Posted March 18, 2025

The program will provide grants to small businesses significantly impacted by January’s water emergency. 

Applications are now open for the Small Business Recovery Grant Fund. Administered by the Metropolitan Business League (MBL), the program will provide grants to small businesses significantly impacted by January’s water emergency. Applications will close on March 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. 

Businesses can learn more about the program, including eligibility requirements, on the MBL’s website. The City of Richmond Office of Minority Business Development is offering technical assistance to businesses that need support applying for the program. Please contact Lisette Johnson at lisette.johnson@rva.gov to schedule a technical assistance appointment. 

About the Small Business Recovery Grant Fund: The Small Business Water Recovery Grant Fund provides financial assistance to small businesses significantly impacted by the January 2025 water outage in Richmond, VA. The program is a public-private partnership administered by the MBL in collaboration with Bridging Virginia (a Community Development Financial Institution), seeded with a total initial investment of $500,000 provided by the City of Richmond Economic Development Authority, Dominion Energy, and Altria. More information about the fund can be found on thembl.org. 

Pledges to continue to release severance details on an annual basis. 

Statement from Mayor Danny Avula:

In July of 2017, City Council passed ORD. 2017-071, which delineated terms of severance in the City's Pay Ordinance, including the requirement that severance only be paid pursuant to a separation agreement. Below you will find the list of severance payments from 2017.

When a City employee signs a separation agreement under the current policy, both the employee and the City of Richmond agree not to disclose the existence of the agreement. In the spirit of the promises made to these employees, I've decided not to release their names.

In the future, we commit to releasing severances provided by the City on an annual basis.

Posted March 14, 2025

~ Projects provide community empowerment along with real-time feedback and evaluation before permanent installations~

RICHMOND, VA – In response to the community’s input via Richmond Connects, The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM), a division within the Department of Public Works (DPW) is taking action to address traffic safety concerns. The OETM team is actively working on several Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) projects across the city. These projects are designed to improve safety (pedestrian and public), promote transportation equity, create more accessible streets, and empower residents through community-driven art installations. Using LQC models allow the city time to address urgent issues with low-cost, temporary interventions prior to securing funding for permanent installations.

LQC Project #1:
Mosby Street and Mechanicsville Turnpike near Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School

• Along Mosby Street at the intersections of P, Q, and R streets
• Mechanicsville Turnpike at T Street and Brauers Lane

Improvements completed:

• Traffic calming curb extension and flexible posts installed
• Planter boxes installed
• Raised, modular, sustainably designed bus boarding platform installed to:
  
  • Increase bus reliability and reduce bus &vehicle conflicts
  • Provide a safer, more comfortable space for bus passengers & enhance the ride
  • Streamline boarding and improve accessibility

MLK Community Art Project | Street Closure:

All lanes in the 1000 Block of Mosby between P and R streets will be closed from March 22 through March 30 for the installation of the street mural in front of MLK Middle School. Note: water walls will be used to keep traffic out of mural painting area. Note: access to the school parking lot and the bus stop loop will be maintained.

Art Project(s): Fostering Community through Art: street mural art (designs and concepts inspired by MLK art students - curated by Sam Skrimpz)

• Photo opportunity: Tuesday, March 25 (weather permitting)
• Note: Additional art projects are planned along the corridor. They will feature art collaborations with various guest artists and students from Peter Paul Development Center and Franklin Military Academy.

LQC Project #2 - the intersection of Hermitage Road and Laburnum Avenue near Linwood Holton Elementary School

Start date:

• Tentative/preliminary starting date in mid to late March or early April

Improvements include:

• Installing traffic calming curb and median extensions, flexible posts and working with the community and students to install street art/mural project near the school. 

Art Project: Design and concepts inspired by Linwood Holton students - curated by Sam Skrimpz

• TBA: the installation date will follow the completion of the planned improvements.

LQC Project #3 - Midlothian Turnpike near Richmond High School for the Arts

• Midlothian Turnpike from 37th Street to Richmond High School for the Arts
• 3700 to 4800 blocks of Midlothian Turnpike

Improvements include:

• Installing traffic calming, road diet and flexible posts and working with the community and students to install a street art/mural project near the school.
• Narrowing Midlothian Turnpike by one lane in one direction as the south/west-bound lanes of Midlothian Turnpike approach the school.
  
  • This improvement will create a safer crossing distance and reduce vehicle speeds so people can safely access walking to the school and to be able to access the upgraded outdoor amenities underway at the school site.

Start date:

• April or May

The LQC program is a key initiative in the city’s efforts to promote transportation equity, improve public safety, and foster community engagement in urban planning. As the first phase of the Richmond Connects implementation process, LQC aims to address pressing safety concerns and provide more immediate solutions while longer-term, permanent infrastructure changes are being developed. Although LQC projects are not intended to replace permanent infrastructure, they provide essential, timely improvements to make streets safer and more accessible in the interim.

These initial projects are just the beginning of a broader effort to enhance neighborhoods across Richmond. Moving forward, the LQC program will continue to focus on promoting safety, improving the transit rider experience, improving accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, and creating opportunities for residents to actively shape the future of their communities.

For more information go to https://www.rva.gov/public-works/lqc

We’re Social! For updates on activities and events visit us on X (Twitter) @DPW_RichmondVA

###

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 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; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

Posted March 14, 2025

Richmond, VA – On Monday, March 17, 2025, the Departments of Procurement Services and Public Works will host a Contracting Partnership Symposium aimed at helping local businesses specializing in construction and related industries connect with the city. The event will provide valuable insights into upcoming projects and offer networking opportunities to strengthen partnerships between the city and local businesses.

At the symposium, attendees will have the chance to learn about upcoming solicitations, including projects involving streetscapes, paving, bridges, and traffic improvements. Experts from both Procurement Services and Public Works will also be on hand during the event to explain how local businesses can engage with the city’s contracting process. A Q&A session will follow, allowing participants to ask questions and gain further understanding of how to work with the city effectively.

“This event is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to get an inside look at the forecast of upcoming projects, to be able to ask questions and learn more about how they can contribute to the city’s infrastructure growth,” said Rene Almaraz, Director, Department of Procurement Services. “We’re excited and committed to building stronger partnerships with the Richmond business community.”

Symposium Information:

• Place: Main Street Station, 2nd Floor (Headhouse)
  1500 E Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219
• Date: March 17, 2025
• Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Registration:  Free Register now !

For more event details and to register, visit Contracting Partnership Symposium.

Posted March 12, 2025

~The enhanced partnership with Bird and Spin empowers subscribers in identified equity zones with affordable, ecofriendly transportation options ~

RICHMOND, Va. – The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM), a division within the Department of Public Works, recently launched an Equity Zone Program designed to provide reduced transportation fees for residents living in identified neighborhoods. Through an expanded partnership with the city’s micromobility vendor Bird and subsidiary company, Spin, the program aims to increase accessibility and reduce transportation barriers in underserved neighborhoods.

The current list of equity zone neighborhoods include:

• Fairfield Court
• Gilpin Court
• Hillside Court
• Mosby Court
• Whitcomb Court

Highlights of the new program include:

• Defined equity zones/neighborhoods
  
  • The program allows riders who live in one of the zones (and who start their trip within the zone) to receive a 50% discount on all scooter rides (regardless of their registration status)
• Eligible riders (from one of the zones) who register for the program receive an added benefit that provides the same 50% discount for all rides - no matter where they access the scooter in the city, meaning they aren’t limited to starting their scooter trip within the equity zone.

Note: eligible program recipients are residents in one of the zones. Riders who access scooters in the equity zones will automatically receive an email from Bird and Spin with information on how to register for the program. The Equity Zone Program is offered by Bird as the Community Pricing Program and Spin at the Access Program. Residents can register for the program by visiting the individual apps for Bird and Spin.

For more information on this program or OETM, please go to: rva.gov/public-works/ e-scooter-program or email AskPublicWorks@rva.gov.  

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities, and events visit us on X @DPW_RichmondVA

                                         ###

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 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; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM) is committed to expanding transportation equity and access throughout the city, including through shared mobility such as e-scooters.