Richmond, VA - On Friday, October 17, the City of Richmond published "Resilient Richmond," an initial assessment document detailing the City's response to the ongoing federal government shutdown and its commitment to maintaining essential services for all residents. The document, available at go.rva.gov/shutdown, provides transparency about potential impacts while outlining the City's strategic response plan.

Mayor Danny Avula, drawing on his experience leading Richmond and Henrico Health Districts through the 35-day shutdown in 2018, emphasized the city's preparedness. "While this moment brings uncertainty, it isn't uncharted territory. We've navigated this before-and we will again," said Mayor Danny Avula. "My commitment is to stay as transparent as possible and to keep residents informed as we learn more."

The assessment reveals significant potential impacts on Richmond and its residents:

• More than 54,000 residents rely on SNAP benefits for food assistance
• Over 3,000 families dependent on TANF for basic needs
• Nearly $90 million in food and basic needs spending across our local economy-almost all of it from federal funding
• $3.9 million in federal fuel assistance that helped residents through last year's heating season

Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II noted that while essential city services including water, sanitation, emergency response, and waste collection will continue uninterrupted, approximately 160 of the city's 400+ federally supported programs could experience negative impacts from funding delays.

The city has developed a comprehensive six-point response strategy:

1. Mitigating economic harm through a 60-day financial contingency plan
2. Absorbing operational stress while maintaining continuity of essential services
3. Protecting low-income and vulnerable residents through prioritized support
4. Maintaining communication with federal partners
5. Advocating with state and federal officials on behalf of Richmond
6. Providing frequent, transparent communication to all stakeholders

"While the circumstances around the current federal shutdown state are not ideal, the prudent fiscal management and steady leadership of our Mayor and Council have positioned the City of Richmond to continue the consistent delivery of core services and safeguard essential operations during what we hope is a brief impasse," said Donald. "As we navigate these uncertain waters, this report is meant to provide transparency to our public, our partners, and other key stakeholders potentially impacted."

The Department of Social Services, Housing & Community Development, and Public Utilities face the most immediate impacts, with DSS experiencing the largest effect as over half its funding comes from federal programs.

Residents are encouraged to:

• Visit go.rva.gov/shutdown for the full document and ongoing updates
• Follow @rvagov on Instagram and Facebook for real-time information
• Sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts for critical notifications

The city will continue monitoring the situation daily and will provide regular updates as the situation evolves.