2015 LFI PROGRAM TOPICS
View these topics from an overarching framework of
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
WHAT DO WE WANT FAIRFAX COUNTY TO LOOK LIKE?
WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT? (IF ANY)
and include the perspective of all three sectors -- government, business and nonprofits.
TOPIC DESCRIPTIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY
Location: Sully and Springfield Districts
Fairfax County’s critical infrastructure – roads, bridges, water and sewer, gas distribution, electrical
distribution, telecom – varies in age, usage, and investment levels. The county residents, businesses
and Federal Government rely on the infrastructure for quality of life, competitive advantage and
resiliency of mission. Newly developed or re-developed areas in the county have new infrastructure,
but more established areas are served by legacy systems that require more investment and upkeep.
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What role does Fairfax County’s infrastructure play in the competitiveness of the region to
attract and retain businesses and Federal Agencies?
Does the county have a comprehensive infrastructure investment plan? If yes, is the plan tied
to economic development?
How should Fairfax County manage the impact infrastructure projects have on existing
communities?
What are the sources of energy used in Fairfax County? How do our energy choices affect
us? (Environment, cost, reliability) Is energy efficiency or renewable energy having an impact
on energy use in Fairfax County compared to other jurisdictions?
A FUTURE OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR ALL CHILDREN
Location: Mount Vernon and Lee Districts
Education is Fairfax County’s highest priority, and our children are our greatest resource. Businesses
choose Fairfax County as a location because they see opportunities for employees and their families
to grow and thrive. The investment in Fairfax County Public Schools includes ensuring that school
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facilities are available and ready to house students, faculty and staff. However, the physical brick and
mortar buildings have begun to deteriorate. And the County implements innovative programs and
initiatives, but some students are left behind. Although Fairfax County is one of the most prosperous
in the country, a number of our communities face economic challenges.
More specifically, consider the Mount Vernon and Lee districts, where a higher percentage of schools
have a 70-100% poverty rate and half of the schools in Lee District qualify for assistance under Title 1
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
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What is being done to make sure these schools and students have the same opportunities as
schools and students in more affluent parts of the county?
What needs to be improved or changed to help these children succeed academically?
Please also consider how to serve less fortunate children, including those in foster care, who
are homeless, and those with special needs or disabilities.
How can we make a difference for them and their families, and thus, to the County and to our
shared quality of life?
Is Fairfax County prepared to meet these challenges?
Are there any strategies being discussed or explored among the three sectors, government,
business and nonprofit?
INTEGRATING FAIRFAX COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES
Location: Hunter Mill and Dranesville Districts
Fairfax County is rich in the number of nonprofit organizations serving a wide variety of social
needs. Some of these organizations focus their efforts on a narrow ‘niche’ while other organizations
serve overlapping populations, may cover different regions in the county, or have differing
organizational perspectives. Often, they compete for the same funding resources.
The Fairfax County government also has a good reputation for its quality of services available to its
residents. However, school and county officials have mentioned that more centralized physical space
is necessary for service delivery.
The community faces a huge challenge when all the entities -- government, businesses, nonprofits -that provide social services to varying degrees are operating independently and in overlapping areas.
With the increasing demands on nonprofits to do more with less funding, and with the county
government unable to fund programs that have traditionally been offered, there is a need for
creative approaches to integrate these health and human services and provide efficiencies so that
the population needing the services is reached effectively.
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Focusing specifically on the Hunter Mill and Dranesville districts, how are social services
currently serving the needy population?
Are efficiencies and cooperation among service providers already being realized?
How can the three sectors – government, businesses and nonprofit -- work closer together to
integrate rather than replicate services?
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What's an efficient model, given the fragmentation of any process to serve those in need?
AGING IN PLACE AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
Location: Mason and Braddock Districts
We’re not in Kansas. And, they’re not only in Florida and Arizona anymore. By 2020, approximately
363,000 residents over the age of 50 will live in Fairfax County. In Fairfax County and around the
U.S., people 50+ and their neighbors are developing neighborhood-based service organizations
designed to help them stay in their homes and communities.
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Specifically focusing on the Mason and Braddock districts, how is Fairfax County planning for
the 50+ future now?
What can our community, government, and business sector expect as our aging population
increases, and how do we prepare ourselves to ensure that our older residents maintain their
Fairfax quality of life?
Consider the question of Aging in Place and creating livable communities for seniors – is this a
model that can work for this population? What needs to be in place for it to be successful?
How do we maintain a high quality of personalized services for this population.
TAKING A BREAK – CULTURE AND RECREATION
Location: Providence District, City of Fairfax and City of Fall Church
A major factor in the quality of life in any community is the availability of leisure and enrichment
resources. Fairfax County, and specifically, Providence District, the City of Falls Church, and the City
of Fairfax, has a wide variety–an extensive network of parks, hiking and biking trails, and recreation
centers; fine and performing arts organizations and spaces; and historical and special focus
museums. This is part of what makes the county, and each neighborhood community, unique.
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How important are cultural and recreational activities to the quality of life in the county?
To what extent are cultural and recreational resources economic drivers – not only in terms of
their own revenue generation, but also by attracting a vibrant workforce for local businesses?
How do we maintain a focus on the arts, culture, parks and recreation, when they are coping
with limited resources and competing interests?
What would the county look like without these organizations?
How will the urbanization of Providence District (Tysons Corner, Mosaic District) impact the
availability and quality of these services? How will continued development in the cities impact
them?
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