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The Mayor's Office

Final American Rescue Plan Act budget amendment introduced to Richmond City Council

The city’s American Rescue Plan Act budget amendment was introduced at last night’s formal meeting of Richmond City Council. The amendment outlines the proposed allocation of $77.5 million from the federal government, the first half of the total amount of funding ($155 million) allotted to the city.

The final spending plan is a product of consensus reached between the administration and Council. Because the plan is a budget amendment, it cannot be amended.

“This final plan represents a blueprint for building back better and stronger through strategic, intentional and equitable investments that deliver on the promise of a quality of life our residents want, need and deserve,” said Mayor Levar M. Stoney.

“I’d like to thank the members of Richmond City Council for their insight and collaboration to use this funding to make significant advances in affordable housing, health and the well-being of our children and families.”

The overall spending proposal includes:

  • $32 million to build back affordable and healthy homes, including $20 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, meeting the goal established in the Equity Agenda and supported by City Council four years ahead of schedule.

  • $5 million for a Health Equity fund, managed by the Richmond City Health District through an MOU with the city. The fund would support ongoing COVID-19 response, maternal and infant health, food access, mental and behavioral health, and more.

  • $81 million invested in children and families, residents’ top priority in the first round of public engagement, with $2 million for childcare and $78 million for funding community centers including: T.B. Smith Community Center, Southside Community Center, Calhoun Center and a new center on the current site of Lucks Field.

The plan also includes $19 million to plan for and address climate and environmental challenges in the city, an $8.5 million investment in public safety, and $5.9 million in economic supports.

Changes implemented in the month since the Mayor’s announcement of the draft plan include:

The city gathered feedback on the draft plan from September 21 to October 4 and reached 1,300 individuals - 51.4% through digital engagement and 48.6% through in-person or phone conversations. When given the chance to add or remove something from the plan, an average of 75% of responses per category elected not to; 25% of responses proposed changes.

To read the full plan and find details on the public engagement period, please visit www.rva.gov/arp.


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El alcalde presenta el borrador del plan de inversiones “Plan de Rescate Estadounidense”

Para leer una copia de las declaraciones del alcalde, oprima aquí. Para conocer más detalles del plan, visite la página www.rva.gov/arp.


Richmond, Virginia — Hoy, durante la reunión informal del Concejo de la ciudad de Richmond, fue presentado el borrador del plan de inversiones para unos $155 millones otorgados por el gobierno federal.

El borrador incorpora las opiniones de unas dos mil personas que llenaron la encuesta, además de las perspectivas particulares de los miembros del Concejo de la ciudad, quienes compartieron las prioridades y preocupaciones principales de cada uno de sus distritos.

El alcalde llamó al plan “un plano para una mejor y más poderosa reconstrucción, a través de inversiones estratégicas, intencionales y equitativas que satisfacen la promesa de una calidad de vida que nuestros residentes quieren, necesitan y merecen”.

Los siguientes son algunos puntos llamativos del plan. Puede encontrar los detalles completos en la página www.rva.gov/arp:

Incluye $32 millones para volver a construir hogares asequibles y saludables. Esto incluye $20 millones para el Fideicomiso para Vivienda Asequible, lo que permitiría cumplir con la meta establecida en la Agenda de Equidad apoyada por el Concejo cuatro años antes de lo programado.

El plan propone la creación de un Fondo para Equidad en Salud de $5 millones, que sería administrado por el Distrito de Salud de la Ciudad de Richmond mediante un memorando de acuerdo (MOU, por sus siglas en inglés) con la ciudad. Este fondo apoyaría una respuesta continua contra el COVID-19, además de salud materno-infantil, acceso a alimentación, salud mental y del comportamiento, entre otros.

Dijo la directora de Equidad en la Salud del Distrito de Salud de la Ciudad de Richmond, Jackie Lawrence: “Sabemos que el acceso individual y familiar a la alimentación, a los servicios preventivos y de salud mental tienen un impacto enorme en su salud… hemos visto cómo esto ha ocurrido durante la pandemia, pero esto no es exclusivo del COVID-19. Una inversión financiera en servicios de salud pública que sea incluyente y que tenga en cuenta los determinantes sociales de la salud, tendrá beneficios de larga duración para la comunidad”.

Se dirigirán $2 millones hacia el cuidado infantil (guarderías, etc.) y otros $78 millones hacia los parques y centros comunitarios, para un total de $80 millones de inversión en los niños y sus familias, la cual fue señalada como la prioridad número uno de los richmondeses durante la primera ronda de participación pública. Los centros comunitarios que recibirían la inversión incluyen a los siguientes:

  • T.B. Smith
  • Southside
  • Calhoun
  • y un nuevo centro comunitario en el actual Lucks Field.

Con los fondos provistos por el plan, los centros comunitarios se convertirán en centros de oportunidades – ejes de los vecindarios, que pueden brindarles a sus residentes ayuda y acceso a asistencia y beneficios financieros y de vivienda, además de servicios para la tercera edad, acceso a la alimentación, cuidado en salud, educación para el bienestar y programación para jóvenes, así como capacitación y desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. 

