Small Business Association Disaster Loans (EIDL) Webinar

Monday, March 23, 20202:00 - 2:45 pm AND5:00 - 5:45 pm

The Virginia SBDC network is hosting a webinar for their partners to review the application process for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), available for Virginia small businesses and non-profits. 

Click here to attend the first Webinar (2 pm): https://bit.ly/3dqOVCS
Meeting ID: 606-202-441
Phone - 646 558 8656 

Click here to attend the second Webinar (5 pm): https://bit.ly/39akiyf
Meeting ID: 812-851-176
Phone - 646 558 8656 

Virginia SBDC advisors are prepared to assist your businesses during this emergency. They are operating remotely and available by phone, email and web conferencing. Please visit their website for details.

https://www.virginiasbdc.org/

Richmond is #saferandstrongerathome

Governor directs some non-essential businesses to close, closes schools for remainder of school year

According to the Governor’s press briefing today, gatherings of 10 or more people are banned. All recreation and entertainment venues must close. This includes bowling alleys, movie theaters and gyms. 

Personal care services that cannot adhere to social distancing measure, such a barber shops, spas and salons, should close. 

Restaurants may remain open for carry out, delivery, and curbside services only. Non-essential brick-and-mortar stores can remain open if they comply with the Governor’s recommendation of serving no more than 10 customers at once. 

Essential services will remain open but must also enforce social distancing and practice hygienic precautions and increased sanitizing procedures. This includes grocery stores, medical offices, pharmacies, and businesses in that supply chain.

If you have questions about the governor’s announcement, watch the press briefing here or read the full press release here.

Supporting Small Businesses and Employees

The City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review posted its available services throughout the closure on its webpage. 

Read what’s available here.

Field inspections will resume for all unoccupied new commercial and residential construction projects, with priority going to inspections pertaining to life safety, habitability concerns, and essential facilities. 

The city recently began a third-party option for inspections and plan reviews. This is still available to customers and may be a useful option if the city closure due to COVID-19 lengthens. 

The Office of Community Wealth Building is going virtual – join them for online workforce training sessions. 

Click here to access the schedule. Classes include: I’m Unemployed Because of COVID-19 – Now What?, Career Connect, and Secure the Bag: How to Get a MYA Summer Job.

The City of Richmond today is reporting its first known case of an employee testing positive for COVID-19.

The affected employee is a female officer in the Richmond Police Department, who traveled to New York before the onset of her illness.

According to the Richmond City Health District, the officer, who is in her 40s, is now at home in isolation and is in stable condition.

Another co-worker who had been in close contact with the officer is under self-quarantine and is self-monitoring for symptoms.

Preliminary investigation by RCHD and RPD has not determined any potential for close contact with Richmond residents during this time period. However, RCHD and the RPD are reviewing and investigating any possible additional close contacts the officer may have had during the performance of her duties. 

“My first concern is for her and her family and the extended family of her co-workers,” said Police Chief William Smith. “We have taken precautions to limit exposure to our staff and to the community we serve. It is extremely important that we all continue to do our part in controlling the spread of the virus through the recommended protocols.”
  
“Because we are seeing significant community spread it is not surprising to have a documented occurrence in the government workforce,” said Dr. Danny Avula, Director of the Richmond City Health District, which serves the City of Richmond and Henrico County. “We continue to encourage members of our community to take every precaution to limit their potential exposure to COVID-19 to mitigate its impact on the residents of our region.”

“I truly appreciate the work that first responders do on the frontlines to keep our community safe during these uncertain times,” said Mayor Levar M. Stoney. “We must do our part as well. We are safer and stronger at home.”  

