Area Agency on Aging
On April 21, 2021, Georgia Antignano turned 100. She has been an active member of the Manassas Senior Center for the past four years. During that time, she made many friends at the senior center who she has shared countless stories during her weekly bus rides to the center. Since March 2020, the Senior Center has been closed to help limit the spread of Covid 19. During this time, members, including Georgia, have turned to the Virtual Senior Center (https://coronavirus.pwcgov.org/aaa/) to help remain active and feel socially connected. Several of the senior center participants and agency on aging staff got together to wish Georgia a very special, socially distant, 100th happy birthday.
Department of Transportation
Prince William County’s Innovation Park Town Center Shuttle Service Feasibility Study application was recently approved by the Transportation Planning Board as part of the Transportation/Land-Use Connections (TLC) Fiscal Year 2021 Program. The County will receive $55,000 in technical assistance for the study. The proposed project is a feasibility study to determine the capital infrastructure and operational needs to implement the proposed shuttle service. The project will enhance access to the Innovation Regional Activity Center and high-capacity transit station and will provide a new transit option for multimodal connections to rail and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure in this Transit Access Focus Area.
The final product will be a planning study that includes the following deliverables; overview of existing data on land use/road network and future land use and mobility plans in the Small Area Plan, ridership projections based on existing and future population and employment, map of recommended shuttle stops and routes based on prioritized origin-destination points, proposed shuttle capacity and service frequency based on ridership projections, planning level concepts for shuttle stops (including proposed pull-off areas, signage, lighting, shelters, and other proposed passenger amenities), planning level cost estimates for proposed capital infrastructure and operations, and analysis of the feasibility of using autonomous vehicles for the proposed service.
Economic Development
Small Business Success
In April, the Department of Economic Development launched the Business Assistance Network in partnership with the Office of Tourism and the Departments of Development Services, Zoning, and Finance. The cross-departmental team consists of all County staff who serve the small business community. The inaugural meeting kicks off regular discussions to anticipate and address the ongoing needs of small businesses. Together, this team played key roles in supporting existing businesses and launching new businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic such as Hot Chicken Kitchn, The Winery at Sunshine Ridge, La Quinta Inn & Suites, and more.
With support from the Mason Small Business Development Center (Mason SBDC), Prince William County Economic Development continues to offer counseling, workshops, and economic recovery resources at no expense to business owners. Since the program starts in 2019, Mason SBDC has counseled over 300 Prince William County small businesses and successfully advised projects totaling over $3 million capital investment.
Hermes Creative Awards
Prince William County Department of Economic Development recently took home two Hermes Creative Awards from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals (AMCP) for electronic media in government. The two winning videos:
- “Happy Holidays from Prince William County Economic Development” won a 2021 Gold Award.
- “Building Momentum: Emerald Ironworks Spotlight Story,” won a 2021 Platinum Award.
Public Works
The Department of Public Works (DPW), in partnership with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (DPRT) and with a donation from Micron Technology, Inc., will install a Bandalong Litter Trap on Neabsco Creek within Neabsco Regional Park. The Bandalong Litter Trap will be installed within the stream channel and is designed to float near the water surface capturing floatable litter such as plastic bottles, foam containers, etc. Plastic pollution in waterways is a growing concern for many local governments. Unsightly empty plastic soda and water bottles as well as plastic bags and balls eventually end up in the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay where they present serious risks for aquatic organisms, decompose very slowly, and remain in the environment for years. Plastic pollution is of particular concern in Neabsco Creek especially in the area around the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk. This area is the site of numerous volunteer cleanup events that remove many tons of plastic and other litter every year.
A $300,000 donation from Micron Technology, Inc. will fund the purchase and installation of the Bandalong, as well as the first year of operations and maintenance. The Board of County Supervisors approved the acceptance of this donation at the March 16, 2021 meeting. Currently, DPW is in the process of procuring the Bandalong and plans to install the unit in July of this year.
Department of Information Technology
Rob Mancini has been named as a finalist for the 2021 Capital CIO of the Year® ORBIE® Awards in the Public Sector category, presented by the Capital CIO Leadership Association (CapitalCIO). The County Executive’s vision, guidance, and support have created an environment for Rob and the team to flourish.
Over 140 nominations were received this year, and the quality of the CIOs nominated demonstrates the excellence that technology leaders are providing to D.C. metro area-based organizations. As a finalist in this award category, your CIO will be honored at the CIO Awards on August 13, 2021. We anticipate nearly 300 technology professionals and business leaders will attend this marquee event celebrating CIO leadership and innovation success.
The CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards is the premier technology executive recognition program in the United States. Since its inception in 1998, over 1,200 CIOs have been honored as finalists and over 350 CIO of the Year winners have received the prestigious ORBIE Award. The ORBIE honors chief information officers, and those in equivalent roles, who have demonstrated excellence in technology leadership. Winners are selected by an independent peer-review process, led by prior ORBIE recipients, based upon:
• Leadership and management effectiveness
• Business value created by technology innovation
• The size and scope of responsibilities
• Engagement in industry and community endeavors
Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
The Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism joined Supervisor Kenny Boddye’s office and members of the Woodbridge Pickleball Club to officially open the newest Pickleball court, located at Occoquan Park. The new court was converted from a tennis court to a pickleball court with a new surface and lined for official pickleball play. Pickleball, a hybrid of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, remains the fastest growing sport in America, according to Sport & Fitness Industry Association. Seniors, teens, and children can all play pickleball, making it a truly fun family sport for all ages.
A new Visitor Information Kiosk was recently installed in Historic Occoquan. The two-sided informational signage includes illustrated maps of the Town and County, visitor guides, events, Virginia Travel Guides, as well as a QR Code/Website to assist travelers on the go. The kiosk is located between River Mill Park and the Mill House Museum.
