On-Site Supplier Portal Registration Available to New Businesses 

Richmond, VA  — The City of Richmond Department of Procurement Services (DPS), in partnership with the Office of Minority Business Development, is pleased to announce Supplier Connect: Access & Opportunity Summit, a City-sponsored event to connect business owners and entrepreneurs with City Departments and staff.  

The event is for established and new businesses alike and will offer opportunities to: 

1. Connect directly with a variety of City agencies involved in contracting and procurement work
2. Discover upcoming projects aligned with the DPS project forecast calendar
3. Register for the City of Richmond Supplier portal 
4. Build relationships that can position your business for future opportunities 

“We are always on the lookout for new partners who can help us deliver strong, capable, and consistent services to our residents,” said  Director of Procurement Services Rene Alamaraz . “Events like this are about opening doors and fostering collaboration which is sure to benefit all involved.”  

The event will take place on  Tuesday, April 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m . in the  Main Street Station Headhouse  (1500 E. Main St., 2nd floor). Parking is free of charge in the lot directly across the street from the Main Street Station front entrance. 

Participating City offices include: 

Department of Utilities 

Department of Public Works

Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities

Department of General Services

Department of Information Technology

Department of Finance

Department of Planning and Development Review

Office of Minority Business Development

Department of Procurement Services  

Please  register here  to confirm your attendance.  

New suppliers who are interested in registering in the City’s supplier portal are asked to bring a completed  W-9  and  ACH  payment form.  

Posted March 31, 2026

RICHMOND, Va. – The City of Richmond is reducing the speed limit on Westover Hills Boulevard between Forest Hill Avenue and the Nickel Bridge/toll plaza to 25 MPH.

 The decision to lower the speed limit is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to Vision Zero, an initiative aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries by prioritizing safer streets for all users. New signage reflecting the updated 25 MPH speed limit will be installed in mid-April.

 “Westover Hills Boulevard has always been a road of connection,” said Councilwoman Sarah Abubaker. “As our neighborhoods have evolved, so has the way people travel—shifting from primarily cars to a mix of pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-vehicular commuters. Lowering the speed limit reflects our community’s evolving safety needs and the clear feedback we’ve heard from residents.”

 “By decreasing vehicle speeds, we create a safer environment for everyone—especially our most vulnerable road users,” said Richmond Transportation Director, Andy Boenau. “Managing speeds through engineering, enforcement, and education is part of our ongoing commitment to create a transportation system that’s comfortable for all ages, all abilities, and all modes of travel.” 

 Please give our construction workers extra space and slow down when you approach work zones.

 Residents are encouraged to stay informed about traffic safety initiatives on the City’s Vision Zero efforts at https://www.rva.gov/vision-zero. 

We're Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities, and events visit us on X @DPW_RichmondVA and follow us at x.com/RVA_DOT for news and transportation projects.

Posted March 31, 2026

RICHMOND, VA. – The Richmond Department of Transportation will install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and St. Christopher’s Road as part of its ongoing commitment to Vision Zero. Construction for the project is scheduled to begin in early April, weather permitting, and is expected to be completed by Summer 2026. 

This project includes the installation of:

• ADA-compliant curb ramps
• High-Visibility crosswalks, and
• Countdown pedestrian signal heads
• High-visibility traffic signals with reflective backplates (HVSB)
  
  • Used to improve signal recognition for drivers by creating contrast and enhancing visibility at night and in low-light conditions. 

“Every infrastructure improvement we make is grounded in Vision Zero,” said Richmond Transportation Director, Andy Boenau. “This installation reflects our data-driven approach to identifying high-risk locations and delivering targeted solutions that make a difference for the community.”

During construction, there will be intermittent lane and sidewalk closures. Please give our construction workers extra space. Please slow down in work zones and whenever you see orange cones.

This $680,000 project is funded through General Obligation (G.O.) bonds.

Vision Zero emphasizes safe systems approach to prevent severe crashes. By combining safe speeds, safe vehicles, safe roads, and safe people, and the best post-crash care, the City continues to build a healthier transportation network that prioritizes safe access using engineering, education, and enforcement.

