PAGE 9 | APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2022
Fa l l s C h u r c h Business News & Notes No New Commercial and Industrial Property Tax The City Council cast their votes unanimously against the proposed Commercial and Industrial (C & I) Tax Monday evening. City Manager Wyatt Shields reported strong opposition to the new tax by the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Authority. Councilwoman Lian made the motion to deny adoption, seconded by Ms. Schantz Hiscott. This tax was intended to provide new revenue toward transportation improvements alone. Both organizations and individual property owners cited bad timing given the challenges that businesses have faced with the pandemic and current economic climate as well as the potential for increased taxes in the future, threatening the City’s business-friendly reputation.
Small Business Grants to Open Monday The City of Falls Church Economic Development Office will be offering a final round of small business grants with updated eligibility requirements on Monday, May 2nd! The application period will end on May 13th. Eligible businesses and non-profit organizations may apply for a grant of $5,000 from the City of Falls Church American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund to use for Covid-19 related expenses. Businesses and non-profits may now be eligible if they previously received city, state, or federal financial assistance including Economic Development Authority (EDA) micro grants or PPP loans. The $5,000 grant must be used for expenses directly related to the impacts of Covid-19 such as rent or mortgage payments, retaining and/or supporting employees, restoring financial resiliency, increasing technology capacity to enable alternative work forms, and more! To learn more about the grant program and eligibility requirements, visit fallschurchva.gov/grants. To be notified when the application is available, sign up at https://mailchi.mp/fallschurchva/arpa.
Acquisition Next: Artificial Intelligence George Mason University’s Center for Government Contracting and the Institute for Digital InnovAtion are co-hosting a symposium focused on the challenges and current practices for government acquisition of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. This event will be of interest to professionals seeking to increase their knowledge of AI-related issues in government acquisition, including members of government, business and academia. The symposium is scheduled for May 5, 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at 3351 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington. Register at this link: https://idia. gmu.edu/events/acquisition-next-artificial-intelligence/
Drug Take Back Day on Saturday The Falls Church Police Department will host a collection of old and unwanted medications as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Take Back Day. Accepted materials include tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription or non-prescriptions drugs. Vaping devices and cartridges are accepted, provided lithium batteries are removed. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. The public can safely and anonymously drop off potentially dangerous prescription drugs and/or unwanted or expired over-the-counter medications on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the site near the police entrance outside city hall (300 Park Ave.).
Local Restaurants Participate in Women’s History Walk Sunday The Falls Church Women’s History Walk is this Sunday, May 1, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. as a selfguided 2-mile loop with docents available at four locations: City Hall, Mr. Brown’s Park, Tinner Hill Historic Park and Big Chimneys Park. The annual event honors those women who saw a need and found a way to make the community better since its founding in 1699, to include pioneers, abolitionists, educators, entrepreneurs, politicians, historians, artists, and activists. Their stories will be shared on signs at Herstory Stations along the walk which will carry a QR code that links to the Falls Church Women’s History Group website. Meet the Honorary Grand Marshals this year, Sally Cole, Cindy Mester, Ruth Rodgers, Edie Smolinski and Derrica Wilson. The following local restaurants are also participating with specials: Borek-G, The Happy Tart, La Tingeria, Paisano’s, Pho 88 and Preservation Biscuit. Disturbingly Delicious is offering a special sauce for purchase at the Farmer’s Market or the shop. The Walk is presented by the Women of Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, Falls Church Elected Women, Falls Church Women’s History Group.
Business News & Notes is compiled by Elise Neil Bengtson, Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce. She may be emailed at elise@fallschcurchchamber.org.
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