Allday opened up his tiny house Airbnb in early November and has been nearly booked since his opening.

The cost of tiny homes like Allday’s range from $50,000 and $70,000.

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Prince William County and the Town of Occoquan has agreed to are in talks to move the current Visitor’s Center, located at 200 Mill Street in Occoquan, into a nearby kiosk.

Why it matters: The Occoquan Visitors Center serves as the key tourist welcome center in eastern Prince William County.

• It serves 17,000 people a year, according to county tourism spokesman Dan Cook.
• In 2015, officials talked about closing the center.

The new kiosk would be located next to the Mill House Museum, located at 413 Mill Street, according to town documents.

While the new kiosk is being constructed, the county could enter into a month-to-month lease agreement with the town to maintain operations of the Mill Street location until construction of the new kiosk is complete.

The draft lease agreement provides that the county will pay the town $1 per month during its term.

• The lease states that the building will continue in its use as a Visitor Center only during the construction of the new kiosk.

The county would bear the responsibility of all maintenance and repairs of the building as the leaseholder.

• The lease also provides that the county will absorb any responsibilities for damages incurred to the building during the term of the lease.
• The lease would automatically renew each month until the new kiosk opens.

The installation of the new kiosk will require approval by the Town’s Old and Historic District.

• It would also require approval from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, which could hear the matter next month.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will also need to review as the kiosk is located in its right-of-way on Mill Street.

The kiosk has met the minimum requirements of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, and a motion was made by the Town Council to authorize the signing of the lease agreement to move this project forward.

This story has been corrected.

DUMFRIES – The operators of a series of gaming facilities in Virginia now has its eye on Dumfries.

The Colonial Downs Group announced the acceptance of paperwork by the  Prince William County Clerk of the Court to begin the process of a Town of Dumfries voter referendum to allow a satellite wagering facility in accordance with a state code of Virginia.

Dumfries business owner, Linda Wilkins, submitted paperwork in favor of the facility, “I’m excited about this opportunity to bring a major entertainment facility to Dumfries. It will mean good paying jobs for our residents and more tax revenue for the town.”

Colonial Downs wants to open one of its Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in the town, similar to the one it opened at its horse track just off Interstate 64 in New Kent, Va. in April.

The facility features video gaming machines, also known as HHR machines, that look like slot machines. The operator says the games are a:

“competitive substitute for traditional casino-style games. The major difference that sets HHR apart from traditional casino-style games is the results of these games are not random.

And adds “The definition of pari-mutuel is the operator does not have a stake in the outcome of the wager and the net pool is returned to the players.”

Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood said the town officials have been hands-off in this process at this time. Wood said while he doesn’t know enough about it yet, he is in favor of anything that can increase their economic development and attract people to their town.

“We must explore all options that can increase our tax base,” says Wood.

Virginia State Senator Scott Surovell (D-36)  is supportive of this project as well.

“Out of state gaming facilities have been funding their schools with Northern Virginians’ money for years and it’s about time we took steps to keep those dollars here,” says Surovell, “This facility would be a game changer for Dumfries economic development.”

Per Virginia law, the localities that have not already approved pari-mutuel wagering must require a voter referendum before such facilities can be located in their community. Signatures from at least 5% of qualified voters must be sent to and certified by the General Registrar.

Colonial Downs is currently in the midst of this signature drive in the town of Dumfries.

“About 7 out of 10 residents are excited to hear about the news,” says Wood.

Wood said the town has some history with Colonial Downs. Wood says, over 20 years ago residents rejected the idea of adding a Colonial Downs facility.

“The town has changed,” said Wood, “We have a younger demographic now that is more engaged.”

Councilwoman Cydny Neville said she invites  Colonial Downs officials to a meeting of the Town Council to make their pitch about what they would like to build in the town. So far, no one from the organization has done so.

“I’m open to having a discussion, but I have to protect the interests and the residents of the town,” said Neville.

The next Rosie’s with 700 HHR machines will open in Richmond this month. A third is under construction in Hampton with a planned opening in the fall.

