Category: News

Today, Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) hosted an official launch event at Valo Park to celebrate the newly established organization and to set the stage for the continued success of Tysons. TCA’s vision is to create a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable community in Tysons. TCA works to accomplish this goal through a variety of initiatives. Their multifaceted approach includes telling Tysons’ story, planning and economic development, enhancing mobility and transportation and placemaking through arts, culture, and community activation.

“Every aspect of the TCA’s rebrand was purposefully curated to reflect our organization’s dedication to the advancement of Tysons through community collaboration,” said TCA Board Chair, Josh White.

At the event, we were excited to unveil our new logo and refreshed website. The new logo design incorporates the Tysons’ bold brand which the former Tysons Partnership launched in 2021. The recognizable font and colors are joined with the organization’s new name, emphasizing its focus on a community-based approach.

TCA is a community improvement district, which is unlike the business improvement districts or BIDs found in other major metropolises. Mt. Vernon Triangle is the only other CID type organization in the region.

Our newly updated website balances showcasing Tysons as a destination that is a great place to live, work and play, while also serving as a resource for learning more about the TCA and its mission. Be sure to check out our new video that extols the benefits of living and working in Tysons and where local celebrity Tommy McFly takes you on a trip inside the model urban center. With local figures providing fun facts, the video features local places and fares as well as leaders like Providence Supervisor Dalia Palchik.

The site also includes new features like the “How to Get Here” page, which outlines the numerous ways individuals can travel to and from Tysons, and the newly formatted “Events” page, which includes an array of happenings around the center.

“It’s incredible to witness the momentum at which we’ve already progressed,” said Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, at the event. “Everyone has been working so diligently to get the TCA to where it is now, and I am confident that we will accomplish a lot in this year alone and into the future.”

With a focus on community, it seems natural that we would reveal several new Tysons events including an inaugural National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Bike Ride on April 2nd that will be held at Tysons Corner Center. Be on the lookout for upcoming details about musical acts and family friendly events at The Boro, connection happy hours which will focus on bringing like-minded people together to collaborate on TCA initiatives, and more. Be sure to check the website often!

With the launch of the new tysonva.org website, we also revealed our new social media handles which include Twitter and Instagram at @tysons_va, and Facebook and LinkedIn at @TysonsCommunityAlliance. Updated regularly, TCA’s social media accounts will include content on news, events, and other exciting happenings within the organization and the broader community. The former Tysons Partnership’s social media handles will recommend followers sign up for and follow the new TCA handles and will no longer be active.

Over the coming year, TCA hopes to further accelerate the transformation of Tysons by leveraging the community’s current strengths, identifying new opportunities, and facilitating growth. Even though we are just getting started, we are working hard to foster economic development and social progress in Tysons, VA. To achieve this mission, the organization works to bring together stakeholders from the private and public sectors to create partnerships and collaborations.

This rebranding event, and all the TCA’s efforts and initiatives, would not be possible without the incredible community of residents for which it serves.

“Everything that the TCA does is for the good of the Tysons community,” said Rich Bradley, acting CEO of the TCA at the relaunch event. “The work that we do benefits the people who want to live, work or play here. We encourage anyone to come visit and enjoy.”

With the organization’s recent rebranding, now is the perfect time for individuals to re-engage with the community and get involved in the TCA’s initiatives. The Alliance is always looking for community members and partners to help support its mission and offers a wide range of opportunities for individuals to get involved.

Be sure to stay up to date with the latest Tysons and TCA happenings by following us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. If you are interested in joining our mission to further transform Tysons into a vibrant, dynamic urban center, please contact info@tysonsva.org.

On January 23, 2023, the Tysons Community Alliance’s Attainable Housing Initiative held their second virtual meeting of the year. During the gathering, they discussed the goals for their four newly established strike forces. The group’s primary purpose is to increase the number of attainable housing units in Tysons. 

This meeting was a follow-up discussion to the “Exploring the Toolbox for Creating Affordable Housing in Tysons” workshop held in June 2022. Throughout the workshop, landowners, policy makers, and Fairfax County leaders alike collaborated to identify resources at their disposal, emerging and existing affordable housing options, and what is needed to meet Tysons’ affordable housing goals. 

During the 2022 workshop, participants were asked what barriers and challenges they believed prevented the addition of affordable living options in Tysons. After receiving feedback from participants, the group compiled a comprehensive list of the responses, and, from there, identified four core areas, their goals, and the strike forces to champion them. 

The latest virtual meeting, which delved into the goals and action plans of each of the four strike forces, was open to the public and included active participation and feedback from community participants.  

The four strike areas are as follows: 

1. Corporate Partnerships: 

Housing, particularly affordable housing, is a core component of a robust economy and developing sustainable economic development. A lack of affordable housing options poses major challenges to attracting and retaining corporations.  

