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 Operation

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