Mayor Dwight C. Jones  was  joined  by Richmond City  Council  Vice President Ellen Robertson, School Board member Shonda Harris–Muhammed, and Dr. Norman Merrifield, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities in cutting the ribbon  to reopen  the newly renovated and expanded  Bellemeade  Community Center today .  Following the ribbon cutting ceremony,  Mayor Jones led a brief tour of the center ’s new feature s  for attending  public  and media . The City  also  hosted a family fun day to celebrate the  re opening of the community  center . Mayor Jones stated, “Opening t h is  community center  today and the adjacent new school which we opened in early January, are clear  demonstration s   of  the City ’s   commitment of  invest ing  in resources to enhance the future of  our children.  It  i s very exciting to see  the...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and City Council President Charles Samuels announced today that they will support four additional slots to the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies for the upcoming 2013 school year. The additional slots cost about $7,500 each. Funding for the additional slots will be taken from the Fiscal Year 2014 budget that is now being reviewed by Richmond City Council. Currently the city has an allotment of 197 slots to the Maggie Walker Governor’s School and the addition of four will increase that number to 201. “Maggie Walker Governor’s School was ranked as the #16-best public high school in the nation in 2012,” said the Mayor. “I have made it a priority during my time in office to make sure that every child has an opportunity to grow and learn. To that end, when slots are available at this great school, I want to make sure that we offer them to Richmond students.” Councilman Samuels said, “I appreciate the Mayor’s help in g...

~Homeward to develop transition plan for services to people experiencing homelessness~ In response to the closure of Freedom House, the City’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Human Services Stephen Harms has requested that the Executive Director of Homeward, Kelly King Horne, in cooperation with homelessness prevention staff at the Richmond Department of Social Services (RDSS), develop a transition plan for services to people experiencing homelessness. Homeward serves as the regional planning and coordinating body for homeless services and is funded by the City of Richmond to conduct annual planning on homelessness and to fulfill state and federal requirements related to homeless services. Homeward and RDSS will work in partnership with Freedom House leadership and the regional network of homeless services providers and funders to ensure the continuation of services for people currently assisted by Freedom House.  The initial assessment and transition plan will be ...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today regarding Dr. Yvonne Brandon and the future of Richmond Public Schools: "I have known and worked with my good friend, Dr. Yvonne Brandon, for more than 30 years. Her dedication to academic excellence for our children and our city is unquestionable, and she has played a vital role in moving the school system forward. I wish her the very best in her future endeavors. "I believe that for us to build the best Richmond, we must build a world class education system. I look forward to working with the School Board to select the next Richmond Public Schools superintendent who will help take us to even greater heights."

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today in respect to the events in Boston, Massachusetts: “It is with deep regret that I learned of the events that have occurred in Boston today. On behalf of the residents of the city of Richmond, I send our thoughts and prayers to all those who are affected by this senseless tragedy. Today’s events in Boston are very poignant as just last year we made our inner-city visit to this very beautiful and progressive city. I extend our full cooperation and support to Mayor Menino and the city of Boston, so that we may assist them in any manner that we can.”

The City of Richmond has been named as the 10th Best Mid-sized American City of the Future by Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) magazine. This is the second time the city of Richmond has received an award distinction from fDi. The city was named as the Best Small American City of the Future in 2011; however the city was moved to the mid-sized city category for the 2013-2014 report as fDi instituted new population category parameters. “The fDi Magazine announcement is recognition of our unyielding commitment to building a dynamic and sustaining local economy. I have always believed that Richmond’s best days are still to come and have made it a priority to invest in assets that continue to attract the best and the brightest,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “We have tools that few cities can claim: incredible natural resources, a rich history, and a passionate and creative citizenry. We’ve been able to bring together businesses, academia, local government, and our vibrant neighborhoods o...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the Sports Backers Executive Director, Jon Lugbill joined 6th District Councilwoman Ellen Robertson and Richmond City Health District Director, Dr. Donald Stern today in announcing that the Mayor’s Healthy Richmond Campaign and the Richmond City Health District are partnering with the Sports Backers to host the inaugural RVA Streets Alive!. The festival will be held on Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event is open to the public, and was created to promote and celebrate active and healthy lifestyles throughout communities by opening up roads and streets safely to the public for physical activity. “We are excited to announce RVA Streets Alive! in the city of Richmond. This event will provide an interactive platform to celebrate the active lifestyle that is vitally important to the health of our city,” says Mayor Jones. “With fitness and movement as its centerpiece, this outdoor health fair is the beginning of a unique Richmond tradition....