and Families, the Legal Aid Justice Center, Northern Virginia Family Services, Real Food for Kids, and Service Source. Funding was awarded through a competitive bidding process.

The Board voted unanimously to approve and allocate the funding. To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 29 on the agenda for the Sat., October 17, 2020, Regular County Board Meeting.

Background

This is the third round of federal Community Development Block Grant funding that Arlington has received for COVID-19 relief efforts this year.

In March, the County was awarded $830,027 in CDBG-CV funds for pandemic relief. The County awarded $790,932 to the nonprofit Arlington Thrive for the CARES Emergency Rent Relief Program and $39,095 to the City of Falls Church through a cooperative agreement. In a second round, the County awarded another $873,500 in federal COVID-19 relief funding to nonprofits through a competitive bidding process in August. HUD notified the County on Sept. 11, 2020, that it would receive a third round of relief funding — approximately $1.35 million — of which $63,530 would be allocated to the City of Falls Church.

More Housing Voucher funding

In a separate action, the Board approved and allocated nearly $900,000 in additional HUD funding through December 2020 for Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers. The federal CARES Act funding will subsidize rent for low-income families in Arlington, helping voucher holders who lost their jobs due to the pandemic and need more help to pay their rent and/or utilities.

The Housing Choice Voucher program is the federal government’s primary program for helping very low-income families, the elderly and those with disabilities afford housing in the private market. The program pays a housing subsidy to the landlord, with the family paying the difference between the rent charged and the amount subsidized.

The Board voted unanimously to approve and allocate the funding. To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 33 on the agenda for the Sat., October 17, 2020, Regular County Board Meeting.

Funding to prevent, respond to Washington Reagan National Airport layoffs

The Board also accepted a $240,665 grant from the Virginia Community College System for a rapid response fund to prevent, and/or respond to layoffs from Washington Reagan National Airport. Arlington will administer the grant, which will support residents and businesses in Arlington and Alexandria. Arlington’s Employment Services will work with airport employers to help identify additional support that might prevent layoffs and will offer online training opportunities to those who lose their jobs.

The Board voted unanimously to accept the funding. To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 32 on the agenda for the Sat., October 17, 2020, Regular County Board Meeting.

Raising Grocery Card Income Cap

In another pandemic relief related action, the Board on Tuesday, Oct. 13 voted unanimously to raise the income cap for the County’s Grocery Card Pilot Program. The new cap is 200 percent of the federal poverty level of $26,200 for a family of four, or $52,400. The Action followed the Board’s vote on August 25 to allocate $400,000 to pay for grocery gift cards for Arlington families experiencing food insecurity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The gift cards are distributed by four of the Count’s health safety-net partners, including the Arlington Free Clinic, the Arlington Pediatric Center, the Virginia Hospital Center Outpatient Clinic, and the Department of Human Services’ Maternal and Child Health Clinic. To qualify, applicants self-report food insecurity, limited community mobility due to health conditions or caregiving responsibilities, and an income below the income cap. Distribution is tracked to prevents individuals from receiving gift cards from more than one source. To read the staff report, visit the County website.

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IEDC is the largest nonprofit professional association for professional economic developers in the world, and these awards honor the world’s best economic development marketing campaigns, projects and programs, and the year’s most influential leaders. Thirty-five award categories honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities.

“We are thrilled to have the work of the economic development team honored in this way,” said Telly Tucker, Director of Arlington Economic Development. “This year has certainly seen its challenges in the business community, and it’s both inspiring and humbling to see AED’s efforts, both before and during the pandemic, recognized for its innovation and collaboration.”

AED was honored with the following awards for Economic Excellence:

• GOLD: Amazon HQ2 — Regionalism and Cross-Border Collaboration (Population 200,000 to 500,000)
• GOLD: AED Arlington Premiere — Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Initiatives (Population 200,000 to 500,000)
• GOLD: AED Gazelle Grant Program — Creative Financing (Population 200,000 to 500,000)
• SILVER: AED Arlington Small Business Emergency GRANT Program — Resiliency, Recovery and Mitigation (Population 200,000 to 500,000)
• BRONZE: AED Innovations in Healthy Aging Startup Competition — Economic Equity and Inclusion (Population 200,000 to 500,000)

“The recipients of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development awards represent the very best of economic development and exemplify the ingenuity, integrity, and leadership that our profession strives for each and every day,” said 2020 IEDC Board Chair and One Columbus CEO Kenny McDonald. “We’re especially honored to recognize the outstanding organizations who received this year’s Excellence Awards. This year, more than ever, the value of a career dedicated to improving the quality of life for our friends and neighbors cannot be overstated. Each of this year’s recipients set a precedent for fellow economic developers to aspire to in the years to come.”

Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world, following a nomination process held earlier this year. In 2020, IEDC received over 500 submissions from four countries.

