Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of Public Policy Issues and Headlines from around the Northern Virginia Region, the Commonwealth and on Capitol Hill.

1. What's on the 2022 REALTORS® State Legislative Agenda?

With the 2022 Virginia General Assembly convening in session on Wednesday, January 12, please take a look at your 2022 Realtors® State Legislative Agenda!

2. Regional Fair Housing Survey

Northern Virginia and Metro DC Localities are participating in a Regional Fair Housing Survey. Local jurisdictions in DC, Maryland and Virginia are joining forces to address fair housing issues in our region. We want to hear from you about housing choice in our communities.

The survey will be open until January 31. Survey responses will help housing, human rights and public housing staff in the DMV plan investments for the next five years to improve housing choice and reverse segregation in our region and our communities. Please fill out this survey if you live or work DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun or Prince William.

We are urging all members to take this 2-minute survey: https://bit.ly/DMVhousing

3. Here’s what Northern Virginia officials want from Richmond

It’s a big political week in Virginia. The General Assembly’s legislative session kicked off on Wednesday, with House Republicans returning to the majority after a two-year hiatus. New Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin will be sworn in on Saturday. Both political parties have staked out their priorities for the 60-day session, including how they hope to spend surplus billions. Meanwhile, local leaders in Northern Virginia are grappling with what’s to come from this new era of divided government in Richmond — and sharing their own hopes for state support.

4. Arlington Real Estate Property Values See Modest Increase for 2022

Arlington’s overall property tax base grew modestly from 2021 due to continued residential growth, while commercial values were relatively flat.

5. Loudoun County Receives $10 Million in Grants for Affordable Housing

Loudoun County is receiving $10 million in state grants to support affordable multifamily housing in the county and to prepare for Amazon’s arrival in Northern Virginia. This funding is in addition to an earlier grant of $3.75 million to support two affordable multifamily developments in Loudoun County: Tuscarora Crossing Phase 1 and the View at Broadlands. 

These grants are part of Virginia Housing’s Amazon REACH Program (Resources Enabling Affordable Community Housing), which was established in response to concerns about the anticipated impact of Amazon’s second headquarters in Arlington on the region’s housing prices. Virginia Housing is investing $75 million in affordable housing. Loudoun County applied for this funding to support proposed affordable multifamily developments.