City of Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Chair Dorothy A. Jaeckle will host representatives from the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and others for a discussion titled: Advancing Livable and Economically Resilient Communities, on Monday, Sept. 9 at:   McGuire-Woods LLP, One James Center   901 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219   Frances Hayes Conference Room on the 2nd Floor The event will begin at 10 a.m. with a mix and mingle opportunity, with the program scheduled from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Please note that the roundtable discussion is closed, but will be followed at 11:30 a.m. by a short press avail in the same location. Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones and Regional Director Jane Vincent, both of HUD, and Undersecretary for Policy at DOT Polly Trottenberg will discuss the topic with representatives from state agencies, local community leaders and members of the bu...

RVA now one step from top – 6 upgrades in 5 years   Standard and Poor’s (S&P) has upgraded Richmond’s general obligation debt rating to AA+, the next-to-highest rating possible. S&P specifically praised the city’s strong financial performance, including its strong reserves, continued investment in economic development projects and adopted fiscal and debt policies. “This upgrade is proof positive that our financial and economic actions are paying off,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “Wall Street recognizes that Richmond is on the move. We’ve now earned six upgrades in five years, demonstrating that investors are confident in Richmond and our ability to make big things happen.” S&P cited Richmond’s significant role in the regional economy, experienced management team, moderate per capita debt and manageable capital plan as significant factors in the decision to upgrade. The Mayor, along with members of Richmond City Council and city officials met with the ...

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today following President Barack Obama’s speech recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington: “Fifty years ago today, I was 15 and traveling through Washington, DC with my parents on the day Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic speech to this nation. Today, President Barack Obama also delivered a historic speech marking this 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Reflecting on Martin Luther King’s lasting legacy and listening to the President today reminds me that I stand on the shoulders of the men and women who marched in Washington. I haven’t lost sight of the fact that I am an African-American mayor in a once terribly segregated Jim Crow city: the former capital of the Confederacy. My path to this seat in office is a direct reflection of the gains made as a result of the Civil Rights movement. But even as I reflect on the many gains and tremendous strides, I don’t discount th...

The City of Richmond and partner CultureWorks are pleased to announce the launch of the Arts and Cultural District Micro Grant Program. The Micro Grant Program is one of several recent city initiatives targeted to the Broad Street Arts and Cultural District. The purpose of the grant program is to increase the activity and vibrancy of the Arts and Cultural District through the combined effect of several, small grant funded projects and improvements.   “Broad Street is Richmond’s front door and those that do business in the Arts and Cultural District are helping to put Richmond’s best foot forward,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “These grant opportunities will help these businesses be able to host and bring even bigger and better exhibits to the heart of the city and in turn show our visitors what a great city Richmond is.” Two categories of grants are available; project support and capital improvements. Project support grants of up to $1,000 are designed to help fund special...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today after receiving the Child Welfare League’s report on the Child Welfare Division of the City’s Department of Social Services, which the City had requested: “Earlier this year, I ordered the Department of Social Services to address each of the concerns raised in earlier reviews of the agency. This latest report acknowledges that we are dealing forthrightly with these problems and are taking corrective actions to fix them. Make no mistake: While we have a lot of work ahead, children’s safety will not be compromised. We are investing the resources needed to turn this agency around. Like every parent, I strongly believe this is the right thing to do. “The report notes that the hearts of city child welfare workers are in the right place, and they are working hard to do the right thing, despite the serious problems that have come to light. Their jobs are important and tough, and I know that they are working hard to protect v...

Construction begins Monday, August 19 on an adaptive traffic control system designed to make traffic flow more smoothly by decreasing the amount of time motorists spend at red lights. The new technology, called InSync, will be implemented at 24 signalized intersections along Chamberlayne Avenue, Brook Road, Hermitage Road and Laburnum Avenue.   InSync will change the traffic signals based on real-time vehicle demand. The technology will count the number of vehicles on both the main streets and side streets at the intersections. Then, through the use of wireless broadband radio communications, the traffic signals will “talk” with each other and relay real-time information needed to control the movement of the vehicles along the signalized corridor.  A computer processor at each intersection uses the information to develop signal timings that allow main street traffic to catch multiple green signals without stopping along the corridor and, at the same time, limit and reduce ...

~Online Survey Has Been Created to Identify Needs of the Public~ The City of Richmond announced today its continued plans to improve roadways and corridors that will help make bicycling a safe and convenient transportation option. The Bicycle Master Plan will develop specific recommendations for bike infrastructure improvements based on the preliminary plans from the City’s Strategic Multimodal Transportation Plan, called Richmond Connects. Richmond Connects has identified many roadways and corridors for bikeway improvements, and includes an assessment of existing and future conditions and needs. An online survey has been created to allow the public to assist the City in developing and prioritizing infrastructure improvements that will result in a network of bikeways that can be used for recreation or transportation. Click here to access the online survey. The survey will be open through the end of September. “We have the goal of making Richmond one of the most bicycle-frien...