Arlington Economic Development

Arlington Economic Development (AED), part of Arlington County Government, is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of an economically competitive and sustainable community, and the creation of exciting, diverse and amenity-rich places. AED provides visionary leadership and superior services to Arlington’s business and arts community, its tourism industry and its real estate development. For more information, visit arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com.

The post Arlington Economic Development Is Big Winner in International Economic Development Awards appeared first on Newsroom.

“The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office is committed to fully complying with the standards of PREA to provide a safe, humane, and secure environment for all individuals in our care,” said Sheriff Beth Arthur. “Achieving PREA compliance is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Sheriff’s Office staff to ensure the Detention Facility is an environment free of sexual misconduct, abuse, assault and harassment.”

In 2014, the Arlington County Detention Facility was the first jail in the National Capital Region to gain certification in PREA standards. All confinement sites that are required to comply with PREA standards must be audited every three years. On September 20, 2020, the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office passed all federal PREA standards and exceeded standards in three categories. This marks the third successful PREA audit for the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office.

About PREA

Congress enacted the PREA in 2003 to address sexual misconduct in juvenile facilities, jails, prisons, and other secure confinement facilities. National standards were developed in 2012 for enhancing the prevention, detection, reduction, reporting, and response of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment. PREA requires all correctional facilities to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse and harassment.

The post Arlington County Sheriff’s Office Successfully Passes Third PREA Audit appeared first on Newsroom.

BizLaunch, Arlington Economic Development’s small business assistance program, is celebrating the County’s inclusive business community in coordination with the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) with its first ever SWaMmy Honors.

The virtual awards ceremony honors Virginia SWaM (Small, Women and Minority Owned) businesses and their innovation as they changed and pivoted operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The SWaMmy Honors will take place virtually, Thursday, October 15 at 2 p.m. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is a keynote speaker for the event. Admission is free, but registration is required.  

“These business leaders from all over Virginia are a true inspiration to us all,” said Tara Palacios, director of AED’s BizLaunch program. “Their determination and dedication to their businesses and to their communities in the face of a pandemic that has affected the small business community so greatly is truly remarkable, and we are honored to showcase and recognize these incredible entrepreneurs.” 

The SWaMmy Honors, themed “Pivot with Passion,” will celebrate more than 180 small, women, minority and veteran-owned businesses around Virginia with self-made videos demonstrating their ability to persevere and pivot business operations in light of the pandemic as well as the passion of these business leaders and what they do. Hear compelling stories from businesses across the Commonwealth as they are honored for their tremendous perseverance and pivoting with passion to succeed. This program intends to inspire and motivate all who attend. 

Arlington Economic Development 

Arlington Economic Development (AED), part of Arlington County Government, is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of an economically competitive and sustainable community, and the creation of exciting, diverse and amenity-rich places. AED provides visionary leadership and superior services to Arlington’s business and arts community, its tourism industry and its real estate development. For more information, visit arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com.  

The post BizLaunch Celebrates Virginia Businesses with SWaMmy Honors appeared first on Newsroom.

VIDEO: Watch this kick-off clip to learn more about DRE.

DRE will include a series of virtual community conversations with individuals, nonprofit organizations, civic associations, faith organizations, and businesses to learn about and address the ways in which Arlington can be a more equitable place for all residents and businesses.

In addition, Arlingtonians across the County are invited and encouraged to share their perspectives in a Countywide assessment, as Arlington recognizes that everyone has different experiences, backgrounds, insights, opinions, and beliefs about race and equity. Our communitywide assessment is a short online questionnaire to help our community understand potential areas of opportunities for advancing race and equity and the related systemic issues in our community.

“This is a necessary and overdue opportunity for our entire community to have direct dialogue with each other on racial equity issues and to have all voices heard by community leaders, businesses and policymakers,” said Libby Garvey, Chair of the Arlington County Board. “We have reached an inflection point in our country and our community’s history on race and on the injustices that have been with us from the very beginning.  Many effects of that history are baked into our systems and laws.  It will take the entire community working together to make sure we understand these effects and can make Arlington a more just and equitable society for people of all backgrounds. This initiative, while it’s just one step, is an important one for our community.”

Over the next few months, Arlington will host various dialogues with three focus areas:

• DRE in Your Community – We encourage Arlington residents to sign up for small interactive virtual conversations with neighbors to learn and discuss race and equity in Arlington County.
• DRE Together – We are inviting partners, including Arlington nonprofits, civic associations, faith organizations, and businesses to join us in hosting interactive conversations within their own networks and with other organizations. DRE Partners will receive facilitator training and dialogue resources. Sign up now to be a partner.
• DRE in Your Neighborhood – Launching later this year, provides for neighbor-to-neighbor facilitated conversations in the community.

