In one of the first major events at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce’s new headquarters, Northern Virginia’s two newest congressmen will share insights from their first 100 days in office.
“The First 100 Days: Our Freshmen Congressmen’s Perspective” will take place Friday, April 25, 2025, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Chamber’s new office, located at 9733 Buchanan Loop, Manassas. The event is open to Chamber members; admission is $10, with proceeds benefiting the Chamber Foundation. Breakfast will be served.
The discussion will be moderated by Jenn Siciliano of UVA Health and feature Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10, Manassas, Loudoun) and Congressman Eugene Vindman (VA-7, Woodbridge, Stafford, Fredericksburg). Both won their seats in the November 2024 General Election and are navigating their first terms in Washington. Each replaces former Congresswomen Jennifer Wexton and Abigail Spanberger, respectively, holding the seats for the Democrats.
“We just want to give our members an opportunity to meet them,” said Chamber President and CEO Bob Sweeney. “Since they’ve been elected, a wicked amount has gone down at the federal level.”
In an email interview, Congressman Subramanyam said he plans to focus on legislation protecting federal workers in the region, including the COST of Relocations Act and two bills targeting what he called “DOGE’s illegal actions.”
“We are hitting 100 days into my term and now is an important time to reflect on what my constituents are feeling and thinking during this time,” said Subramanyam.
“While I anticipated the President would take actions that would have a negative impact on all Americans, I am surprised at the scale of his actions, the disregard for Congress, and the blatant attack on our courts and constitution.”
Congressman Eugene Vindman said he will focus on the economy and small businesses. “I am honored to represent the Seventh District of Virginia and am working to make a difference for Virginians especially on the economy by lowering costs for working families, spurring growth by ending tariffs, and standing up for small businesses,” he said.
Vindman was sharply critical of House Republicans. “I have been absolutely floored by the incompetence of extreme Washington Republicans with their policies that are hurting Virginia’s economy and their inability to lower costs for hard-working families.”Both lawmakers stressed the importance of direct communication with constituents.
“I hope attendees leave with a better understanding on what we have been working on in Congress and feel satisfied by what we have been able to accomplish,” said Subramanyam.
“I value speaking to my neighbors directly – reassuring them that I have their backs in DC and will never back down from a fight,” Vindman added.
Chamber CEO Bob Sweeney emphasized the local impact of federal decisions. “We have 144,000 federal workers in Northern Virginia,” he said. “What happens when 5% of them are suddenly unemployed? That has a ripple effect in our economy.”
The event aims to be inclusive. “You don’t have to be an executive to come,” Sweeney said. “This is for anyone who cares about what their congressman thinks.”
For more information or to register, visit the event page.
Businesses and leaders from the City of Manassas were among the top honorees at the annual Prince William Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, with local companies securing most of the prestigious recognitions.
The event, held at Foxchase Manor in Manassas on February 27, 2025, celebrated the achievements of outstanding businesses that contribute to the region’s economic vitality and community development.
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Nothing Bundt Cakes has opened its doors just outside Manassas, bringing its signature, handcrafted bundt cakes to the community. The Prince William Chamber of Commerce celebrated the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new bakery at 9825 Liberia Avenue, Suite 101.
The popular national bakery chain, known for its rich, moist cakes and signature cream cheese frosting, offers a variety of flavors and sizes, from bite-sized Bundtinis to 10-inch Bundt cakes perfect for special occasions. The store aims to be a go-to destination for birthdays, anniversaries, and everyday celebrations.
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It’s time to do what’s best for Prince William County and move forward with the Digital Gateway. Approved by the Board of County Supervisors in December 2023, the Digital Gateway’s implementation has been slowed due to legal proceedings meant to stop it despite years of discussion, debate, and public hearings that led to approval by the Board of County Supervisors.
Opponents are focused on burdening our legal system with proceedings to challenge the Digital Gateway’s approval even though the Prince William courts have already dismissed one case with prejudice because it lacks merit. Today, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors will ask the County Circuit Court to dismiss another lawsuit filed by a former State Senator that would halt the Digital Gateway Project.
The Chamber is sensitive to the issues that were raised during the years of debate on the Digital Gateway. However, those issues were addressed during the approval process and safeguards put in place to ensure the Digital Gateway meets the most stringent standards.
