Fairfax startups are economically strong but disproportionately tied to the public sector, even compared to other nearby jurisdictions, according to the 2017 Startup Census.

Adam Zuckerman, founder of census creator Fosterly, spoke to the Fairfax County Economic Advisory Commission meeting earlier this month to offer a recap of Fairfax’s role in the survey of local startups.

In total, 48 companies from Fairfax participated in the survey, while 377 businesses from around the region were surveyed in total.

Some findings:

• The Fairfax startups that participated in the survey generated $28 million dollars in revenue in 2017 and projected 194 percent growth in 2018.
• Startups throughout Northern Virginia generated $108 million in revenue and projected 166 percent growth.
• Throughout the entire region, startups generated $193 million in revenue and projected 217 percent growth overall.
• Fairfax County is home to about 12.5 percent of startups in the D.C. area.

According to the survey, startups in Fairfax also derived less of their revenue from consumers or private businesses than the regional average.

• Fairfax startups derived 66 percent of their revenue from private sector customers.
• Regional startups  averaged 89 percent revenue from private customers.

“If you look towards the larger set, only 11 percent of revenue in the overall set came from the public sector,” said Zuckerman. “So Fairfax County companies have a disproportionate amount of public sector revenue than the larger ecosystem.”

Ryan Touhill, chief of staff for the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, said in the survey analysis that the regional shift away from a reliance on the public sector is a positive trend for local economic diversification.

For Fairfax, Zuckerman said this public sector reliance for startups that are generally less than five years old is unusual because most public sector deals require a track record that startups generally don’t have. Most startups, Zuckerman said, start off working in the private sector before dipping their toes into the public sector when the product is proven.

The survey also found that the top five industries in Fairfax for startups were technology and services, computer software, real estate, financial services, and management and consulting.

There was one unfortunate item of news about one company in particular: Fosterly, the company running the census. Unless another organization takes over the mantle, Zuckerman says this year’s census will be the last.

“We’re not doing it again this year,” said Zuckerman. “We’re going to be talking to a few entities to see if they want to continue the census… but the resources weren’t there.”

Photo via Fosterly

Wristbands are now on sale for Haycock Elementary’s Fall Festival.

For $12 pre-purchased or $15 at the door, children will have access to unlimited games, moonbounces, face painting, magic and more. There will also be food trucks, pony rides, a cupcake walk, a scarecrow walk, balloon animals, a “butterbeer garten” and a 50/50 raffle.

Advance tickets are only available online until noon tomorrow. Children under two and adults are free. Armbands bought for children will be delivered to students by teachers on Friday (Oct. 19).

The event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 21 from 12-4 p.m, rain or shine. Parking at the festival is limited to handicap spaces, so attendees are encouraged to walk or use other parking spaces in the neighborhood.

The festival is also looking for volunteers to help run the event, promising shifts to be short and suite so volunteers can also enjoy the festivities. Sign up is available online.

Photo via Fairfax County Public Schools

For the second time in as many weeks, someone smashed in the door of the Enterprise Rent-a-Car on Spring Hill Road in Tysons.

The incident happened over the weekend. Fairfax County Police noted in a crime report that “this time nothing was taken,” a contrast from two weeks ago when a vehicle was reported stolen.

“Detectives are following up on leads,” FCPD said. More from the crime report:

BURGLARY / DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: 1572 block of Spring Hill Road, (Enterprise), 10-14-2018, between 12:01 – 8:10 a.m. When employees arrived to work in the morning they noticed that the front door had been smashed in. The business was broken into recently but this time nothing was taken. Detectives are following up on leads.

Photo via Google Maps

In-Person Absentee Voting Underway — Fairfax residents can now vote absentee in person at 10 locations throughout the county until Nov. 3. Among the locations is the McLean Governmental Center at 1437 Balls Hill Road. [Fairfax County, Twitter]

Thieves Steal ATM Machine from Vienna Metro — “Police are searching for the people they say stole an ATM from a Metro station and then packed it into the bed of a stolen pickup truck. Five suspects in a heavy-duty pickup rammed into the machine at the Vienna station and dislodged it about 1:30 a.m. Monday, a Metro spokesman said. The thieves then lifted the machine onto the truck bed and drove off.” [NBC Washington]

Public Safety Agencies Holding Job Fair — “The public safety agencies of Fairfax County invite residents to learn more about career opportunities available at the Fairfax County Public Safety Career Fair on Saturday, Oct. 20.” [McLean Connection]

(Updated at 11:30) — November at The Barns at Wolf Trap is a season of returns for classic rock legends.

Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers behind hits like “Be My Baby,” will be performing on Friday (Nov. 9) and Saturday (Nov. 10). Ticket are $50 for rear orchestra or side balcony or $55 for prime orchestra or prime balcony.

Hot Rize, a popular 1980’s bluegrass band, will play at Wolf Trap on Nov. 17 as part of the group’s 40th-anniversary tour. Tickets range from $45 to $60.

The following three nights will feature Art Garfunkel, a solo artist and part of the iconic Simon and Garfunkel duo. Concerts will be held Nov. 18, 19 and 20 with prices ranging from $80 to $95.

The list of Wolf Trap events in November:

• Nov. 2: Bourbon and Bubbles at the Barns
• Nov. 4: David Finckel and Wu Han
• Nov. 6, 7: The Lone Bellow
• Nov. 8: John Lloyd Young
• Nov. 9, 10: Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes
• Nov. 14: Nicole Atkins
• Nov. 15: Alan Doyle
• Nov. 16: Maggie Rose
• Nov. 17: Hot Rize
• Nov. 18, 19, 20: Art Garfunkel
• Nov. 24: Janis Joplin & Jimi Hendrix Tribute
• Nov. 25: John Eaton
• Nov. 30: Chris Smither

The full Wolf Trap schedule is available online.

Photo via Wolf Trap

Ever wanted to march in a parade? Registration is now available to join the annual McLean Winterfest.

The parade is scheduled to be held along Old Chain Bridge Road on Sunday, Dec. 2 as part of the 10th annual Winterfest. Check-in for the parade starts at 2 p.m. and the parade itself will begin at 3:30 p.m.

From 2-5 p.m., Old Chain Bridge Road from Fleetwood Street to Elm Street will be closed for the parade.

The parade will feature an “official” Santa Claus, so others in Santa costumes not be allowed in the parade. Also, pets that are not a part of rescue organizations are not allowed to march without prior written approval from parade officials.

A full list of rules for those marching or driving in the parade is available online.

Photo via McLean Winterfest

At its meeting tonight (Monday), the Vienna Town Council is set to vote on a funding agreements for two major environmental restoration projects.

The larger project is the next phase of the Hunter Branch Stream restoration project, estimated to cost $1.92 million.

The project will restore 1,800 feet of the stream along Nutley Street SW. The first phase of the project, completed in 2016, worked to combat the erosion of another part of the stream and add native plant species. The stream is located within the Chesapeake Bay, Accotink Creek and Potomac River watersheds, with the ultimate goal of the project being the reduction of sediments and pollutants flowing into those larger bodies of water.

Design work is expected to take place throughout fiscal year 2019 with an estimated cost of $400,000.

The other funding agreement is for the Tapawingo/Kingsley Urban Bioretention Project, will build bioretention along Meadow Lane SW where it intersects Tapawingo and Kingsley roads. The new bioretention areas will extend the curb and add new environmental control measures aimed at treating storm runoff from the street.

The bioretention project is expected to cost $200,000.

The funding for the projects come from an agreement with Fairfax County.

Photo via Facebook

The former Marco Polo restaurant in Vienna went up in flames Sunday afternoon.

A fire broke out in the vacant building at 245 Maple Avenue W. shortly before 2 p.m. A second alarm was sounded as firefighters worked for around an hour to get the blaze under control.

Firefighters from around Fairfax County and as far away as Arlington battled the flames. The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department also assisted at the scene.

Photos posted online show firefighters using ladder trucks and water cannons as heavy smoke billowed from the restaurant’s roof.

It’s unclear what caused the fire as the building was reportedly vacant. No injuries were reported.

The building has been discussed as a possible site for redevelopment, though thus far no solid plans have been revealed.

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UPDATE 200 block Maple Avenue West: The fire is under control. The structure was vacant at the time of the fire. pic.twitter.com/9J0PMOcdg7

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) October 14, 2018

Photo (top) via Vienna Volunteer Fire Department/Facebook

Theater for Tysons Galleria? — “We’re starting to get a glimpse of the next round of change coming to the high-end Tysons Galleria, as the mall’s owner may look to replace the Macy’s there with a theater, among other tenants, according to documents submitted to Fairfax County.” [Washington Business Journal]

Sales Tax Receipts Up — “Sales-tax receipts distributed to the Fairfax County government by the state government in September totaled $14.9 million, an increase of 3.7 percent from September 2017, according to new figures from the Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget.” [InsideNova]

Transportation Projects Slowing — “The organization… projects transportation revenue growth to be flat through 2024, and VDOT construction allocations are at their slowest since 2013 when the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 2313, legislation intended to generate more revenue for transportation projects.” [Fairfax Times]