Where have we been? Where are we going?
Board of County Supervisors Chair (BOCS) Ann Wheeler answered both questions during her State of the County address on Tuesday.
In addition to recognizing the members of the board – Supervisors Victor Angry, Andrea Bailey, Kenny Boddye, Pete Candland, Margaret Franklin, Jeanine Lawson and Yesli Vega – she thanked Prince William County staff.
Wheeler also covered accomplishments that have been made since the Coronavirus outbreak began.
Through partnerships, officials have provided 640 businesses with over $4.6 million in Small Business Micro-Grants and used a grant to buy more than 4,000 Wi-Fi hotspots.
The Community Feeding Task Force distributed nearly 10 million pounds of food and almost 290 households received assistance through Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Relief Programs.
Additionally, Prince William County adopted its first climate resolution and rearranged the budget to help vulnerable community members.
Opening the expanded Balls Ford Road Composting Facility and creating a Parks and Recreation Master Plan were also among the successes Wheeler mentioned.
Moving forward, the BOCS plans to finalize the Strategic Plan, finish the Comprehensive Plan, hire an Equity Officer, and address climate change and racial and social concerns.
“This is the legacy that this Board will leave in our community. A legacy that supports investment into our business community. A legacy that supports growth that is in the best interest for all those in the community. And a legacy that stands for inclusiveness and equality for all,” Wheeler said in her address. “I urge all of us to work together to leave a legacy that we are proud of.”
