The City’s Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall announced today that Stephen W. Harms has been appointed as the Interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services, effective Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Mayor Dwight C. Jones said, “I’m very pleased that Mr. Harms is joining this administration. He brings great knowledge and a calming influence to a very important area of our city government.” Harms who is currently retired, most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Tim Kaine. Prior to this position, he served as the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources under Governor Kaine. He also served as the Deputy Secretary of Finance and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources under Governor Warner, and was responsible for advising the Governor and Cabinet Secretaries. Harms also served as a Legislative Fiscal Analyst on the staff of the Senate Finance Committee, and as a Legislative Analyst for the General Assembly’s Joint Legis...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today on the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. “My heart holds deep regret and sorrow as I learned of the tragedy in Connecticut today. On behalf of the entire Richmond community, I offer my sincerest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims as well as to all of those affected by this tragedy. This type of nonsensical attack, as well as the recent Oregon shopping mall tragedy, are occurrences that can take an enormous toll on a community. It is my hope that we will one day live in a world that is without horrific events such as these.”

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement concerning the CAA Men’s Basketball Championships move to Baltimore for the 2014-2016 seasons: “Richmond provided a robust and competitive bid for the 2014-2016 CAA Tournament. However, after a long and successful history in Richmond, the CAA has notified the City that they will be moving to Baltimore following the 2013 season. We understand the move to be the result of conference realignments that have shifted the fan base of the tournament. With the changing landscape of the conference and the loss of two local prominent universities, it appears that the move to Baltimore fits the tournaments’ long term goals at this time. “We have had a great partnership for twenty-four years with the CAA and have shared many successes. We wish the CAA well and thank them for the long history. With respect to what’s on the city’s horizon related to our Coliseum operations, our perspective is that when one door closes, another opens. Even with CAA...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones will be joined by Capital One executives to announce the launch of the Building Better Businesses…Steps to Success Mentorship Program. The City of Richmond and Capital One will introduce the 2012-2013 protégés of the program, which is designed to provide mentoring in the areas of finance, technical expertise, marketing, and operations. Capital One has graduated over 60 regional businesses from similar mentoring programs in other states.  The City of Richmond selected ten businesses, located in the city of Richmond, for the 12 month program following an application and interview process. Capital One then chose a mentor to assign to each company based on their unique needs. The selected participants are all community-based minority- and women-owned businesses. Virginia Union University will support the program with the placement of interns in the selected businesses. WHO:             Mayor D...

Press Secretary Tammy D. Hawley provided the following statement today concerning the Richmond Department of Social Services: “The City Administration has reached a mutual agreement with Dr. Carolyn Graham, deputy chief administrative officer for Human Services, regarding her departure from city service.  Dr. Graham’s last official day in the office was Friday, December 7, 2012.  Dr. Graham will be working with city leadership over the next few weeks to provide a transition plan for many of the important projects for which she had oversight responsibility. The City’s chief administrative officer, Byron Marshall, will serve as acting deputy chief administrative officer for Human Services until another interim deputy is named. “The City remains focused on the ongoing review of the Richmond Department of Social Services (RDSS) Child Welfare division. At our request, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is continuing to review additional case files following...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today following the passage of the City's Riverfront Plan:   “Richmond’s riverfront is such a great jewel and the passage of the Riverfront Plan is a very significant step for our city.  With this plan we have an opportunity to redefine Richmond through our spectacular Riverfront .   “At the core of the Plan is a desire to create a single, cohesive Riverfront system that expands the use of the James River, and connects our Downtown, our neighborhoods, our visitors, and most importantly, our citizens, to the River.  The plan represents our long-range vision for the Riverfront and the beginning of what I believe will be a great and lasting public legacy. “For decades upon decades, we have erected many barriers to riverfront access. I’m so pleased that we have, through this action, laid the framework to begin removing the barriers and creating solid connections to the River. “With this plan we can imp...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement in anticipation of the City Council vote tonight on the Redskins Summer Training Camp Economic Development Package : “ A little over a month ago we announced a $42 million dollar multi-site development and jobs proposal for the city of Richmond. This major announcement for our city came about as a result of the unique opportunity that we have to welcome the Washington Redskins Summer Training Camp to Richmond, Virginia for the next eight years. The Washington Redskins calling Richmond home is predicated on us delivering an acceptable training camp site. And after much work carried out by our Steering Committee and others, we then brought forward our plan to make it happen. But we didn’t just bring forward a plan to build a training facility, we brought forward an economic development plan for our city that includes enhanced health services in the East End and the West End, more jobs, economic growth and business expansion. “T...

