“I choose to be fully awake,” says Chair Randall in State of the County Address

By Grace Bennett

On Thursday, May 15, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission hosted Chair Phyllis J. Randall’s annual State of the County Address to update the public on Loudoun’s current status. After a few beautiful introductory performances by special guests, Randall spoke to attendees on support for local businesses, optimistic projections for homebuilding, tax reductions, data centers, tourism, and improvements on Dulles International Airport.

Special guest performances at the meeting included a musical rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” sung by Grace Monet Carper, the National Anthem by Dr. Damon Moore, and “One Moment in Time” sung by Tracy Hamlin. The meeting was honored by having the Pledge of Allegiance led by the retired three-star Lieutenant General Bruce Crawford.

Randall opened her address by first extending condolences and prayers for the family and friends impacted by the January 29 crash of air flight 5342 at Regan National Airport. This tragedy resulted in the loss of nine Loudoun County ice skating community members.

Nonprofit businesses made a profound effort to assist those impacted by the tragedy, and Randall proudly stated that they remain “an indispensable part of our interwoven community.” She has announced an additional allocation of $5 million to assist non-profits and faith-based organizations.

Loudoun’s industrial base—for profit and non-profit alike—continues to grow despite the decreasing rate in international business. While 2025 predicts a drop in inbound international business 12% lower than the 2024 forecast, Loudoun’s businesses are up 40%, and the county’s 3% unemployment rate proves lower than the national average. Almost 250,000 new jobs are expected to be located within Loudoun over the next 10 years.

Randall emphasized the importance of providing “a place to call home” for every Loudoun County resident, and she declared that the 2025 homeless count is down from 343 to 252 individuals—all of whom the county hopes to assist. The Department of Family Services is helping those individuals to address the underlying reasons for homelessness to better position them for success.

More than $17 million and 15 housing projects are being put towards building homes in Loudoun as a part of the county’s attainable housing goals program. Both single-family and multi-family homes are being constructed—and, currently, the county has over 1800 permitted multi-family homes.

In support of the planned community model, there will be significant contributions to Transit-Oriented Development; in other words, housing around metro areas will see much progress in the near future.

Virginia Housing is working hard to eliminate the county’s housing problems. According to Randall, residential buildings are vital to maintaining Loudoun’s “robust and strong workforce.”

Chair Randall also shared optimistic news about tax rates. “The average real property tax bill,” she said, “will be reduced.” Additionally, she expects a reduction of the car tax rate, as well as an elimination of the $25 car decal fee. She reaffirmed the county’s triple-A bond rating and announced that “we currently stand in a strong economic position.”

Data centers remain one of Loudoun’s most heavily debated topics, and Chair Randall acknowledged public sentiment surrounding their presence. She informed the public that data centers represent a staggering 38% of the county’s overall revenue and are increasingly active to contribute to art, sports, and education.

In response to prior feedback, Randall replied that there will be thorough implementations of environmental protection standards surrounding data centers, especially in regard to water usage. When considering new buildings, she added that “data centers will require a special exception”—meaning that they will require a full application process and public hearing before approval.

While these structures remain a massive source of income for Loudoun County, “it is equally important that we manage data center growth to the extent that we are legally allowed,” Randall said. “We retain our data center community and maintain our status as the data center capital of the world.”

Another significant portion of revenue is sourced from Virginia’s tourism industry. Visit Loudoun seeks to expand leisure opportunities and hotels to “welcome the world to Loudoun County.” Local hotel occupancy rates average at almost 72%, making them one of the highest occupancy rates across the country and outpacing Washington, D.C. by 4%.

The wine industry is Loudoun County’s most popular attraction and has grown a stunning 700% in recent years. It has gained nationwide attention and is recognized by publications such as USA Today and Wine Enthusiast, generating $48 million by itself. To encourage further growth, development programs will be pursuing two new sister cities—one of which is in Uruguay and will introduce the unique Tannat grape to local farming.

Overall, tourists and visitors contribute to topping $4.5 billion in revenue for Loudoun County, making the area what Chair Randall calls “a premier county to work, live, learn, and play.”

Dulles International Airport continues to be one of the county’s leading hubs and employers, and just in the past year, 9.8 million passengers passed through as a result of its presence. The airport plans to introduce 5 new airlines and 18 new routes to strengthen its position as a driver of economic growth and tourism. An investment of $500 million will be made to construct a new concourse.

Chair Randall underscored the necessity of regional connections and a remembrance of history to Loudoun County’s growth and success. The interwoven community proves to be one of this area’s greatest qualities. “We are facing challenges that are heretofore unimaginable,” says Chair Randall. “We know that our strength lies in treating our fellow Loudouners with respect, with dignity, and compassion.”

“For some people, this level of caring may be described as being ‘woke,’” she adds in her conclusion. “I choose to be fully awake.”