The Corporate Partnerships Strike Force’s goal is to identify ways for employers to develop solutions to increase the amount of attainable housing opportunities in Tysons. During the virtual meeting, the force emphasized the importance of creating a value proposition to help these corporations understand the need for their participation. By looking at different models of corporate engagement in housing in similar metropolitan areas, this strike force is exploring different ways to engage the corporate community in affordable housing investments in Tysons, VA. 

2. County Land Use Partnerships: 

Land use and zoning policies play an important role in shaping the accessibility of affordable housing opportunities. Zoning regulations can either hinder or accelerate the development of said housing.  

The goal of this strike force is to solicit various ideas and feedback on proposed initiatives in the area. They are particularly focused on zoning ordinances, the Fairfax Comprehensive Plan policies, and identifying potential regulatory barriers as well as future legislative initiatives. The County Land Use Partnerships Strike Force will create a specialized matrix that identifies said opportunities for modifications and select a key number of goals to launch this year in accordance with other stakeholders. 

3. State and Federal Partnerships: 

State and federal laws set the groundwork for affordable housing policy by providing funds and resources to support housing development. These laws also regulate various aspects of the housing market to promote affordability.  

The goal of the State and Federal Partnerships Strike Force is to research, identify, and propose two federal or state policies that would increase the number of attainable housing projects in Tysons. Furthermore, through identifying resources, making connections, and developing timelines, the force hopes to fast-track the development process. The group plans to launch this effort in 2023.  

4. Land Acquisition Strike Force & Others Partnerships: 

In order to meet the community’s need for affordable housing options, land suitable for future housing development must be identified.  

This group will work to identify properties in Tysons that are potential locations for attainable housing and explore partnerships with the property owners. The strike force’s goals are to highlight best practices, provide recommendations for discovering potential locations and connect developers of attainable housing with interested landowners.  

If you are interested in joining the effort to support new opportunities for sustainable, affordable, and inclusive housing in Tysons, please contact Linda T. Nguyen, Elletienne Property Partners at Linda@elletienne.com. 

On February 9^th, Food for Others (FFO) held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newly expanded food distribution center and warehouse.  

Elected officials and community leaders united to celebrate the addition of “My Market”, a grocery store-like shopping experience for clients. The additional 10,391 square feet of space was added to better serve food insecure residents in Northern Virginia. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony marked more than just the opening of doors. Unlike in the past, My Market now allows families to choose the foods they like instead of receiving standardized boxes. This ensures clients receive the groceries they need and helps cut back on food waste caused by the disposal of unwanted food. The grocery store-like experience is available to all clients eligible for emergency food assistance through USDA support or with a referral.  

Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik recalled growing up on free meals and the hard decisions her family had to make regarding food shopping.  

“It is important that were not only providing our families with food, but we’re also ensuring that they are being treated with dignity,” said Palchik. “Ensuring that families feel welcome, that they have a space for their kids, that they have those wraparound services, that they have dignity even if they’re not able to pay for the food themselves, and are able to have the same experience everyone in the community has.” 

Every detail of the new facility has been carefully selected to provide the best experience for clients, all the way down to the trauma-informed paint color on the walls. The new “My Market” space is equipped with air conditioning and heating, with fully stocked shelves for clients and a small activity table for children. The market includes a brand-new freezer and a refrigerator that is fully stocked with produce from the Capital Area Food Bank. 

By shopping alongside the clients, community volunteers can help families choose the foods that meet their families’ nutritional needs through using the USDA’s “My Plate.” 

The lasting effects of the pandemic coupled with inflation have only worsened the situation for many families already struggling with hunger and food scarcity.  

“The face of hunger is continually changing, and we are seeing hundreds of new families who have never sought our help in the past. With this expansion, we can better deliver our services to a wider audience and decrease food waste,” said Executive Director of Food for Others, Annie Turner. “In addition, our community cares deeply about the well-being of its neighbors – our devoted volunteers and generous donors have made this expansion a reality.” 

The market relies heavily on a combination of food drive donations from individuals and corporations, recovered food from restaurants and grocery stores, along with some purchased food as well. To better accommodate the richly diverse community that Food for Others serves, “My Market” has begun to stock foods such as maseca, lentils, etc. Additionally, the facility is equipped with an ADA compliant ramp, making it more accessible to wheelchair users and clients with physical limitations. 

Last year, Food for Others distributed over 3.7 million pounds of food to Northern Virginia, which was enough for 3.1 million meals. Food for Others plans to partner with community organizations to provide clients with “wrap around” services such as nutritional education and literacy coaching that positively impact their well-being. 

The opening of “My Market” is just one of Food for Others’ latest endeavors to address hunger and food insecurity in the community. Through warehouse food distribution, neighborhood and mobile sites, the Power Pack Program, and multiple community partnerships, FFO has helped thousands of people who experience hunger and food insecurity. 

— 

Food for Others is a regional food bank in Northern Virginia that provides free groceries, social services, and safety net services to its families and neighbors in need since 1995.  

Food for Others needs more volunteer shoppers to accompany families as they choose their foods. If you’d be willing to lend a hand, please contact volunteer@foodforothers.org.