Arlington is partnering with Challenging Racism to facilitate the dialogues for Arlingtonians to learn from each other, provide input and participate in a collective conversation critical to the growth and equity within the community. The organization also is conducting the assessment on perspectives on race and equity in Arlington.

“Arlington deeply values open community opinion and perspective. By launching DRE, we hope to encourage community participation across the County on addressing and advancing issues of racial injustice and inequity. The assessment will help us understand where Arlingtonians are on the journey and the dialogues will help us begin to normalize conversations on race and equity to know where and how we want to grow and evolve as a community” said Samia Byrd, Chief Race and Equity Officer for Arlington County.

Racial inequity affects not only the present-day lives of Arlingtonians but also future opportunities for residents and businesses alike. From economic mobility, housing, and land use policy to access to education, location of public facilities and infrastructure, and gaps in healthcare — as the pandemic has further exposed. The impetus for this effort is a recognition that it will take all Arlingtonians to create positive change.

“Arlington has always prided itself on the shared community value of inclusion, yet we understand that there are systems that remain in place that prevent true equity and justice from being realized,” said Arlington County Board Member Christian Dorsey. “We are committed to moving our community forward into a new era—where our values are reflected in the experiences and opportunities of everyone who calls Arlington home.”

For more information and to learn how you can participate in the Perspectives on Race and Equity Assessment, join DRE in Your Community conversations, or become a DRE Together partner visit the Arlington County Dialogues on Racial Equity webpage.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the County Board is holding virtual meetings, as allowed under Virginia law. Board members, staff, applicants, and the public all will participate remotely.

Speaking at the Board Meeting

Members of the public who wish to speak at public comment at the start of the Saturday, Oct. 17, Regular Meeting, or who wish to speak on an agenda item, should visit the County Board website for information on how to register online to comment virtually.

Watch it Live

County Board meetings are live-streamed on the County website, and on YouTube, and broadcast live on Arlington TV, the County’s cable channel, with live captioning, on Comcast 25 & 1085 (HD), and Verizon FiOS 39 & 40. The meetings also are live-streamed on ATV’s YouTube channel. Videos of Board meetings are archived on the County website (with captions and staff reports) and on YouTube.

Saturday, Oct. 17 – Regular County Board Meeting

The Regular Meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. with public comment. View the agenda and read the staff reports. (Note: Some reports are posted closer to the meeting date.) Highlights include:

Increasing income limits for affordable homes on Columbia Pike – The Board will hold a public hearing and consider increasing income limits and extending the affordability term for affordable homes in the Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Form Based Code (N-FBC) Districts. The N-FBC is an alternative zoning district that applies to multi-family residential areas along Columbia Pike that surround its commercial centers. Currently, the N-FBC currently requires that all affordable homes delivered through redevelopment are limited to those residents who earn no more than 60 percent of the Area Median Income and that they must remain affordable for 30 years. The standards apply to both rental and ownership developments.

The Manager is recommending that the Board allow for affordability levels up to 80 percent of AMI and up to 100 percent of AMI when ownership units are proposed. The change is meant to reflect the overall cost of homeownership in Arlington and expand the pool of eligible, qualified buyers trying to buy an affordable home in Arlington. Existing affordability requirements for rental projects would be unchanged. The Manager also recommends that the affordability term for condominiums should be extended to “the life and use of the existing improvement as a residential dwelling unit.” To read the staff report, scroll to Item No. 47 on the agenda for the Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, Regular Meeting.

COVID-19 relief project funding — The Board will consider the Manager’s recommendation to amend Arlington’s Annual Housing and Urban Development Plan for Fiscal Year 2021 for COVID-19 relief. The Board will consider using $2.2 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funds to support seven COVID-19 relief projects that will assist more than 4,100 Arlington families and individuals impacted by the pandemic.

Nonprofit organizations that will receive funding include the Arlington Food Assistance Center; Arlington Thrive; Doorways for Women and Families; Legal Aid Justice Center; Northern Virginia Family Service; Real Food for Kids, and Service Source. The County awarded the funds through a competitive bidding process that identified housing, food security, job training, and placement and small business retention and support as priorities, and funded services aimed at supporting low and moderate-income Arlington residents. To read the staff report, scroll to Item No. 29 on the Consent Agenda.

More Housing Choice Voucher funding —The Board will consider accepting $888,572 in additional Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers under the federal CARES act. The money will help meet the increased assistance need of Housing Choice Voucher holders for rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the staff report, scroll to Item No. 33 on the Consent Agenda.

Tuesday, Oct. 20 – Recessed County Board Meeting

The virtual meeting will begin at 3 p.m. with reports from the Board Members and the County Manager. To view the agenda and read the staff reports, visit the County website.