Each Rosie’s also features simulcast horseracing, restaurant, bar and gift shop. The Virginia Racing Commission has currently established a statewide cap on HHR machines, limiting them to 3,000.

STAFFORD COUNTY --  The Stafford County community rallied together in an attempt to save Camille, a two-year-old French Bulldog.

In the end, however, the famed animal didn't survive her surgery.

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NOKESVILLE — After an unusually short season in 2018 due to unpredictable weather conditions, Burnside Farms 2019 Festival of Spring will return with a bang.

“This is going to be our best year ever,” says Leslie Dawley, proprietor, “It’s going to be incredible.”

Dawley said they planted 1.2 million tulip bulbs this year, the most they’ve ever had.

Dawley says the farms plan to open two weeks after the cherry blossoms bloom. She estimates the opening to be around the middle of April, but possibly sooner.

Dawley says once the farms are open, they will remain open for three-and-a-half to four weeks.

“We have over 400 varieties of tulips,” she said.

Dawley said when the farm opened six years ago, there were only 35,000 tulips and 15 varieties.

“We have grown each year,” she said.

Dawley said Burnside Farms is one of only a handful of places in the world where you can pick your own tulips and the only farm of its kind in our area.

The tulips begin in early bloom, then progress to mid and late bloom over the weeks that they are open, says Dawley.

“The best time to come is 1-2 weeks after our opening,” she says, “That’s when we have the most flowers.”

Dawley said the farm plants new flowers every single year.

She encourages visitors to come during the week if you want to avoid crowds as they are most busy on the weekends.

Dawley said the farm has a picnic area for families to hang out and a designated play area for children. She recommends visitors to wear farm-worthy shoes.

Dawley said a new addition this year is their theater, where they will be featuring the film, Tulip Mania. She said this film is about the first economic crash recorded due to tulips. Dawley said the movie was played in Amsterdam.

The farms are located at 11008 Kettle Run Road in Nokesville, near Patriot High School.

For field updates, or to answer any questions prior to coming, visit burnsidefarms.com.

Dawley said Burnside Farms would like to remain in their current location for the foreseeable future. That may be easier said than done as the county’s population continues to grow and farming fades from the landscape.

“There is very little farmland left in Prince William County,” she says.

The Rural Crescent Preservation Coalition is a movement to save the remaining farmland in Prince William County.

“This will keep us where we are,” said Dawley, “This would preserve attractive land that would otherwise go to houses. It’s a good thing.”

Originally identified in 1964, Prince William County’s Rural Crescent — between Quantico and Manassas National Battlefield Park — was drawn on a map to identify land to be preserved. The Prince William County Board of Supervisors in 1998 enacted the boundary line, which limited the number of homes that could be built on land inside the rural area.

Growing demands from farmers who say farming is no longer a way of life in Prince William County and who want to sell their land to developers have pushed for changes in the restrictions inside the rural area. Those restrictions which limit homes to one home per every 10 acres gives little incentive for developers to purchase land on which to build.

A 2013 study of the rural crescent by county officials which provided recommendations on changing the restrictions is sitting on a shelf collecting dust.

Dawley said it’s important for people to know about the Coalition and support it so that farms like theirs can continue to exist and serve the community.

Dawley said she is looking forward to this year’s season.

“It will be a special year.”

DUMFRIES — The Dumfries Town Council voted to appoint a new town manager in their February 19 meeting.

The council voted 5-1 on the appointment of Keith C. Rogers, Jr. as the new town manager. It’s a job that pays $133,900, according to the town’s 2019 budget.

Mayor Derrick Wood has been serving as the town’s interim manager for the last 8 months.

Rogers will begin his term on February 26. He hails Rogers hails from Richmond, where he worked as the city’s senior policy advisor. He held other roles there, too, such as senior assistant to the CEO, and assistant city clerk.

During his 12 years in Richmond government, Rogers oversaw:

• U.S. Department of Transportation Ladders of Opportunity Bus Rapid Transit Study
• Richmond’s $25 million Community Partner Grant Program
• The expansion of Richmond’s residential recycling program

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Town of Dumfries and excited to become a part of positive change and the excitement that’s currently happening in the Town,” says Rogers, “I am looking forward to working with the Town Council, Staff, and the community to move us closer to our 2030 vision.”

