As the forces in Mount Vernon promote and improve the Richmond Highway corridor in line with the coming bus rapid transit line, the latest initiative called “Faces of ONE,” is being launched to bring smiles and colors to this effort with an e-pub collection that highlights businesses, people and community.

“It’s more than just a roadway,” said Evan Kaufman of the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation. “We wanted the small businesses to give it character.”

Kaufman will be one of the speakers at a breakfast on Aug. 13 when they officially launch the application. He will be joined by JoAnne Fiebe from the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives and Erin Welsh of "Destination by Design," the website specialty company from North Carolina that developed the site.

Faces of ONE, is a $150,000 business support and marketing initiative with ONE mission: to connect people, promote local businesses, and change the way people see Richmond Highway, its developers said. Over the next 18 months, the program will promote local businesses, share community stories, increase awareness of corridor destinations and services, and provide marketing resources to help businesses thrive during this period of growth and change, their media said.

Although it is designed to help Richmond Highway businesses remain visible, connected and successful before and during Bus Rapid Transit construction, the BRT is not the only thing going on through this stretch of historic highway. There is also a 4.5 mile widening effort by the Virginia Department of Transportation and EMBARK Richmond Highway revitalization that will impact everything.

When the small businesses survive, they add to the area and the Mount Vernon restaurants are a place to start. At Sherwood Gourmet Deli, their Rueben sandwich is a local legend, while down the street at Della J's, it's the southern comfort food like shrimp and grits, crispy fried chicken, catfish, or homemade peach cobbler that keeps the kitchen busy. These stories are captured on Faces of ONE.

Other stories are about bird watching at Huntley Meadows, biking on the Mount Vernon Bike Trail or kayaking on the river. They are all featured with colorful pictures to catch the eye.

Webpage developer ‘Destination by Design’ helps civic leaders plan, build, and promote Main Streets, destination-quality parks, trails and recreation areas. Other Destination projects include a Watauga County Wayfinding project in North Carolina, a bike park in Boone, N.C. and a community branding project in Harney County, Oregon.

The “Destination by Design” photographer on a food assignment.