Prince William County Government: Board Establishes Refresh Grant Program To Offset Business Costs Of Route 1 Renaming

Press release from Prince William County Government:

Tuesday, 03 Aug 2021

Since 2019, local jurisdictions in Northern Virginia have undertaken efforts to rename Route 1 as Richmond Highway. Realizing it was time for a change in Prince William County, in September of 2020, the Board of County Supervisors approved a resolution to request that the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) change the name of Route 1 in Prince William County. In November 2020, the CTB unanimously approved a resolution to change the name of Route 1 in Prince William County from Jefferson Davis Highway to Richmond Highway. The renaming is effective July 1, 2022. The Virginia General Assembly also approved a bill to rename any portions of Route 1 still designated as Jefferson Davis Highway in February 2021.

In June of 2020, the Board of County Supervisors expressed their intent to mitigate the impacts renaming Route 1 would have on small businesses in Prince William County. In response, the Department of Economic Development (DED) surveyed and actively engaged the business community along Route 1 to identify potential costs to businesses.

Based on survey results and feedback from the business community, the Department of Economic Development recommended that the Board establish the Route 1 Refresh Grant Program to offset the potential impacts stemming from the renaming. On July 20, 2021, the Board unanimously approved the establishment of the grant program. The Board also authorized the transfer of $3 million to the Industrial Development Authority of Prince William County to implement the program.

The grant offers three levels of funding to eligible businesses:

Level I - $500 grants for all eligible businesses. Level 2 - Up to $4,500 additional funds as a reimbursable grant for all eligible businesses. Level 3 – Reimbursable up to 75 percent of the modification costs not to exceed $30,000 to update freestanding signs shopping center signs that contain Jefferson Davis Highway as part of the sign face or design.

To qualify for the grants, businesses must have a Jefferson Davis Highway business address, physically located in Prince William County, current on business taxes, and complete the application. Grant funding is to be used on expenses directly related to the name change which could include staffing consulting services, marketing, signage, and printed media (i.e., brochures, business cards menus, etc.). Funding could also be spent on the website, social media, and internet search engine information, updating legal paperwork, addresses with vendors, suppliers, customers, and permits or certificate of occupancy fees also qualify for funding.

DED will market the grant program through social media and direct outreach beginning in early August 2021. Businesses may apply beginning in early July 2022 and the application period is six months. Impacted businesses are encouraged to schedule a free consultation with a representative from the Prince William County Department of Economic Development to discuss how the Route 1 Refresh Grant program can help their businesses. Call 703-792-5500 or email econdev@pwcgov.org to make an appointment.

There is time to prepare business owners and residents for this change, and it is the commitment of the County to minimize the impact as much as possible. Please visit the Route 1 Renaming webpage at www.pwcva.gov/rt1renaming for details and steps that you may take to begin preparing for the transition over the next twelve (12) months.

This press release was produced by Prince William County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.