The City’s Department of Economic & Community Development (ECD) has launched a new website that includes a new video series and additional marketing materials. The new website, YesRichmondVA.com will continue to undergo additional development and beginning January 2013, will replace the current ECD website at RichmondGov.com . “We are so pleased to roll out this new set of tools and marketing pieces that showcase the city’s many assets as well as the business and community leaders that support, promote and make Richmond a tier one city each and every day,” stated Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “The approach we are taking is designed to show the many strengths of the city and the diversity of opportunities that can be found here.” In the fall of 2011, ECD began research and development on the marketing initiative, hiring economic development marketing firm Atlas Advertising and local creative professionals Terry Stroud from In Your Ear, Tim Dowdle from Dreams Factory and Daphne R...

The City of Richmond is proud to announce that RVA On Ice will be returning to Downtown Richmond this winter season. Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance announces their sponsorship of  Farm Bureau Winter Park at RVA On Ice  for the 2012-2013 season. Farm Bureau Winter Park at RVA On Ice is scheduled to open Friday, November 23, 2012 and run through Thursday, January 31, 2013. This is the third season of the downtown ice rink, which was a vision of Mayor Dwight C. Jones to have in downtown Richmond. The 8,400 square foot ice skating rink is adjacent to Richmond CenterStage at  6th Street on the Broad Street side. Skaters can enjoy hot chocolate, S'mores, classic holiday music and movies, a fire pit and Snack Shack. Free arts and crafts sessions will be offered by the City of Richmond's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Office of Cultural Arts Programs on Saturdays and other special events and appearance will occur throughout the season. Hours of Opera...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that IBM has selected the city of Richmond to receive an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant https://smartercitieschallenge.org/ . The Mayor will receive the grant during a special recognition dinner this evening in Palisades, NY, following a day long summit of leaders from cities involved in the Smarter Cities Challenge program. The grant provides the City with access in 2013 to some of IBM's top experts to analyze and recommend ways Richmond can become an even better place in which to live and work. Launched in 2011, the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year, 100-city, $50 million competitive grant program. “It is an honor to receive the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant as this resource of human capital will prove invaluable in moving Richmond forward as we continue our work of enhancing our economic and workforce development efforts,” said Mayor Jones. “Richmond is a city of great opportunity as we have a wealth of amenitie...

~Paving Projects Totaling $1,426,000 Million Begin This Month~ The City of Richmond Department of Public Works announced the continuation of city paving projects to take place throughout the month of November and into December. Paving work totaling $1,426,000 million, which begins on Monday, November 12, supports the City Administration’s commitment to improving the city’s infrastructure. Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced an aggressive infrastructure improvement effort in 2010 to repave 25 percent of neighborhood streets over a five year period. The following projects should be completed by mid-December. The project areas are: North Richmond 11/12/12–11/21/12  Brook Road between Brookland Park Boulevard and Lombardy Ave The Fan Streets 11/19/12 – 12/21/12 Grove Avenue between Park Avenue to the Boulevard Floyd Avenue between Cherry Street to the Boulevard Hanover Avenue between Park Avenue to the Boulevard There will be intermittent lane closures and/or street clo...

Mayor Jones welcomes dignitaries and college presidents as panelists   The City of Richmond is hosting the “Framing the Issues and Looking to the Future” Health Care Symposium on November 8-9, 2012, in the city’s downtown. The symposium will focus on the health care delivery system in the city of Richmond, with a goal of engaging the broader community in dialogue about ways to attract and retain health care practitioners to live and work in the city. “This symposium is an outgrowth of the work of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Policy,” said Mayor Jones. “That Commission highlighted the need for us to identify ways to add to our health care infrastructure in the city of Richmond. With this symposium, we are going to explore ways to encourage physicians to locate practices in the city of Richmond and we are going to consider what incentives we may be able to offer to spur interest in targeted areas of our city.” "There is a long-standing shortage of min...

~ Bon Secours investment to spur multi-site development and jobs ~ Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced the city’s plan to develop the Leigh Street (Science Museum) site as the new home of Washington Redskins Summer Training Camp beginning in 2013.  In making the announcement, the Mayor also disclosed that Bon Secours Richmond Health System (BSRHS) and the City have formulated a comprehensive strategy to stimulate new economic development and jobs throughout the city. “We are announcing an agreement today that has overall merits for the entire city,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “Our efforts have leveraged the world-class opportunity of bringing the Washington Redskins Summer Training Camp to Richmond into an estimated $40 million investment in our city with greatly expanded benefits.” Components of the Bon Secours Richmond Health System letter of intent include: ·         BSRHS participation will enable the construction of the Redskins prac...