• WHAT : Richmond, Virginia - The Honorable Reva M. Trammell, Councilmember, Richmond City Council, Richmond Southside 8th Voter District, will hold a meeting for the Richmond Southside 8th Voter District. The planned agenda and special guests include:
  • AGENDA/SPECIAL GUESTS
    • Calvin Farr, Director, Richmond Department of Public Utilities
    • Michelle Tarry, Customer Account Investigator, Richmond Department of Public Utilities
    • Chip Decker, Chief Executive Officer, Richmond Ambulance Authority
    • Lenora Reid, Interim Richmond Chief Administrative Officer, City of Richmond
    • Richmond Police Department Officers, Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services Firefighters, Commonwealth of Virginia - Richmond Office of the Sheriff staff, and Richmond Ambulance Authority personn
• WHEN : Thursday, December 12, 2019, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

• WHERE: Satellite Restaurant & Lounge, 4000 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond, Virgini

• CONTACT:For more information, please contact: Councilmember Reva Trammell, at 804.240.5050 (mobile); or, 804.233.7382 (home), or via email at reva.trammell@richmondgov.com

• Councilmember Trammell holds individual meetings that include her goals and accomplishments; topical agendas; and, special guests. She invites all Richmond Southside 8th Voter District residents to attend. Free refreshments are typically served. Meeting dates, times, locations, agendas, and special guests are subject to change.

Richmond residents are invited to watch, hear, and visit monthly Richmond City Council Formal, Informal, Standing Committee, Budget and Special Meetings. Schedule: https://richmondva.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Live video stream link for Council Formal Meetings and live audio stream of Richmond City Council Informal, Standing Committee and Special Meetings
http://richmondva.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=1

Richmond City Council Formal Meetings air live on TV on local PBS station WCVW the night of the meeting - Over-the-Air channel 57.1; Comcast/Verizon FIOS channel 24; DirecTV/DishTV channel 57.
The most recent Richmond City Council Formal Meeting is typically replayed twice daily, beginning at Noon and 7:00 p.m., on Richmond Government Access TV Cable Channel 17.
Meetings are held, unless otherwise posted, in Richmond City Council Chambers; Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor; 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
 

“Republicans in the General Assembly proved today that they are not just spineless but flat-out cowardly. By not allowing for a single vote on legislation or a single word of debate on commonsense gun control bills, they dishonored the victims of gun violence across Virginia. They have thumbed their noses at their responsibility and at the citizens of Virginia that they were elected to represent.  

These actions may break our hearts, but they will not break our resolve. Richmond is ready to protect our children, our employees, and all our residents. In November, Virginians will have an opportunity to elect state representatives who are willing to do the same.”

Mayor Stoney celebrated National Summer Learning Week by spotlighting the Richmond Public Schools’ first class of YMCA Power Scholars and proclaiming July 11, 2019 as Summer Learning Day in the City of Richmond.

The nationally-implemented Power Scholars Academy, provided by the YMCA of Greater Richmond with curriculum designed by BellXcel, augments traditional summer school with academic enrichment, field trips, mentorship, and family engagement activities. 

Over 2,500 students across Virginia will participate in Power Scholars Academy this summer. This summer, all RPS elementary and middle summer school sites are participating in Power Scholars Academy. Richmond’s program is the largest site in the nation with over 1,000 students currently enrolled.

“With so many of our RPS scholars enrolled, Richmond is leading the way in summer learning,” said Mayor Stoney. “We have willing and able partners in the city; this is what happens when we bring them together.” 

Mayor Stoney was joined at Broad Rock Elementary School by RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras; Dr. Lauren Gilbert, CEO of BellXcel; Tim Joyce, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Richmond; Turner Thompson, Regional Market Manager for Walmart; and Dr. Jamelle S. Wilson, Dean of the School of Professional & Continuing Studies at the University of Richmond and chair of the Community Foundation’s Board of Governors’ Community Impact Committee.

The Power Scholars Academy combines a number of best-practice elements to meaningfully engage with students and beat the “summer slump.” For at least six hours a day, five days a week, the Scholars will learn on- and off-site. The extended day model both allows parents to work later into the afternoon and provides ample time for extracurricular enrichment activities.