It is time now that we come together as a community to move forward and implement the vision of the Digital Gateway. We’ve seen in Loudoun County the tax benefits it has reaped because of data centers. From 2018 – 2022, they received about $2.3 billion in tax revenue according to a George Mason University analysis. That has meant more revenue for its schools as well as less reliance on residential taxes.
Imagine what that tax revenue would do for Prince William County to fund its priorities such as schools, parks and affordable housing initiatives as well as relief to homeowners’ taxes. These are important priorities for the Chamber and all of us.
It is time to stop the legal delays and move forward with the Digital Gateway for the benefit of the community.
The Prince William County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a panel on affordable workforce housing on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Potomac Valley Church in Dumfries.
The summit will bring together multiple industry leaders, policymakers and developers to discuss strategies that will benefit Prince William County. It will be hosted at the Potomac Valley Church at 1006 Williamstown Drive in Dumfries from 5 to 7 p.m. Registration is encouraged.
Here is the list of speakers at the summit:
Opening
- Marty Nohe, Prince William Chamber of Commerce 2024-2025 chair
Opening remarks
- Kanesha Brown, Community Outreach Regional Manager of Virginia Housing
Event moderator
- Pastor Will Archer, Potomac Valley Church
Panelists
- Bailey Edelson, principal of Buchanan Partners
- Babur Lateef, Ed.D., chairman at-large of Prince William County Schools
- Ben Miller, principal of Wellington Development
- Chief Peter Newsham, chief of police at Prince William County Police Department
Final remarks
- Supervisor Kenny Boddye, supervisor of Occoquan District
- Supervisor Tom Gordy, supervisor of Brentsville District
Closing
- Supervisor Andrea Bailey, supervisor of Potomac District
Dill Dinker’s Pickleball, co-founded by Denise Richards and her husband Will, emerged from an unexpected but fortuitous shift in their lives. Like many others during the pandemic, the couple searched for ways to stay active and connected while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
After nearly two decades in outside sales, Denise discovered pickleball and quickly fell in love with the game. This passion ultimately laid the foundation for a thriving business that would soon expand nationwide.
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Manassas is gearing up for an engaging Mayoral Forum on October 1, 2024. The event, featuring incumbent Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger (D) and challenger Xiao-Yin Tang Byrom (R), will be held at the Manassas Museum, located at 9101 Prince William Street. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the program will commence promptly at 6:30 p.m.
Organized to give residents a direct channel to hear from the candidates about their visions and policies, the forum promises a thorough discourse on local issues. It will be moderated by trusted local entities, including InsideNova and the Prince William Times, and Potomac Local News.
Registration is mandatory for those planning to attend in person. Details are available on the event’s website. The venue will also provide light refreshments.
Understanding the importance of reaching a broader audience, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce will extend its service to the community by streaming the debate live on its official Facebook page. This service primarily targets those who cannot attend the forum in person. Interested viewers can access the live stream at facebook.com/pwchamber.
The Prince William Chamber notes that while it aims to provide uninterrupted streaming, it reserves the right to end the broadcast at any time and is not responsible for any potential streaming interruptions. This measure ensures that the event remains exclusive to registered and present attendees should there be any unforeseen issues with the online broadcast, the chamber states.
The Prince William Chamber provided the candidates with the questions in advance.
Early voting for the mayoral election, three open seats on the city council, and two on the school board is underway at the city’s voter registration office. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Prince William County has unveiled a new digital platform, PWC Works, designed to enhance transparency and communication between the local government and its residents. The initiative aims to provide real-time updates on county projects, address public concerns, and offer a streamlined way for citizens to track government actions, including long-standing issues such as permitting delays.
Tackling Permitting Delays
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SweetFrog Frozen Yogurt, located at 10077 Market Circle in Manassas, is now open for business. The grand opening was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, welcoming the community to enjoy a variety of frozen yogurt options.
Lulu Trotter, the owner of SweetFrog, shared her journey to opening the new location. "My husband and I initially were going to buy the Ashburn location, but we ended up driving down to see the Manassas one and just fell in love. So we bought it."
