Richmond is offering loans of up to $20,000 for small businesses within city limits to help employers cover labor costs to keep businesses open and pay employee wages. The application is now available on RVAStrong and will be linked to from the Economic Relief Resources section of the city’s dedicated webpage, here.

The RVAStrong webpage includes information on eligibility, supplemental documents required alongside the application, and a PDF of the application itself.

Interested parties should email the following documentation to Rick Winston at the Department of Economic Development:

• Completed and signed Richmond Small Business Disaster Loan Program application;
• Documentation of weekly payroll expenses for the last eight weeks;
• Two years of the company’s financial statements;
• Two years of the business signed tax returns; and
• Two years of the applicants’ individual signed taxed returns.

There is a limited amount of funding for this program. Applications will be considered in the order in which they are submitted.

1. ¿Cómo puedo solicitar beneficios?

Por Internet: https://www.commonhelp.virginia.gov
Por teléfono: 1-855-635-4370
Por fax: 804-646-7018
Por escrito: Buzón en Marshall Plaza (900 E. Marshall Street)
                   Buzón en Southside Plaza (4100 Hull Street)

2. ¿Cómo puedo saber el estado actual de mi solicitud de beneficios (SNAP, TANF, y MEDICAID)?

Por teléfono: 1-855-635-4370
Por Internet: https://www.commonhelp.virginia.gov

3. ¿Cómo obtengo una tarjeta electrónica (EBT) de reemplazo si la perdí, la dañé o me la robaron?

Por teléfono: 1-866-281-2448 
(Línea gratuita de servicio al cliente, atención las 24 horas)

4. ¿Cómo puedo enviar la documentación solicitada para mi caso (únicamente para verificaciones requeridas, renovaciones pendientes, reportes interinos de SNAP y formularios de cambio)?

Por correo electrónico: dss-docs@richmondgov.com

5. ¿Cómo puedo reportar abuso o negligencia infantil o a adultos mayores? 

Por teléfono (abuso o negligencia infantil): 804-646-0438
(Fuera del horario de oficina: 1-800-552-7096)
Por teléfono (abuso o negl. de adultos mayores): 804-646-7405

-->(Fuera del horario de oficina: 1-888-832-3858)
6. ¿Cómo sé quién es mi trabajador social?

Por teléfono: 311 o 804-646-7000

7. ¿Dónde puedo encontrar ayudas adicionales durante la pandemia de COVID19?

 Distribución de comidas: https://www.rvaschools.net/Page/7351
 Envíe mensaje de texto "COMIDA" al 877-877
 Subsidio para cuidado de niños: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/cc/index.html

City of Richmond COVID-19 Public Briefing
Friday, April 3, 2020

City and partners launch centralized relief website: www.RVAStrong.org

The website is a source of help for those who need it and way to help for those who want to.
Tell your story, add a resource, or just explore your relief options at www.RVAStrong.org. You can also sign up for the public briefing to be sent to your email!

The City of Richmond thanks small businesses, offers resources for paying employees

Richmond Economic Development Authority proposes a small business disaster loan program. 
The maximum $20,000 loans will go toward keeping employees on payroll, allowing businesses to stay open and continue to employ people. 

The application for interested businesses will be available on Monday, April 6 on www.RVAStrong.org.

Robins Foundation starts Family Crisis Fund for families who have lost income due to COVID-19

The City of Richmond matched the foundation’s generosity, funding $500,000 of relief checks for eligible Richmond families. 
To learn more about this opportunity, visit RVAStrong here and fill out the interest form. 

Mayor provides weekly update 

Click here to watch the Mayor’s update on YouTube. 
Parks and Rec leads the way in social distancing

The administration this week took several measures to ensure that parks users abide by social distancing guidelines.

Restricted activities:
·      Playing sports on courts in parks and public schools, like basketball, pickleball, and tennis;
·      Using playgrounds in parks and public schools;
·      Sunbathing in the James River Park System;
·      Swimming in the James River; and 
·      Generally gathering in groups along the James.
 
Parks staff have started taking down basketball hoops and tennis nets to make sure people aren’t grouping to play those sports. This is a public safety measure. 

Richmond residents are still encouraged to exercise outside. This is listed as an essential activity under the Governor’s order, and responsibly using the city parks is a great option for recreation. 

Mayor Stoney announced today that the City of Richmond will provide a $500,000 match to the Robins Foundation Family Crisis Fund. The money will fund relief payments to families in the City of Richmond. 
The Robins Foundation announced the launch of the fund, intended to aid families with children in the Greater Richmond Region that have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier today, Friday, April 3.   
Under the Robins initiative, which includes an investment from the foundation of $500,000, eligible families will receive a one-time payment of $500. The city’s Office of Community Wealth Building will facilitate disbursement of city funds to interested and eligible families, working with Enrichmond as the nonprofit partner coordinating with Robins.
Households who have lost income due to COVID-19 may qualify. This could include losing wages due to reduction of hours or layoffs, losing wages while caring for children out of school, or incurring additional cost for childcare due to school closures.
Interested parties may contribute to the fund so that more families in the region, including the city, can receive support. Those interested in learning more or contributing to the fund are encouraged to visit www.robinsfdn.org.
“We are grateful to our community partners like the Robins Foundation who continue to step up to do the right thing and help those in a time of need,” said Mayor Stoney. “This is a challenging time for all, but efforts like this represent Richmond at its best.”
For information on how to qualify for assistance, please call the Office of Community Wealth Building: 804-646-6464 or fill out an intake form that will be available on this page of RVAStrong.