Rogers holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Rogers is a member of the International City Managers Association and the Virginia Local Government Management Association. Rogers is also a past adjunct professor at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Political Science program at VCU.

“As a Council, we took our time to ensure Keith’s experience and values would help us to continue to develop the Town of Dumfries into a community where businesses want to locate, and families want to live, work, and play,” says Wood, “We believe that our community will become more involved, as Keith has demonstrated a commitment to engaging residents in municipal governing.”

Former town manager, Robbert Ritter, cleaned out his desk after an emergency council meeting last August.

Mayor Wood said the council needed someone that was more proactive and willing to work with them. Ritter had only completed a year and a half of his two-year contract.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Prince William County is a big place. More than just the county of nearly a half-million people, there are five towns and two cities geographically located inside Prince William County’s borders.

When it comes to economic development, different businesses are drawn to different areas and around the county.  

Leadership Prince William recently hosted Economic Development and Tourism Day, designed to explore economic development and tourism as it relates to the region, to include the towns of Dumfries, Haymarket, Occoquan, Quantico, and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

Manassas Economic Development Director Patrick Small organized the event that included a panel discussion on alternative economic development which included the Mayors of Occoquan, City of Manassas Park and Dumfries.

Small said the panel was designed to show how economic development looks across different municipalities.

Manassas Park Mayor Jeanette Rishell said commercial development defines economic development for her city. One of the strengths of her city is its ability to respond to events and requests at a greater speed than a larger locality.

“It is important to maintain strong core services (education, police and fire) so Manassas Park will remain a City where people desire to live, work and raise a family,” said Rishell, “Home values are tied directly to our ability to provide these services. A strong community creates a strong business environment.”

Rishell said the City’s goal is to become an intentional destination for individuals and families. One of the biggest burdens of the City is managing debt from the 2000s, said Rishell.

“For FY19 that debt service is about 24 percent of the City budget,” said Rishell, “That seriously limits the decisions we are able to make on behalf of the City, its residents, and staff. But commercial development will help us address this issue.”

Rishell said their strong sense of community is their number attracter as a City. The city’s community center is a large driver of the debt, and so it the city’s aging water infrastructure.

Despite this, the city continues to work on a plan to remake the area near the Manassas Park Virginia Railway Express station into a mixed-use, downtown center.

“In a world of high-tech, we will always need high-touch, and that is most readily obtained in a smaller locality such as Manassas Park,” said Rishell.

In Dumfries, traffic on congested Route 1 is the topic of conversation, especially when it comes to convincing a business to locate there. Mayor Derrick Wood expressed concern over the controversial highway construction of Route 1 that is running straight through his town.

He said he would like to reduce traffic for those traveling to the town instead of just those driving through it. “We are trying to create an identity with businesses and we’d like to highlight those businesses, but we need control over our own main street and downtown Dumfries,” said Wood.

A 20-year-old plan to widen the northbound portion of Route 1 in Dumfries from two to six lanes, and then shift southbound traffic to the new roadway alignment was partially funded last year. Thanks to the Northern Transportation Authority, there’s a now about $7 million for roadway design and utility relocation.

Wood said shifting the majority of vehicle traffic away from Main Street and in front of town hall opening up the flow of traffic to “downtown” Dumfries will create opportunities for pedestrian foot traffic, attract more businesses and residents.

Small said he invited these municipalities into his panel discussion to demonstrate that economic development is not designed just for the big cities, but is essential for small cities and towns as well.

“No locality should be overlooked,” said Small. “Towns without economic developers still need its presence within their community. It is still important.”

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — The Prince William County School Board like the idea of ads on school buses.

It met convened on February 7 and took a straw on this subject, and the board voted in favor of the advertising 5-3.

If the bill is signed into law, the board has voted to move forward with this initiative, placing ads on the sides of school buses much like those of OmniRide or Metro buses.

