ReConnected Grant Program Launches for Fairfax City Small Businesses

Fairfax City’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) today will launch a grant program through its ReConnected Fairfax campaign to promote a successful #BacktoBusiness environment for the city’s small businesses.

With a total of $1 million in grant funding to distribute through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the EDA will initiate a competitive application process to select businesses eligible for the $5,000 and $10,000 ReConnected Grants.

ReConnected Grants will provide selected businesses with economic stimulus or reimbursement for expenses incurred as a result of the Commonwealth’s State of Emergency, including:

• Create new marketing campaigns
• Purchase new protective equipment & supplies
• Hire specialized sanitization services
• Reconfigure space to comply with social distancing requirements
• Pay employees (up to 30 percent of total grant allotted)

In selecting businesses to receive grants, the EDA will consider companies active since March 2019 that:

• Prioritize the businesses most in need of stimulus following shutdown orders
• Award grants only to businesses with 30 employees or fewer
• Allot 30 percent of grants to Small, Women-owned, Minority-owned and Veteran-owned businesses

Businesses should submit eligibility requirements through an application form that will be available on the EDA’s website beginning at 5pm today through July 8.  Once given notice of eligibility acceptance by the EDA, businesses will submit official applications July 15 through July 22.  The EDA will notify grantees of awards July 27 through July 31.  Payment processing will begin August 1 and end December 1.

Business owners should email ReConnectedGrant@fairfaxcityeda.org with any questions and continue to visit resources on the EDA’s ReConnected site.  More information will be shared as it becomes available and on the EDA’s social media accounts.

Fairfax City Economic Development Authority

The Fairfax City Economic Development Authority’s mission is to empower local businesses, create sustainable business growth, promote community involvement through economic development, promote honesty and integrity in the community, and foster close ties between people, business, and government.  To receive the latest business and economic development news from the EDA, please subscribe to the Business Bulletin.

ReConnected Grant Series 1

The application period is closed as of July 29, 2020. For more information about new business resources, please subscribe to our Business Bulletin here. 

Please reach out to ReConnectedGrant@fairfaxcityeda.org with questions.

For businesses that have been identified as ReConnected Grant Recipients, please click here for the payment request form.

Timeline:

June 30 at 5 pm – July 15 at 5 pm: Application Round 1 – Qualification

Interested businesses self-certify grant eligibility and provide supporting financial documentation

July 21 – July 29: Application Round 2 – Planning

Eligible businesses submit a budget justification of eligible expenses

July 30 – August 7: Notification of grant awards and the contracting process begins. During this process, the recipient and FCRG program manager will build the scope of eligible expenses for grant agreements.

October: Mid-grant check-in.

December 1: Final payment request forms due.

For Fairfax City ReConnected Grant Guidelines, please click here.

For a list of common questions and answers, please click here.

ReConnected Grant Series 2

The application period is closed as of December 11th, 2020. For more information about new business resources, please subscribe to our Business Bulletin here. 

Please reach out to ReConnectedGrant@fairfaxcityeda.org with questions.

For businesses that have been identified as ReConnected Grant Recipients, please click here for the payment request form.

Timeline:

          October 5th: Application Open

          November: Grant Administration – Scoping

          December 1: Signed Grant Agreements Due

          January: Grant Administration – Reimbursement Processing

Eligibility:

Eligible Applicants:
• Must be located in Fairfax City with 50 or fewer full and full-time equivalent employees across all locations as of January 1, 2020. Additionally, nonprofit applicants must have a minimum of 1 full or full-time equivalent employee
• Have and maintain a valid Fairfax City Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL)
• Have no outstanding tax obligations to Fairfax City or the Commonwealth
• Must have been in operation before January 1, 2020, and remain in the City of Fairfax through June 30, 2021
• Must be able to prove the business’ finances and/or operations were negatively impacted by COVID-19

Ineligible Applicants:
• Businesses that are permanently closed
• Businesses that are engaged, or have been engaged in, any illegal activities
• Nationally owned and operated corporate locations
• Businesses that have received previous FCRG Series 1 support

For Fairfax City ReConnected Grant Guidelines, please click here.

For a list of common questions and answers, please click here.

Fairfax City ReConnected – Grab & Go Banners

Fairfax City restaurants, the EDA has created GRAB & GO banners to help amplify your takeout and carryout messaging.  Provisions, have been made to allow for “announcement signs” to be hung on a building where a wall mounted sign is located per the example.

The banners are FREE for city restaurants and can be requested at EDAInformation@fairfaxcityeda.org.

