September 7th — Weekly COVID-19 Update

“When you are deciding on next steps, next jobs, next careers, further education, you should rather find purpose than a job or a career,” he said at the time. “Purpose crosses disciplines. Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.” — Chadwick Boseman

This week, Governor Northam took several new steps to provide relief to Virginia communities, and I wanted to make sure you had the latest updates:

Governor Ralph Northam announced that more than $6 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program was approved by the Executive Committee of the Criminal Justice Services Board of the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). The Committee awarded 171 grants to localities, nonprofit organizations, and state agencies throughout Virginia.

Health

• Currently, 127,571 cases have been reported in Virginia.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the deadline for CARES Act Relief Funding applications to Sunday, September 13th.
• COVIDWISE is an exposure notification app that will alert users if they have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Housing Security

• Governor Northam announced that $4 million in funding will go to the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia. This funding will help to ensure that families have fair representation when they are facing an eviction proceeding, and help to keep many Virginians in their homes and protected from eviction and housing instability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP), will provide $50 million in federal funding for households facing eviction or foreclosure due to COVID-19. RMRP will provide short-term financial assistance on behalf of households in the form of rent and mortgage payments. To identify the local RMRP administering organization for a household and to conduct a self-assessment for eligibility, visit dhcd.virginia.gov/eligibility or call 211 VIRGINIA by dialing 2–1–1 from your phone.
• http://StayHomeVirginia.com contains tools, information, and resources for renters, homeowners, landlords, and people experiencing homelessness.

Education

• Governor Northam is continuing his work with The Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth to develop a new history curriculum that tells a comprehensive and honest story of Virginia’s past.

Employment & the Economy

• FINIMPACT: https://www.finimpact.com/covid-19-coronavirus-smbs/.
• Annuity.org: https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/covid-19-financial-guide/

Medicaid

• The Legal Services of Northern Virginia received a grant through the Potomac Health Foundation to help individuals in Prince William County (PWC) with issues surrounding Medicaid and the Marketplace, including help with application assistance, analyzing eligibility, or representing individuals in Medicaid appeals. Please contact Susan Nolan at 703–647–4748 or susan@enroll-virginia.com.

Public Assistance Projects

• As many school districts begin a virtual school year, Governor Northam has proposed an $85 million dollar plan to fund access to broadband for underserved communities through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI).
• To fund technology upgrades and other needed improvements in Virginia’s public Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Governor Northam is proposing a $15 million dollar investment.

Prince William County — General Updates

• ​The Department of Economic Development has announced two new programs to help PWC businesses during the pandemic. The first is the Capital Investment and Innovation Grant, which will provide up to $200,000 to businesses that have adjusted their business model to make it safe for customers and employees. The second program is the Construction and Renovation Permit Rebate that will help fund renovation and construction projects.
• PWC Public Libraries want to remind everyone that September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!
• Prince William County residents are encouraged to complete their 2020 census. Completing the Census ensures proper funding for state and local governments, and impacts the way the state makes decisions for residents. The Census can be completed online at my2020census.gov.

Prince William County — Childcare

• The Prince William County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is offering weekly daytime childcare starting on Tuesday, September 8th.
• Preschool-age Students — Daytime childcare for preschool-age students (ages 3 — Pre-K) is offered at the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center.
• Rates range from $93 — $110 weekly for preschool-age students.
• For more information and to register, please click here
• Students in Grades K-8 — Partial- and full-day childcare for students in grades K-8 is offered at the Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center and the Pat White Center at Ben Lomond.
• Rates range from $68 — $135 weekly for school-age students.
• For more information and to register, please click here
• Space is limited, so please be sure to register soon if you need daytime childcare this fall. The registration deadline for the first week’s session is Thursday, September 3rd. Please note that you do not have to be a county resident to use these services.

Prince William County — Education

• Prince William County will continue to provide to-go meals throughout the first quarter at 56 feeding sites. These meals are free to all children 18 years old and under. Meals may be picked up by walking up to the sites, or by driving up, which is preferred. You can check for service sites here.
• Meals are available for free or reduced prices for eligible students in Prince William County Public Schools. Applications filed last year are only good for the first few days of school. Visit the PWCS Food and Nutrition Services website to learn more about eligibility and the online application process.
• Governor Ralph Northam announced that Prince William County is one of 16 Virginia school divisions offering a new high school-level elective course this academic year to increase understanding of African American history. The full-credit course covers pre colonial Africa through today.
• Parents are encouraged to proceed with well-child physicals and immunizations for school enrollment.

Prince William County — COVID-19 Testing

• Free COVID-19 Testing available for residents who live and work in Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park. Participants must provide their full name, telephone number, and a home or work address in Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park to obtain COVID testing and receive the results. To ensure you receive a test please arrive at the site as close as possible to the start time and ensure you are in line by the time posted below.
• Tuesday, September 8, 2020 | Start Time 8:30 AM — James S. Long Regional Park, 4603 James Madison Highway Haymarket, VA 20169
• [Please be in line by 10:30am]
• Tuesday, September 8, 2020 | Start Time 1:30 PM — Cloverdale Park, 15150 Cloverdale Road Dale City, VA 22913
• [Please be in line by 3:30pm]
• Wednesday, September 9, 2020 | Start Time 1:30 PM — Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad Facility, 3800 Graham Park Road, Triangle, VA 22172
• [Please be in line by 3:30pm]
• Wednesday, September 9, 2020 | Start Time 5:30 PM — Metz Middle School, 9950 Wellington Road, Manassas, VA 20110
• [Please be in line by 7:00pm]
• Thursday, September 10, 2020 | Start Time 8:30 AM — Cloverdale Park, 15150 Cloverdale Road, Dale City, VA 22913
• [Please be in line by 10:30am]
• Thursday, September 10, 2020 | Start Time 1:30 PM — Woodbridge Senior Center, 13850 Church Hill Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191
• [Please be in line by 3:30pm]
• Friday, September 11, 2020 | Start Time 1:30 PM — Splashdown Waterpark, 7500 Ben Lomond Park Road, Manassas, VA 20109
• [Please be in line by 3:30pm]
• Friday, September 11, 2020 | Start Time 5:30 PM — Woodbridge Senior Center, 13850 Church Hill Road Woodbridge, VA 22191
• [Please be in line by 7:00pm]
• Saturday, September 12, 2020 | Start Time 8:30 AM — Yorkshire Elementary School, 7601 Old Centreville Rd., Manassas, VA 20111
• [Please be in line by 11:30am]

COVID-19 Resources:

• Virginia Department of Health website
• Virginia Department of Social Services website
• “Forward Virginia” Guidelines page
• Prince William County COVID-19 page
• Stafford County COVID-19 page

If you need constituent services, please contact our office at DelJCarrollFoy@house.virginia.gov.

Please stay safe and healthy.

Thank you,

Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy