Richmond’s experience has made one thing clear: collective bargaining is an asset to our City, our workforce, and the residents we serve. It strengthens our ability to recruit, retain, and support the people who deliver essential services every day. As the Commonwealth considers the future of public sector collective bargaining, we believe it is important to share Richmond’s experience and reaffirm our commitment to this proven tool. As shared in a statement sent to media and our labor partners on April 28, 2026, we continue to affirm our commitment to collective bargaining and are proud of the progress collective bargaining has brought. We await the Governor’s action and remain committed to collective bargaining as a tool that helps us to build a thriving Richmond.  

See below for statement sent April 28, 2026:

Richmond officially enacted collective bargaining in 2022, making the City one of the first localities to use the authority granted by the Commonwealth allowing local public sector workers to unionize and collectively bargain. Simply put, we proudly support organized labor in Richmond.  

Legislation passed this General Assembly session would expand public sector collective bargaining across the Commonwealth. The City, together with our partners in labor, is uniquely positioned to anticipate how changes to state code will impact existing collective bargaining agreements, City operations, and the services we provide to residents.   

Drawing on our early experience and partnership with labor, we offered the Governor’s staff and the legislation’s patrons our observations for consideration. Now that the state legislative process has moved forward, our focus is on strong and effective implementation.  

Collective bargaining is a valuable tool that strengthens our City services by investing in our most valuable resource – our people. We remain committed to our workforce and to successful implementation of this new statewide legislation.  

The Richmond City Electoral Board will hold a public meeting with the following details:

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 2134 W. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23227

This notice is being provided to alert the public that an Electoral Board meeting is scheduled. The agenda for this meeting will be posted once it has been reviewed and approved by the Electoral Board.

Please note that the agenda is subject to change. Items may be added, removed, or modified prior to or during the meeting, as permitted by law. If you would like to sign up for public comment for items on and off the agenda, please email [email protected] by Tuesday, May 12th at 4:00 p.m.

This meeting will be recorded.

Additional updates related to meeting logistics will be communicated as necessary.

Meeting Agenda - 05/13/26 

Join Live Meeting → 

Join by Phone: 
Dial: 1 804-316-9457
Access Code: 516 846 340#

The Richmond Office of Elections will close today, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., due to a power outage and connectivity issues impacting office operations.

At this time, service disruptions prevent us from effectively assisting voters in person or accessing necessary systems.

Connectivity is expected to be restored by approximately 8:00 p.m. this evening, and the office plans to reopen during regular business hours on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

If you need assistance, please contact our office at [email protected]

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

78 new affordable homes transform six acres of vacant land into a vibrant, mixed-income community for Richmond families   

What was once six acres of vacant land is now a place that 78 families can call home. On May 4, 2026, Mayor Avula, and local and state affordable housing leaders across the public and private sectors celebrated the opening of Bellevue Gardens in the northside Rosedale neighborhood of the City of Richmond. Bellevue Gardens is a new, 78 unit mixed-income development that brings to life Mayor Avula and the City’s commitment to creating more homes for more people and building thriving neighborhoods. 

Bellevue Gardens features a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments serving families at 30%, 50%, 60%, and 80% Area Median Income (AMI), ensuring that housing works for real Richmonders at a range of income levels. All seventy-eight units are universally designed, and the development employed green building techniques, is National Green Building Standard Silver certified and HIEE certified. 

“This success is a testament to the power of collaboration—local, state, and federal partners coming together and pooling their resources. Projects like these simply don’t happen on their own. They require determination, creativity, and teamwork. It takes complex tax financing and strategic partnerships. These complexities make today’s achievements even more meaningful,” said Merrick Malone, Director, City of Richmond Housing and Community Development .  

“It’s truly inspiring to witness the transformation of this neighborhood and reflect on the community it serves. With 78 new units available for families earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income, this project embodies our city’s commitment to creating spaces where everyone—across the affordability spectrum—can find a home and build a life together,” said Mayor Danny Avula . “This development addresses a critical need: the City of Richmond needs more home for more people searching for a place to rest their heads. I want to thank the many partners – City Council, our state partners and federal representatives, and so many others who came together to bring this vision to life. By doing so, they’ve provided not just housing, but dignity—beautiful homes that anyone would be proud to live in, regardless of income.” 