No earlier than 6:30 p.m. the Board first will hold a public hearing on any item pulled from the Saturday Consent Agenda. The Board also will hold public hearings on:

Fiscal Year 2020 Close-out – The Board will hold a public hearing and consider the Manager’s preliminary financial results and close-out for the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget. The Board will vote at its November meeting on close-out allocations. (Item No. 48 on the agenda.

The post Arlington County Board October Meeting Agenda Highlights  appeared first on Newsroom.

Virginia Commonwealth offices, including Arlington Courts, DMVs and Arlington Public Schools, will be closed in observance of Columbus Day. (Note: Gov. Ralph Northam recently proclaimed Oct. 12 to be Indigenous Peoples Day in Virginia.)

Trash and recycling services will operate on a normal schedule. Metered parking will not be enforced.

You may cast your vote on Monday, as the Voting Office will be open.

See the Holiday Schedule page for more information.

The post Arlington County Government Offices Open Oct. 12, with Some Exceptions appeared first on Newsroom.

“These impressive numbers show just how vital the tourism industry is as an economic driver for the County,” said Telly Tucker, director of Arlington Economic Development. “Visitors at our hotels contribute to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods and help local businesses, both large and small, thrive. Their activities result in important new revenues that have a positive impact on our community, and that is even more evident in today’s challenging times.”

Coronavirus Significantly Impacts Global Tourism Industry

“Arlington tourism’s best-ever performance in 2019 is a testament to the outstanding efforts of our hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses,” said Emily Cassell, director of the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service. “It is also bittersweet, as this year’s COVID-19 crisis continues to have a devastating impact on companies and individuals across our industry – locally, nationally and globally. Working together, we and our Arlington hospitality partners will be doing everything possible to move toward a full recovery.”

The coronavirus pandemic has put the Virginia travel and tourism industry in crisis. Fewer people traveling due to COVID-19 health concerns has resulted in dramatic revenue drops and workforce reductions throughout the hospitality sector.  Many businesses have been forced to shutter temporarily, if not permanently. As a result, early numbers for 2020 project a sharp decrease in tourism spending. As the Commonwealth continues to grapple with the impact of COVID-19, the pandemic has further emphasized that statewide economic revival cannot occur without the recovery of the travel industry. Tourism will be key to economic recovery as the pandemic stabilizes and leisure and business travel resumes.

The Virginia Tourism Corporation receives its annual economic impact data from the U.S. Travel Association. The information is based on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) from per-person trips taken 50 miles or more away from home. Detailed economic impact data by locality is available on www.vatc.org under Research.

About the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service

A division within Arlington Economic Development, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service (ACVS) is Arlington County’s official destination marketing organization. As a result of legislation sponsored by Sen. Janet Howell and Del. Patrick Hope in the Virginia General Assembly 2020 Session, ACVS is now permanently funded through a guest-paid, 1/4-cent tax on hotel rooms. ACVS promotes Arlington as the perfect combination of convenience, value and local flavor for travelers visiting the Washington, D.C., region. For more information on Arlington tourism, visit www.stayarlington.com.

The post Arlington Visitor Spending Hits $3.6 Billion Record in 2019, COVID Brings 2020 Challenges appeared first on Newsroom.

This new deadline means that there is still time to complete the Census, whether online, by mail, by phone, or in-person. It also means you could still be visited by an enumerator, and you might see Mobile Questionnaire Assistance stations helping people take the Census at local businesses or parks around the County. All in-person Census efforts adhere to social distancing guidelines. 

There Are Still Arlingtonians Who Need to Be Counted 

Arlington is now over 99% enumerated! While this is close to a complete response rate, it also means there are still about 400 Arlington households that need to be counted – and each of these is critical for an accurate representation of what the County looks like. Encourage a neighborhood, family member, or a friend to take the Census today so we can reach a complete count.  

Why Take the Census? 

According to the Census Bureau, $675 billion are distributed annually across the United States through federal formula grants that use Decennial Census data to determine the amount given to each recipient. Annually, Arlington receives over $50 million from these  federal formula grants, which is used to fund programs related to human services, schools, transportation, public safety, and much more. Census data also determine voter apportionment and how many representatives are allocated to the U.S. House of Representatives. Don’t wait to complete your form! 

How to Complete the Census  

Completing the Census is safe, easy, and takes only a few minutes. Here’s how to fill out your form today:  

• Online: Go to my2020census.gov. Non-English speakers can select a different language at the bottom of the page.  
• Phone: Call 844-330-2020 for English, 844-468-2020 for Spanish, or use these phone numbers to take the Census in 12 other languages.  
• Mail: If you received a paper copy by mail, just fill it out, place it in the envelope provided and drop it in a mailbox.  
• In Person: At a Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) station or when a Census Taker knocks on your door. 

The post Census 2020: There Is Still Time to Take the Census!  appeared first on Newsroom.