El director de Parques, Recreación e Instalaciones Comunitarias, Chris Frelke, dijo acerca de esta inversión: “Esta es la más grande inversión en Parques y Recreación que se haya hecho en varias generaciones y es un acto monumental para darle prioridad a las comunidades de Richmond que han sido ignoradas con más frecuencia”.

El plan también incluye un total de $23.3 millones para planear y enfrentar los desafíos ambientales y climáticos de la ciudad, $8.5 millones de inversión en seguridad pública y $5.9 millones en apoyo financiero. Si desea conocer más detalles, visite la página www.rva.gov/arp.

Mañana lanzaremos la segunda fase de la participación en el plan propuesto, lo que incluye tanto oportunidades digitales como en persona para que el público dé su opinión.

El alcalde ha puesto la meta de aprobar el plan antes de que finalice octubre, haciendo hincapié en la necesidad de “ponernos a trabajar para continuar mejorando las vidas de nuestros residentes”.

 

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Mayor presents draft American Rescue Plan spending plan

To view a copy of the mayor’s remarks, click here. For plan details, visit www.rva.gov/arp.

At today’s informal meeting of Richmond City Council, the draft spending plan for roughly $155 million from the federal government was presented.

The draft plan incorporates the feedback of roughly 2,000 survey respondents and the unique insights of Richmond City Council members, who shared the core priorities and concerns of each of their districts.

The mayor called the plan, “a blueprint for building back better and stronger through strategic, intentional and equitable investments that deliver on the promise of a quality of life our residents want, need and deserve.”

The following are some highlights from the plan. Full plan details can be found at www.rva.gov/arp:

It includes $32 million to build back affordable and healthy homes. This includes $20 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, meeting the goal established in the Equity Agenda and supported by City Council four years ahead of schedule.

The plan proposes the creation of a $5 million Health Equity fund, managed by the Richmond City Health District through an MOU with the city. The fund would support ongoing COVID-19 response, maternal and infant health, food access, mental and behavioral health, and more.

Says Jackie Lawrence, Director of Health Equity for the Richmond City Health District, “"We know that an individual's and a family's access to food, mental health services, and preventative services has a massive impact on their health... we've seen this play out during the pandemic, but this is not unique COVID-19. A financial investment for public health services that is inclusive of those that address the social determinants of health will have long lasting benefits to our community."

$2 million is directed toward childcare and $78 million in parks and community centers, totaling $80 million invested in children and families, residents’ top priority in the first round of public engagement. The funded community centers include:

  • TB Smith Community Center
  • Southside Community Center
  • Calhoun Center
  • A new center on the current site of Lucks Field.

With funding in the plan, the community centers will become opportunity centers - neighborhood hubs that can provide residents with assistance and access to financial and housing assistance and benefits, senior services, food access, healthcare, wellness education, youth programming and workforce development and training.

Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Chris Frelke says of the investment, “This is the largest investment in Parks and Recreation in generations and a monumental movement to prioritize Richmond’s most often overlooked communities.”

The plan also includes $23.3 million in total to plan for and address climate and environmental challenges in the city, an $8.5 million investment in public safety, and $5.9 million in economic supports. For full details, visit www.rva.gov/arp.

Tomorrow, the city will launch the second phase of our engagement on the proposed plan, which will include both digital and in-person opportunities to provide feedback.

The mayor set a goal to approve the plan before the end of October, emphasizing the need to, “get to work and continue to improve the lives of our residents.”


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City of Richmond to mandate vaccination for city employees

Today Mayor Stoney announced that the City of Richmond will require all city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We take this step not only to ensure the health and safety of our employees and their families, but also to safeguard the comfort and well-being of residents, customers, visitors and the public at large,” said Mayor Stoney. “The vaccine is our greatest tool to save lives and truly beat this pandemic.”

Employees who are already vaccinated will be asked to prove their vaccination status through the Virginia Department of Health. Those who are not currently vaccinated are required to begin the vaccination process so that they are fully vaccinated by October 1.

When appropriate, medical and religious exemptions will be granted. Medical exemption requests must be signed by a licensed medical provider, and religious exemption requests must be notarized. All unvaccinated employees will be required to adhere to appropriate precautionary measures, in accordance with guidance from the Virginia Department of Health.

The policy will apply to all city employees, including those who telework. Those who do not comply will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Department of Human Resources guidelines.


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City of Richmond to mandate vaccination for city employees

Today Mayor Stoney announced that the City of Richmond will require all city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We take this step not only to ensure the health and safety of our employees and their families, but also to safeguard the comfort and well-being of residents, customers, visitors and the public at large,” said Mayor Stoney. “The vaccine is our greatest tool to save lives and truly beat this pandemic.”

Employees who are already vaccinated will be asked to prove their vaccination status through the Virginia Department of Health. Those who are not currently vaccinated are required to begin the vaccination process so that they are fully vaccinated by October 1.

When appropriate, medical and religious exemptions will be granted. Medical exemption requests must be signed by a licensed medical provider, and religious exemption requests must be notarized. All unvaccinated employees will be required to adhere to appropriate precautionary measures, in accordance with guidance from the Virginia Department of Health.

The policy will apply to all city employees, including those who telework. Those who do not comply will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Department of Human Resources guidelines.


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