~“Yorktown” passenger vessel bringing tourists to the City~ The Cruise Ship “Yorktown”, which travels along the East Coast, is preparing to anchor at the River City’s Intermediate Terminal on Wharf Street on October 26 and November 1. The Yorktown is a U.S. Flag vessel and the trip marks the first time the ship’s passengers will disembark in Richmond. They will spend each day visiting historical sites in the City before boarding the ship for the next port of call.  New York based Travel Dynamics International cruise line offers the weeklong cruises. The ship starts its voyage in Alexandria with its last call in Philadelphia. The Yorktown is 256 feet long, 45 feet wide, with a draft of 9 feet. It can carry 140 passengers and has a crew of 40.  To prepare the Intermediate Terminal for the vessel’s arrival, the Department of Public Works and the Department of Economic and Community Development provided $13,000 for improvements, which included the addition of two moo...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones was joined by Virginia Clean Cities today for the opening of Richmond Omni Hotel's first public charging station. The City of Richmond has been an important partner in the Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative --- a planning grant for electric vehicles through the Clean Cities Community Readiness and Planning for Plug-In Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure grant.  “This effort fits into Richmond’s triple bottom line goals of the City’s RVAgreen plans of sustainability and will help lower greenhouse gas emissions in the city.” comments Mayor Dwight C. Jones. "The RVAgreen Plan supports electric vehicles and charging stations because they provide options that are more economically competitive and environmentally resilient than traditional vehicles." Ford Motor Company chose Richmond as one of the first 25 "EV Ready" cities in the country and a launch market for its all-electric Ford Focus.  "Electric vehicles and in...

~Paving Projects Totaling $1.4 Million Begin This Month~ The City of Richmond Department of Public Works announced the continuation of city paving projects to take place throughout the month of October and into November.  Paving work totaling $1.4 million, which begins on Tuesday, October 16, is in accord with the City Administration’s commitment to improving the city’s infrastructure. Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced an aggressive infrastructure improvement effort in 2010 to repave 25 percent of neighborhood streets over a five year period. The following projects should be completed by the end of November. The project areas are:  October 16, Williamsburg Road between Hatcher Street and the eastern City limits October 20, East Richmond Road between Oakwood Avenue and the eastern City limits October 22, Belt Boulevard between Hull Street and Broad Rock Boulevard October 24, Cowardin Avenue between Riverside Drive and Decatur Street November 1, Hull Street between J...

~Fan Permit Parking Zones 1-2 and Carver Permit Parking Zone~ Residents and visitors in parts of the Fan and Carver districts will soon see clean-up crews in their neighborhoods on a routine basis.  On Monday, October 15 the City’s Special Residential Parking District Clean Sweep Program goes into effect.   The initiative is designed to enhance the cleanliness of designated areas by cleaning the sidewalks and tree wells; picking up litter; removing posters and advertisements from utility poles, street signs, and other areas located on public property; reporting graffiti, environmental issues, missing or broken street signs/lights; providing weed abatement and limited maintenance and pruning of existing vegetation in tree wells and planters. Local Minority Business Enterprise, Community Business Group (CBG) won a contract for $250,000 to perform the service, following adoption of a resolution by City Council authorizing the use of certain increased parking ticket ...

The City of Richmond’s Finance Department is filling five key positions in the month of October while also enhancing its revenue collection strategies. A number of technology upgrades are expected to improve customer service and heighten customer outreach. Sharon Judkins, the deputy chief administrative officer for Finance and Administration, stated, “For the past six months, I’ve been focused on rebuilding and restructuring the city’s finance operation. With these appointments, we are well on our way to making necessary improvements.” Positions being filled include Deputy Director II (10/22), Marlo Von Kemp; Deputy Director I (10/15), Paul Jez; Controller (10/8), Alvin Cannon; Economist (10/15), Michael Gilbert; and Business Management Officer (10/8) Muhammed Owusu. A focus has been placed on revenue collection strategies and improving data integrity.  Steps being taken include (1) pre-billing notices to taxpayers, affording an opportunity to verify and clarify data, (2) more fre...