“This project came together because partners aligned around a shared goal and brought their tools, resources, and expertise to the table,” said Jen Surber, Managing Member, Surber Development and Consulting, LLC. “Affordable housing can be the reality for many more people when we collaborate with a shared vision, and I look forward to seeing Bellevue Gardens become a cornerstone for the community—a place where families can thrive, children can grow, and neighbors can build lasting connections. It’s not just about constructing buildings; it’s about creating a foundation for opportunity and belonging. I am grateful to everyone who played a part in making this community a reality.” 

“Bellevue Gardens represents a thoughtful, approach to expanding housing opportunities while maintaining long-term affordability,” said Phil Cunningham, Assistant Director of Tax Credit Programs, Virginia Housing. “Virginia Housing is proud to support developments like Bellevue Gardens that bring high-quality, energy-efficient, and affordable homes to communities across the Commonwealth.” 

The $27.4 million development was made possible through a layered financing strategy that reflects the strength of cross-sector collaboration. 

Funding sources include: 

• VHDA LIHTC 9% Equity: $13,056,491 (Syndicator – Redstone Equity Partners) 
• 45L credits: Syndicator – Redstone Equity Partners
• VHDA Permanent Financing: $9,335,000
• DHCD Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency (HIEE): $2,000,000
• DHCD Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF): $900,000 
• DHCD National Housing Trust Fund (VHTF): $900,000  
• City of Richmond Equitable Affordable Housing (EAHP): $750,000
• Deferred Developer Fee: $153,012
• Total Developer Costs: $27,416,253 

Construction financing was provided by United Bank. 

Bellevue Gardens also integrates supportive housing components to serve residents with additional needs. Through a partnership with the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA), five units are targeted to permanent supportive housing participants. The development also includes 19 project-based Section 8 vouchers through the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA). 

The project participates in the City of Richmond’s Performance Grant program and reflects a broader commitment to building communities that are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to residents’ needs. 

Projects like Bellevue Gardens demonstrate how collaboration across city, state, and federal partners — alongside private lenders, equity investors, and service providers — can transform underutilized land into thriving neighborhoods that expand opportunity for generations of Richmonders.

The Richmond Economic Development Authority (EDA), in partnership with the City of Richmond, launched the Activation & Beautification CARE (ABC) Grant Program, a new initiative designed to bring energy, visibility, and renewed investment to Richmond’s commercial corridors.

Funding is available to support interim activation and beautification projects, with award amounts based on the scope, and project implementation costs up to a defined maximum of $25,000. Projects may be eligible for up to an additional $25,000 in grant funds if they have match funding.

This program is designed to help bring new ideas to life—supporting creative, visible projects that activate corridors, address vacancy, and contribute to long-term revitalization.

“Every corridor tells a story about our city,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “This program is about helping our communities shape that story, creating spaces that reflect pride, creativity, and opportunity while supporting the small businesses that power Richmond’s economy.”

From public art and storefront activations to lighting, landscaping, and pop-up experiences, the ABC Grant Program is focused on helping Richmond’s commercial corridors become more vibrant, welcoming destinations for residents, visitors, and entrepreneurs.

“Corridor-focused economic development requires a multi-pronged approach. This program centers on interim activation activities, projects that beautify and attract new foot traffic to our CARE areas, by delivering visible improvements in the short-term,” said Angie Rodgers, Director of Economic Development. “It complements the City's permanent activation efforts, which encourage redevelopment and attract new private investment.”

Projects must be located within one of Richmond’s designated Commercial Area Revitalization Effort (CARE) areas, which are targeted corridors identified for strategic investment and revitalization. Applicants can confirm eligibility and explore CARE area boundaries using the City’s interactive map.

To help organizations and stakeholders learn more about the program, the City will host a virtual information session on Wednesday, May 13 at 11:30 a.m. Those that are interested can register here.

Whether it’s a mural that reflects neighborhood culture, coordinated window displays that activate vacant storefronts, or a pop-up concept that brings new energy to an underutilized block, these projects are intended to create a visible impact.

Interested participants can learn more at https://richmondeda.com/activation-grants/