Fairfax City Boosts Relief For Businesses Dedicated To Innovation

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Forty-eight small businesses in Fairfax City will receive enhanced ReConnected Grants of $10,000 after a competitive selection process where the businesses demonstrated innovative and creative strategies to adapt to new health and safety procedures, the city said Friday.

Every business that met Fairfax City’s eligibility requirements and applied is receiving a grant of at least $5,000, according to the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority. These 48 businesses not only met the eligibility requirements but demonstrated innovation in finding ways to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.

"These businesses have developed innovative strategies to serve the public during a challenging time, and we look forward to watching them thrive,” Kathleen Paley, vice chair of the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority, said Friday in a statement.

The Economic Development Authority highlighted certain notable proposals found in the evaluation process, including:

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

“During this hectic and chaotic time, like many other local businesses, we were unsure of how we would sustain our operations during the pandemic," Wendy Wong, owner of The Standard Barbershop, said in a statement. "With this 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."

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

“The $10,000 recipients have presented the strongest proposals deemed most effective for a safe and healthy reopening of businesses," said David Meyer, mayor of the City of Fairfax. "These are pillar businesses within the community and their focus and commitment to building back stronger than ever does not go unnoticed."

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’s small business base.

The Fairfax City businesses that received 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 Café
• 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 & Moon Yoga Studio
• Tandoori Nights Fairfax
• The Standard Barbershop
• The Thomas Law Office
• Tigereye TaeKwonDo
• Tots N Us Children’s Academy
• William T Clothiers