Federal Spending Bill Includes Funds For Route 1 Corridor Project

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — Funding for a community project in the Route 1/Richmond Highway corridor was included in the federal omnibus government funding bill.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents part of Fairfax County in Virginia's 8th congressional district, requested funding for community projects in his district in the federal spending bill. Funding could be requested by state and local government, public institutions and nonprofits. The major spending package providing federal funding through much of 2023 was passed by the U.S. Senate Thursday, and the U.S. House will vote on the bill Friday.

"I am proud to announce that bipartisan legislation which will soon pass into law includes funding I secured for worthy projects in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County," said Beyer in a statement. "This project funding will make our community healthier, support clean energy, boost our transportation infrastructure, support affordable housing, feed the hungry, and help improve law enforcement transparency."

In the Route 1 corridor, funded community projects include $1.93 million for renovations at the Hybla Valley Community Center 7950 Audubon Ave., Alexandria, VA. Renovations will support a wider variety of services to help promote residents' self-sufficiency and economic mobility through education, employment, child care, community and economic development, and health and nutrition programs. Beyer's funding request noted the community center is located in a "marginalized urban community of color."

The Hybla Valley Community Center opened in May in the former Mount Vernon Athletic Club location, serving the western side of Richmond Highway in Hybla Valley. Fairfax County had purchased the building in May 2020 with the intent of establishing a multi-service center. One of the center's highlights is the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub, which provides workforce training to prepare local residents for in-demand jobs such as tech jobs.

Another funded project in Fairfax County was $1.7 million for the Behavioral Health Care Provider Incentive Program, which will give financial assistance to students and behavioral health care providers. The education assistance is available if they serve as a provider at the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board for at least three years.

Fairfax County also receives $1 million for its Bridging the Digital Divide for Older Adults and People with Disabilities Program. The program seeks to provide older adults and people with disabilities in underserved communities with "equitable access to an increased range of technological devices."