Fairfax City ReConnected Grants Awarded to All Eligible Applicants

Fairfax City’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) today announced that every Fairfax City small business that applied for a ReConnected Grant and met the minimum eligibility requirements will receive one, an extraordinary success for the business community. Fairfax City has a history of being supportive of its small business community and today’s announcement is a significant step in reinforcing that message during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ReConnected Grants, totaling $1,000,000 are being awarded to the over 150 eligible businesses that applied. Additionally, in satisfying the EDA’s goal of promoting equity and inclusivity throughout the City, roughly 70% of the recipient businesses are Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, or Veteran-Owned businesses. Each business will receive a grant of at least
$5,000 to reimburse expenses incurred during the Commonwealth’s shutdown or to adapt procedures and develop new offerings.

Roughly a quarter of these businesses will receive an additional $5,000 — for a total of $10,000 –
– for establishing innovative or creative new best practices and techniques to adapt to mandatory compliance measures. Those grantees will be announced next week.

After entering into a grant agreement, businesses will be eligible to submit reimbursement requests for items and activities such as:

● Creating new/ innovative marketing campaigns
● Purchasing new protective equipment and cleaning supplies
● Hiring specialized sanitization services
● Reconfiguring space to comply with social distancing guidelines
● Supporting a portion of employee salaries
● Reimbursing businesses for eligible expenses occurred during the initial shutdown

“I would like to thank our Mayor and City Council for their leadership in establishing this ReConnected Grant program for our City’s small businesses during this time of uncertainty. The City and the EDA remain committed to supporting as many businesses as possible and this program does just that. I would also like to thank Governor Northam’s office for providing the City with this critical allocation of CARES funding,” said Christopher Bruno, Fairfax City Economic Development Director.

“We are extremely thankful to Fairfax City’s EDA and the ReConnected team. Our business has struggled immensely during COVID-19. The ReConnected grant will help facilitate the process of rebuilding our business so we can effectively operate while doing our part to ensure the safety of our customers and employees. The grant is an incredibly helpful resource that will give us and so many others in Fairfax City a fighting chance, and we are deeply grateful for the program and all who are involved in making sure it was easily accessible to so many of the City’s small businesses.” said Michelle McCrady, BACINI Photography.

Businesses receiving ReConnected grants are:

Fairfax City Economic Development Authority
The Fairfax City Economic Development Authority’s mission is to empower local businesses, create sustainable business growth, promote community involvement through economic development, promote honesty and integrity in the community, and foster close ties between people, business, and government. To receive the latest business and economic development news from the EDA, please subscribe to the Business Bulletin.

Fairfax City Announces 48 Grantees for Enhanced $10,000 ReConnected Grants

Fairfax City’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) today announced that 48 Fairfax City small businesses will receive enhanced ReConnected Grants in the amount of $10,000 after a competitive selection process for demonstrating innovative or creative new best practices and techniques to adapt to new health and safety procedures.

Every business that met Fairfax City’s eligibility requirements and applied is receiving a grant of at least $5,000.  But these 48 businesses not only met the eligibility requirements; they are leading the way Fairfax City to get #BacktoBusiness.

Some of the more robust proposals discovered in the evaluation process include:

• Launching a new e-commerce infrastructure
• Establishing permanent outdoor dining
• Updating business models for minimal person-to-person service beyond COVID-19
• Providing online classes, workshops, and other consumer engagement opportunities
• Creating robust marketing campaigns to guarantee that customers are aware of health and safety guidelines

“Part of what makes Fairfax City so extraordinary is its vibrant and diverse local business community.  Thanks to the Mayor and City Council’s vision, the ReConnected Grant program will assist scores of the city’s businesses as they retool and reinvent themselves in the COVID era.  These businesses have developed innovative strategies to serve the public during a challenging time, and we look forward to watching them thrive,” said Kathleen Paley, Vice Chair of the Economic Development Authority.

“During this hectic and chaotic time, like many other local businesses, we were unsure of how we would sustain our operations during the pandemic.  With the enhanced ReConnected Grant, we are able to provide our staff the tools necessary to feel safe returning back to work, and to create a sense of normalcy for our patrons during a time of chaos.  For that, we are grateful to be chosen by the Fairfax City EDA and the ReConnected team for this generous grant,” said Wendy Wong, Owner of the Standard Barbershop.

The enhanced $10,000 ReConnected grants identify businesses that serve as leaders in the community.  In submitting their proposals for funding the recipients have identified how their projects go beyond the standard $5,000 award level with innovative new strategies, an intense focus on health and safety of their customers, and their commitment to supporting a broad business community in Fairfax City.

“The $10,000 recipients have presented the strongest proposals deemed most effective for safe and healthy reopening of businesses.  These are pillar businesses within the community and their focus and commitment to building back stronger than ever does not go unnoticed.  I thank our Economic Development teams and in particular our committee of Commissioners for their leadership with this program,” said David Meyer, Mayor of the City of Fairfax.

The ReConnected grants are funded using CARES funds through the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority.  This initial round of ReConnected grants represents an investment of more than $1 million in support of Fairfax City’s small business base.  For more information on the City’s COVID-19 business resources visit fairfaxcityconnected.com.

