~Grant funding provided for marketing, murals and façade improvement~   Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced a $200,000 grant from Altria for the City’s Arts and Cultural District. The grant will support marketing, murals and façade improvements within the designated district, with the bulk of the funds focused on façade improvements. The Arts and Cultural District was officially designated as such in the spring of 2011. The area is a vibrant center of artistic, cultural, civic, and commercial activity and the region’s center of creativity and entertainment. The District is home to five of Richmond’s most significant entertainment venues including Richmond CenterStage, the National Theater, the Virginia Repertory Theatre and the Hippodrome. There is a burgeoning restaurant scene and a concentration of art galleries. “The Broad Street downtown corridor is the art and cultural hub of Richmond,” said Mayor Jones. “The revitalization of Broad Street is a top priority and this investm...

The League of American Bicyclists today recognized the City of Richmond and the Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers with Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) award designations for leading America toward a greener future. The City of Richmond received a bronze level BFB award for City Hall, Marshall Street Plaza and John Marshall Courts complex. Sports Backers received a silver level BFB award for their efforts of encouraging a more welcoming bicycle friendly atmosphere for their employees and the community. The City also received a bronze award for the third consecutive year as a Bicycle Friendly Community. With the announcement of 80 new and renewing BFBs today in 29 states and Washington, D.C., Richmond and Sports Backers join a cutting-edge group of more than 650 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies across the United States that are transforming the American workplace. The U.S. is at an environmental turning point, and businesses across the country are addres...

Names Dr. Thad Williamson to city post as director of Office of Community Wealth Building   Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that Dr. Thad Williamson will serve as the central point of contact for the new Mayor’s Office of Community Wealth Building. The new office is a recommendation that grew out of the work of the Mayor’s Anti-Poverty Commission, now known as the Maggie L. Walker Initiative for Expanding Opportunity and Fighting Poverty. Mayor Jones established the Anti-Poverty Commission in 2011 to begin to lay the framework for de-concentrating poverty and transforming Richmond’s public housing. The Commission identified policy priorities, including: -          Workforce development -          Targeted economic development -          Development of a regional transportation network -          Ta...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities introduced WebTrac today at the City’s Bellemeade Community Center. WebTrac is an online registration system that allows patrons to register for classes, programs, and reserve facilities from the comfort of their own homes. “I am extremely pleased to introduce this new online tool to our residents as it encourages greater participation in the numerous offerings that are provided by our City’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities. WebTrac also improves our internal efficiencies and puts the participant in control of the registration process,” said Mayor Jones. “This is a great accomplishment for the department,” says Dr. Norman C. Merrifield, director of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities. “Having another method to register for programs or reserve a facility than stopping in a community center has provided the opportunity for more resident...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced that he will submit an ordinance at Monday’s City Council meeting to accept a $10 million grant to advance the third and final phase of the multi-year renovation of Richmond’s iconic Main Street Station. The grant was approved yesterday by the Richmond Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (RAMPO), the regional body that allocates federal transportation funding. The grant faces final approval by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in June. “The region has been working for more than two decades to renovate one of Richmond’s most iconic buildings into a true multi-modal transportation center,” said Mayor Jones. “This funding will kick-start the final renovation phase and we’re grateful to our neighboring localities for supporting this effort to strengthen the region’s transportation network.” The third phase aims to enhance the multi-modal transportation options at Main Street Station and to improve existing rail passenger service and support fut...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced today that the Executive Director for Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now), Inc. has agreed to work as an executive-on-loan to the Richmond Department of Social Services. Jeanine Harper has served as Executive Director of SCAN since 1999. SCAN was founded in 1991 to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect in the city of Richmond and the surrounding counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico. The purpose of SCAN’s services is to promote positive parenting, strengthen families and help create a community that values and cares for its children. “Ms. Harper has agreed to specifically help us retool the City’s Child Protective Services unit,” said Mayor Jones. “While matters of compliance have been heavily reviewed, serious operational concerns plague this agency and I believe that her leadership will go a long way toward strengthening the division’s operations. We’ve simply got to do a better job with respect to protecting the safety of vulner...

On Saturday, March 29 at 8:30 p.m., the City of Richmond will participate in the global initiative known as Earth Hour. Earth Hour is a World Wildlife Fund campaign that encourages individuals, businesses and governments to turn all non-essential lights off for one hour. Through this symbolic action, participants show leadership and make a commitment to ongoing change that reduces their impact on the environment. The City of Richmond is participating in Earth Hour for the second year by turning off all non-essential lights at 21 City facilities to include: • John Marshall Courthouse                               • Manchester Courthouse • Juvenile Courts Building                                  • Juve...