Courtesy Service to Combat Food Deserts Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced a new monthly grocery shuttle offering transportation for Richmond residents to local grocery stores. The courtesy service is being piloted for residents in areas of the city considered to be in food deserts – areas without access to healthy, nutritional, fresh food. A transportation support system is one of the preliminary recommendations of the Mayor’s Food Policy Task Force. “This is a recommendation that we can act on right away,” said Mayor Jones. “Helping city residents access healthy and fresh food options tie right in with the City’s healthy lifestyle focus.” The food desert areas that have been focused on for this pilot project include Hillside Court, Fay Tower, Creighton Court, Fairfield, Mosby and Whitcomb. The pilot project will run for a six month period and then the City will access its usefulness and sustainability. The Mayor’s Food Policy Task Force is presently working on recommen...

In salute of Black History Month, please support local Black-owned businesses during the month of February, and continue to keep with the City's efforts to help ensure that taxpayer dollars are being invested locally and recirculated within our local economy. During the month, look for a series of advertisements highlighting those opportunities to support minority-owned restaurants, retailers, service providers and others. It is important that we take the time to focus on the contributions of minorities in our community, and continue to "Build a Better Richmond." If you would like for your business to be included, please contact the city of Richmond's Office of Minority Business Development at (804) 646-5947 to register your business. The Office provides maximum opportunities for minority, disadvantaged and emerging businesses with programs geared to inform, educate and motivate minority and emerging firms to become more involved in the city's procurement opport...