For more information about Vision Zero, visit rva.gov/visionzero or email us at [email protected].

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities, and events, visit us X  @DPW_RichmondVA and follow us at x.com/RVA_DOT for transportation news and projects. 

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 225 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; urban forestry; civil engineering and capital improvement projects along with the Department of Transportation (DOT). DPW delivers essential services that keep the city clean, safe, and healthy. The DOT plans, builds and maintains the city’s transportation system to ensure safe, reliable, and equitable mobility for all users. The department is responsible for traffic operations, street signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, bike lanes, and transportation programs that support economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. Guided by the city’s Vision Zero commitment, the DOT works to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries through data-driven policies, street design, and community partnerships. In addition, the DOT issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages Main Street Station and the RVA Bike Share Program. Report service requests to RVA311.com or call 3-1-1.

The Richmond Office of Elections will be closed on Friday, April 3, 2026, in observance of the Spring Holiday.

Please note that early voting will not be available on this day.

Early voting will resume during regularly scheduled hours on the next voting day. Voters are encouraged to plan ahead and review important dates and voting information before visiting.

View Election Updates and Voting Information
rva.gov/elections/news

Need Assistance? 

Call: (804) 646-5950

Email: [email protected]

In a memorandum delivered to City Council on Monday, Richmond’s Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II provided a performance update to City Council on the RVA Pay Gap grant program . The program, which provides income-based housing grants to qualifying Richmonders, was paused in January to give staff additional time to process program applications and to reevaluate the program’s administration with an eye towards efficiency and the timely delivery of financial assistance.

“Director Shelton and our Finance team has been working in overdrive these past two months to clear the backlog in Gap Grant applications,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Tanikia Jackson “Doing so gives us the space and time to now focus on more permanent solutions to improved program delivery and to focus on delivering core services.”

“Between January and March 2026,” the memo reads, “staff have processed 1,802 backlog applications resulting in an average of 29 daily or 100 to 145 applications per week for approximately twelve (12) weeks.”

Of the 3,931 applications received since the program's inception, the memo details:

• 53% were received without the required documentation
• 32% were denied because:
  • The applicants were non-residents;
  • They were already receiving public assistance;
  • They did not meet the low-income threshold;
  • Their housing cost was equal to or greater than 30% of household income

In that same January to March time frame, the City distributed an additional $388,800 to residents in need, bringing the total program distribution to $732,000 across more than 600 applicants.

“We are committed to delivering dependable services to Richmonders. Hitting our internal goal to clear this Gap Grant backlog is a key step in reaching that standard” said CAO Donald . “We remain laser focused on best-in-class service delivery for all   programming, and we’re seeing step-by-step improvement in Finance: highlighted by progress on the Gap Grant, to our recent unmodified audit opinion with the ACFR, and the historic resolution of audit recommendations in coordination with the City Auditor.”

As a next step, CAO Donald is recommending that the City reappropriate the Gap Grant program’s unobligated funds to a third-party, non-profit vendor which can oversee the administration of the program and further allow Finance staff to focus on the delivery of core services.

The reallocation of $3,168,000.00 in unobligated funds to a nonprofit organization is just one of several next steps proposed in the memo. The others include: a repeal and replacement of existing legislation to improve program design and implementation, community outreach planning, and the consolidation and documentation of lessons learned so that they may be incorporated into program delivery.

“Clearing the backlog, as committed, is step one,” the memo says. “Next, aligning the resources that have been allocated to the appropriate service delivery is poised to support Richmonders in need, as originally intended by the enabling legislation.”

About the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program

Introduced at the end of 2024 for a 2025 rollout, the RVA Stay Gap Grant Program is a first-come, first-serve housing relief program that offers a one-time payment of $1200 for rental or mortgage payment assistance to qualifying applicants. This program is jointly operated by the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Services to provide financial assistance that helps fill the gap for low-income households in the City of Richmond.