Businesses receiving enhanced $10,000 ReConnected Grants are:

• 29 Diner
• A to Z Dental Studio
• Affectionate Pet Care
• Alterna Wellness Centers, Inc.
• BACINI Photography
• Belleza Lase LLC
• Bellissimo Restaurant
• Carola Myers Makeup & Hair Artists LLC
• Charly’s Watch and Clock Shop
• Cinema Arts Theatre
• Corner Coffee House
• DC Dance Sport Academy LLC
• Declieu Coffee & Sandwich
• Epicure Cafe
• Excel Rehabilitation
• Fairfax Fine Violins
• Fairfax Gymnastics Academy
• Games and Comics Pair O Dice
• Have-A-Bite, Inc.
• High Side
• Hilltop Cleaners
• Huntington Learning Center of Fairfax
• Jenny’s Barber Shop
• Kim’s Pho
• Legend Barber
• Mara Hair and Mode Studio
• Mini Museum
• Moon School of Music
• NeuroSound Music Therapy LLC
• Organic Nail Bar
• Pacers Fairfax LLC
• Patriot Contracting LLC
• Patriots Pub &Grill
• Pet Lovers Animal Hospital
• Physicians Weight Loss Centers
• PJ Skidoos
• Priale & Racine
• Rise and Shine Preschool
• Room Escape DC
• Sharon Hair Town
• SK Expo Cleaners LLC
• Sun & Mood Yoga Studio
• Tandoori Nights Fairfax
• The Standard Barbershop
• The Thomas Law Office
• Tigereye TaeKwon Do
• Tots N Us Children’s Academy
• William T Clothiers

Fairfax City Economic Development Authority

The Fairfax City Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) mission is to empower local businesses, create sustainable business growth, promote community involvement through economic development, promote honesty and integrity in the community, and foster close ties between people, businesses, and government.  To receive the latest business and economic development news from the EDA, please subscribe to the Business Bulletin.

Fairfax City ReConnected Pledge

Take the Fairfax City ReConnected  Pledge!

The Fairfax City Economic Development Office launched a new initiative today to reconnect city businesses with the community.  Business owners are invited to take the Fairfax City ReConnected  Pledge, a voluntary initiative that demonstrates their commitment to adhering to the latest COVID-19 safety precautions.  Participants will receive a “Let’s Get ReConnected” decal to display in their window, which will give their customers confide ReConnected  that their place of business is following all public health requirements.

The Pledge encourages businesses citywide to implement several protocols that can reduce coronavirus transmission and ensure the health and safety of patrons, such as:

• Requiring the use of face coverings by employees and customers
• Communicating safety protocols and training to managers and staff
• Working only when healthy
• Promoting social distancing and limiting capacity
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently and
• Adhering to specific business sector health and safety requirements by the Virginia Department of  Health

The Pledge is a simple form that can be completed in under a minute.  Several businesses have already made the Pledge.  “Let’s Get ReConnected” decals will be distributed to participants beginning the week of Monday, June 22.  More details about the program are available on the Fairfax City ReConnected  Pledge website.

For questions about the Pledge or other Fairfax City ReConnected  resources available from the Fairfax City Economic Development Office, please call 703-385-7944 or email EconomicDevelopment@fairfaxva.gov .

Fairfax City Economic Development Authority

The Fairfax City Economic Development Authority’s mission is to empower local businesses, create sustainable business growth, promote community involvement through economic development, promote honesty and integrity in the community, and foster close ties between people, business, and government.  To receive the latest business and economic development news from the EDA, please subscribe to the Business Bulletin.

Fairfax City ReConnected – Business Reopening Resources and Guidance

Fairfax City’s Office of Economic Development and Code Administration is partnering with Fairfax County’s Health Department to host a FREE webinar on Wednesday, June 10 at 2:30 pm.  The webinar will discuss “Business Reopening Resources and Guidance” with topics such as:

• Tools and programs to support your business reopening from Fairfax City’s ReConnected initiatives.
• COVID-19 coding and guidance from Fairfax City’s Fire Marshall.
• An overview of state guidelines and requirements for Phases I and II.
• Reopening measures for specific business sectors.

The webinar will be one hour to include a presentation with the below panelist followed by a Q&A.

• Chris Revere, Deputy Director for Innovation and Planning with Fairfax County’s Health Department
• Assistant Chief Sites, Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshall with Fairfax City’s Code Administration/Fire Department
• Fairfax City’s Economic Development Office

Space is limited, sign up now by registering here.

Fairfax City ReConnected Outdoors Program – Supports City Businesses

“Fairfax City  ReConnected Outdoors” program provides guidance on the Governor’s Phase I approach to reopening, a streamlined permit process, and a toolkit for signage in regards to restaurant operations.  The goals of the program are to support the recovery of the restaurant community, promote public health, and provide clear operational guidance.

To learn more about the program and the city’s COVID-19 recovery efforts, read our press release here.