Pursuant to the House Bill 2222, from the General Assembly meeting in January, commercial advertising on the sides of the school bus between the rear wheels and rear of the bus is permitted as long as it follows these guidelines:

• It does not obstruct the name of the school division or the school bus number
• It is not sexually explicit
• It does not pertain to alcohol or food or beverages that do not meet the nutrition standards developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Additionally, these statutes also permit school related advertising in the same area of the bus, provided it does not obstruct the name of the school, division or number on the bus.

The legislation is sponsored by Delegate Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol, Galax). It passed the House 68-29.

Tim Hugo (R-Fairfax, Prince William) was the only Delegate from Prince William County to support the measure.

The rest of the county delegation — Delegates Danica Roem, Hala Ayala, Elizabeth Guzman, Luke Torian, and Lee Carter all voted no on the measure.

After crossover, the bill is now being reviewed in the Senate’s Public Education Subcommittee.

The legislation is similar to a bill that died in 2013, proposed by Senator Bryce Reeves (R-Fredericksburg).  That bill did not allow advertising of any religious nature — something that the current bill does not address.

DUMFRIES — For the very first time, the Mayor of Dumfries will host a ball.

Mayor Derrick Wood will host the “Black and White Ball” April 13 at 7 p.m. Wood says he is organizing this event to raise scholarship funds for high school seniors who want to attend trade colleges.

Black tie dress is optional for this event, which will be held at The Fabriek in Dumfries. Music food and entertainment will be provided and radio and television personality, Guy Lambert, will be the special guest host for the event. It marks the first time a Dumfries mayor has held such an event. 

Plans for the ball come as political leaders in recent months have shifted the discussion away from attracting only white-collar jobs to the region, and have begun asking how to serve those who may favor a trade over a traditional four-year college degree.

Northern Virginia Community College serves as a pivotal resource for workforce development in the region. Vice President of Workforce Development at Northern Virginia Community College Steve Partridge says that while they must manage every industry need, the primary focus for workforce development is IT and healthcare.

If companies cannot find needed IT, leaders are willing to pick up and move to their business other regions of the U.S. Partridge says the college is launching a new initiative in the fall called, Tech Talent Pipeline to address this issue.

“Tech Talent Pipeline is a marketing campaign targeting parents and students in local high schools to consider IT jobs upon graduation,” said Partridge.

IT jobs are the most difficult to fill in the region, and Partridge said the talent pipeline campaign has a $1 million budget to fund phase one. He said this project is funded through GO Virginia and surrounding municipalities.

Partridge says currently there is only 11 percent of women in cybersecurity, as an example of their workforce shortage.

“We need that number to grow closer to 50 percent,” he said.

A 2016 Northern Virginia Technology Council survey of area employers states systems software developers jobs is the most difficult job in the region to fill, followed by application software developers and information security analysts. The survey used data gathered both electronically and in employer interviews.  

Despite the need to fill jobs, the IT job market in the region isn’t slowing down. In 2018, Amazon announced it would invest $2.5 billion and bring 25,000 new jobs to Arlington, while Micron struck the largest economic development deal in Virginia history, promising to spend $3 billion and to bring 1,100 new jobs to its Manassas headquarters.

“We don’t have enough people to fill the demand,” said Partridge, “There are 30,000 – 40,000 jobs each year with a workforce that we need more people in.”

Partridge said healthcare is their second highest demand in workforce development. However, since healthcare serves residents who live in the community, they are not worried about those jobs moving away.

There’s still a high priority to fill these jobs because lack of available workforce affects the quality of service offered and produces like longer patient wait times.

Partridge said another strategy they are working on to fill the workforce is an apprenticeship.

“Employers need people now, so we are working with companies to look at alternative strategies to fill entry-level positions,” said Partridge.

Partridge said their first IT apprenticeship was organized with Amazon Web Services. The program offers credentials based on the job training for one year with the option to convert to a full-time employee after 1 year and completion of the program, says Partridge.

“We hope to have 200 to 400 people in the apprenticeship programs each year,” said Partridge, with five or more companies in participating in the apprenticeship program.