“The Y is committed to equity in learning in all of our communities, and the Power Scholars program is one way that we can partner with school systems to ensure our students are not experiencing summer learning loss.  We are excited to extend this partnership to the entire Richmond Public School system and continue our service to kids and families,” said YMCA CEO and President Tim Joyce.

Local partners including Art180, the Science Museum, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, the University of Richmond, and Virginia Commonwealth University have ensured that Richmond’s own Power Scholars will enjoy field trips to experience the rich offerings in the metro area.

“Our students deserve access to rigorous and exciting opportunities all year long,” said Superintendent Jason Kamras. “We are grateful for our continued partnership with YMCA and the Community Foundation, as well as our new partnership with Walmart. We also thank the Mayor for his leadership in prioritizing high-quality out-of-school time options for our students that will ignite a love of learning through the summer and beyond.”

Because summer learning loss is a significant contributor to the achievement gap, the partners sought out an evidence-based program with tested curriculum. Power Scholars Academy’s curriculum, designed by BellXcel, aligns with the Virginia Standards of Learning while incorporating social-emotional learning. Past participants have shown significant, measurable growth in literacy and math skills. The use of the BellXcel curriculum was made possible by a generous contribution from Walmart. 

"Walmart is excited to support Richmond Public Schools and the YMCA’s Power Scholars Academy program this summer for kids in our community,” said Turner Thompson, Walmart’s Richmond Market Manager. “By supporting the highly innovative and effective BellXcel curriculum, we are confident the participating students will engage in a highly productive and meaningful summer experience."

Summer learning is a component of Mayor Stoney’s out-of-school time initiative, which convenes key community partners like the YMCA, the Community Foundation, Richmond Public Schools, and the Mayor’s Office with the goal of providing high-quality activities and programming outside of the traditional school day.

“This collaboration to enrich summer school is one more step towards giving our kids the opportunities they need and deserve year-round, both in and out of school,” said Mayor Stoney. “We look forward to continuing to deepen and expand access to activities like these for all of Richmond’s children.”

“Tonight the City of Richmond sent a strong message to the Virginia General Assembly that it stands ready and willing to immediately implement the kind of common sense gun regulations that will enhance the safety and security of residents, employees and visitors to our city government offices and parks.

Every Richmonder has the right to feel secure and free from the fear of senseless gun violence in our city’s public spaces.

While I am disappointed this was not a unanimous vote, I applaud and thank the seven members of Richmond City Council who demonstrated leadership in their support for Ordinance 2019-165.

Now it’s time to take this momentum across the street and hold our commonwealth’s elected representatives accountable for protecting our children and families. Leaders in the City of Richmond proved tonight they have the spine to act. Now the ball is in the General Assembly’s court.”
 

Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced today the appointment of Dawn Barber as the Director of the City of Richmond Department of Justice Services.

A former assistant police chief for the City of Newport News, Barber brings more than 31 years of professional experience in justice services and law enforcement to the City of Richmond Department of Justice Services.  Most recently, Barber served as the Director of Juvenile Services for the City of Newport News. In addition to her experience in city government, she serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserves.

In her new role, Barber will oversee the city’s services for adults facing potential incarceration and youth who are either at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system or who have been formally processed by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. These services include prevention and diversion efforts, in-home services, monitoring and surveillance, secure confinement, counseling and case management. Barber will report directly to Reginald E. Gordon, DCAO for Human Services.

“The Department of Justice Services has the challenging task of supporting Richmonders at a critical inflection point in their lives,” said Mayor Stoney. “Dawn’s experience in both public safety and justice services programming gives her the right balance of discipline and compassion needed for the job.”

Barber obtained a Bachelor of Science in Governmental Administration and Criminal Justice Administration from Christopher Newport University. She is also a certified PREA Auditor through the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. 

“I am both humbled and excited to be selected to serve as the Director of Justice Services. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to and partner with the other city agencies and the community at-large to ensure the department provides the highest level of service to the citizens of Richmond,” said Barber.