The City’s Office of Community Wealth Building joined Initiatives of Change/Hope in the Cities, and the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities today to host a public forum to mark five years since the launch of the “Unpacking the Census” program, acknowledge the progress that has been made, and mobilize community vision and action for the future. More than 150 community leaders attended the event in which Mayor Dwight C. Jones detailed the City’s poverty reduction efforts, and Henrico County Board of Supervisors Chair Tyrone Nelson and Chesterfield County School Board Carrie Coyner detailed specific poverty reduction actions their localities are undertaking. Dr. John Moeser, Senior Fellow at the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Richmond, provided an update on poverty growth in the region and Dr. Thad Williamson, Director of the City’s Office of Community Wealth Building detailed accomplishments and specific strategies being employed by the department. Fi...

In September of 2015, the City of Richmond launched a community conversation about the future of the Lumpkin’s Jail site, called “Richmond Speaks”. Spearheaded by Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission, the public conversation reached more than 1,000 individuals through public meetings, classroom visits, in-person engagements, social media and direct outreach. On Monday, March 15, 2016, the key findings from the Richmond Speaks community engagement sessions on the Lumpkin’s Jail Site were presented to City Council. The report’s chapters contain background and methodology for community engagement, key findings, implications, next steps, acknowledgements, and voting results from the December 10, 2015 community conversation. This report reflects the opinions, desires, and ideas of those that participated. These contributions are greatly appreciated as they will aid in the development of future proceedings at the Lumpkin’s Jail Site. To view the r...

Click here to view the Proposed Amendments to the Biennial Fiscal Plan 2017 and the Proposed Capital Improvement Program 2017-2021. Honorable Mayor Dwight C. Jones FY 2017 Proposed Budget Amendments Speech (Remarks as prepared for delivery) Madam President, members of City Council, my fellow Richmonders, good afternoon. Since we met in this room one year ago, our city has only grown more exciting and more vibrant. Hardly a day goes by without Richmond joining another list of cool places to visit, to eat, to live. People around the world are looking to us like never before. Make no mistake, we owe much of it to last fall’s bike races and the international spotlight. It was our greatest party, and a lot more. Look all over town, and you’ll see that the Richmond resurgence continues. Stone Brewing has opened in Fulton, bringing new jobs to a neighborhood that had been left behind. Triple Crossing brewing will soon follow a half-mile away—all because Stone is there. Our inves...

The Dominion Arts Center unveiled their new marquee and exterior signage Thursday, March 3 with Mayor Dwight Jones, Janet Starke, Richmond CenterStage Foundation Executive Director, and Thomas Farrell II, Dominion Resources Chairman, President, and Executive Officer in attendance. The facility’s renaming came in recognition of a $5.5 million grant commitment Richmond CenterStage Foundation received from Dominion Resources’ charitable foundation. Richmond’s City Council approved the renaming in January of this year. “The Dominion Arts Center is one of Richmond’s many treasures,” said Mayor Jones. “A strong cultural arts community is an important part of any tier-one city, and we are proud to have corporate support from companies like Dominion who recognize the importance of the arts and live up to the meaning of being a generous corporate citizen. The Dominion Foundation has consistently invested in our community’s culture, and we are thankful for their support.” The Dominion Found...

Joined by First Lady of Virginia, Dorothy McAuliffe, Charles Samuels, Richmond City Council, 2nd District, Marilyn West, Chair of the Black History Museum, Dr. Levy Armwood, Jr., Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Steven Smith, Music Director of the Richmond Symphony, Mayor Dwight Jones announced on Thursday, Feb. 25 a special festival celebrating the people, places and history of Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward.  Celebrate Jackson Ward: Past Present and Future , to be held on May 20-22 in Abner Clay Park, will showcase the unique history of Jackson Ward. The festival will be anchored by the Richmond Symphony and will host performances from various individuals and organizations under the new “Big Tent”. "I am pleased that we will again partner with the Richmond Symphony to highlight another part of our great city. The Jackson Ward Festival also provides the opportunity for more of the city’s musical and cultural groups to experience performing under the Big Tent, while...

Blue Bee Cider announced on February 18 that it will relocate and expand its cidery into the old city stables in Scott’s Addition, and will invest more than $1 million to renovate the historic property. The company also plans to expand its existing orchard, bringing agriculture back to Richmond, and purchase over $250,000 worth of Virginia-grown apples and berries from Virginia farmers over the next three years. Gathered in front of a crowd of cider enthusiasts, Mayor Dwight Jones, Governor Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Todd Haymore, and Courtney Mailey, owner of Blue Bee Cider, all spoke about the new venture. “I am extremely pleased that Blue Bee Cider has chosen to not only remain in the city of Richmond, but expand its operations here at this unique and historic property in the heart of the dynamic Scott’s Addition neighborhood,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “In addition to manufacturing a product that uses Virginia and Richmond resources, Blue Bee will be a ne...

The City is requesting public input on an online survey to help determine possibilities for developing and best utilization of the City’s land in the Boulevard area. The community input online survey for the Preliminary Market Analysis of the Boulevard is accessible on, www.surveymonkey.com/r/boulevard2016survey . The online survey will remain open through Feb. 29 . Residents are also invited to share any comments they have about the potential redevelopment of the Boulevard by emailing Blvd.Comments@RichmondGov.com .