Investments to bring new activations, public art, beautification, and placemaking projects to commercial corridors throughout Richmond  

Richmond, VA  — The City of Richmond and Richmond Economic Development Authority (EDA) today announced the selection of  twenty-five projects  to move forward in the inaugural Activation & Beautification CARE (ABC) Grant Program, a pilot initiative designed to bring visible, near-term investments to Richmond's neighborhoods. 

The ABC Grant Program provides funding for projects that activate and beautify designated Commercial Area Revitalization Effort (CARE) areas while helping improve the environment for retail, service, and other businesses. 

Selected concepts represent a range of creative approaches to strengthening Richmond's commercial areas. Projects include public art installations and murals, façade and building improvements, landscaping and corridor beautification, creative lighting and parklet enhancements, vacant storefront and property activations, pop-up public spaces, and other public-facing improvements. 

Together, these projects will help transform underutilized spaces, create more inviting commercial environments, increase visibility for neighborhood business districts, encourage foot traffic, and strengthen the identity of Richmond's corridors. 

“Richmond’s neighborhoods are part of what makes our city distinctive, and the best ideas for strengthening them often come from the people who experience these places every day,”  said Mayor Danny Avula. “I’m excited to see these ideas move from concepts to visible improvements across our city.” 

Selected projects represent communities across Richmond’s 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th and 9th City Council districts, bringing activation and beautification investments to commercial areas throughout the city. 

The projects touch corridors and neighborhoods, including Downtown, Jackson Ward, Brookland Park, Fulton, Hull Street, and other designated CARE areas, reflecting a mix of Richmond’s urban core and neighborhood commercial districts, demonstrating the broader potential of targeted placemaking investments. 

The City and EDA are also working with philanthropic and institutional partners to explore opportunities to leverage the ABC Grant Program and expand the resources available to support impactful projects. 

One of these partners, the Robins Foundation, is providing matching support for several projects along the Broad Street corridor, helping community partners advance additional public art, placemaking, landscaping, and public-space improvements beyond what the City’s investment could support alone.  

“A dynamic Richmond community depends on a vibrant downtown—one where people want to gather, visit, work, and spend time,” said Chris Chin, President & CEO of Robins Foundation . “Supporting the ABC Grant program is one way we can put our mission into action by partnering with the City and investing in the nonprofits and small businesses that help bring Broad Street and the Arts District to life. We’re excited to work together to create a more welcoming, engaging downtown for everyone to enjoy.” 

By combining public investment with philanthropic, institutional, private, and community resources, the City aims to extend the pilot's reach and build a stronger model for future commercial corridor activation. 

“Activation and beautification are important economic development tools because even targeted investments can change how people experience a commercial corridor,” said  Angie Rodgers, Executive Director, Richmond Economic Development Authority. These projects will help create more inviting spaces, strengthen connections between businesses and their surrounding communities, and encourage additional investment. Through this pilot, we’re also creating a pathway for community ideas to move from concepts to visible, impactful projects.” 

Selection represents Conditional Concept Approval, not final regulatory approval or disbursement of grant funds. Selected applicants will work with City and EDA staff to navigate applicable regulatory requirements, permitting, public art review, historic review, and other approvals before projects proceed. The City will facilitate Concept Path Meetings to help selected applicants identify the approvals and processes necessary to move from concept to implementation. 

The ABC Grant Program supports projects located within designated CARE areas that beautify and/or activate commercial environments and improve the environment for retail, service, and other businesses. 

A full list of proposed projects and locations can be found here . 

For additional information about Richmond's commercial revitalization initiatives, visit  RichmondEDA.com .