Applications start this week for city’s small business disaster loan program
The Richmond Economic Development Authority created the Richmond Small Business Disaster Loan Program (COVID-19), which will offer interest-free emergency loans of up to $20,000 to small businesses within city limits.
The program is intended to provide relief to small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Monies will go toward paying employee wages, allowing local small businesses to continue operating and keep employees on their payroll.
The maximum loan amount for the program is six months of current employee wages or $20,000, whichever is less. Loan payments will be disbursed over six months. Repayment of the loans will be deferred for six months, followed by 48 months of no-interest payments.
The application for the program is available here. Small businesses interested in applying should fill out the application and provide the required documentation via email. The city is providing COVID-19 updates here. Funding is limited and applications will be considered in the order they are received.
Chesterfield revises budget, holds meetings this week
Chesterfield County released its revised proposed budget for fiscal year 2021. The new budget is $50 million less than the previous proposal, due to projected decreases in revenue from real estate, personal property, sales and lodging taxes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
A 2 percent merit pay increase for employees is removed, and countywide operations are reduced by $13.7 million, among other adjustments. The new proposal can be viewed here.
The county will use Facebook Live to stream newly scheduled community meetings on the budget April 9 and 13 at 7 p.m. Citizens can participate via the county’s Facebook page.
The Facebook Live sessions will follow a presentation on the budget revisions to county supervisors April 8. That meeting will be livestreamed on the county website. The agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting is available here.
Industrial park appeal back on Hanover agenda
A January plan shows three entrances to the industrial park, including a ‘right-in, right-out’ off Route 1, shown to the right. Cedar Lane runs along the bottom of the map. Click to enlarge. (Hanover County)
Hanover supervisors meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. Business on the agenda includes a previously deferred review of the appeal by Chickahominy Falls Association of an approved site plan for an adjacent industrial park across Cedar Lane from the residential development. The appeal, filed in late 2019, prompted revisions to the plan that were presented in January, and the board deferred action on the appeal for 90 days.
In a memo to the board for this week’s meeting, county staff said the plan now includes a requested truck entrance off Route 1 and that an agreement had been reached between developer Scannell Properties and the neighborhood association that effectively resolves the appeal.
The board also will vote on the proposed tax rates and fees for calendar year 2020. The only rate change is an increase in the recycling service district tax rate from $28 to $32 due to an increase in direct associated costs. County staff anticipates making recommendations for further rate adjustments in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Full meeting agenda here.
Goochland holds budget hearings Tuesday
Goochland supervisors meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. Business on the agenda includes public hearings on the proposed budget, tax rate and fee schedules for fiscal year 2021. Other previously scheduled hearings are being deferred to the board’s June 2 meeting. Full agenda here.
Henrico reschedules Planning Commission, BZA meetings
Henrico County has rescheduled upcoming meetings of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Planning Commission will meet April 14 at 2 p.m., with rezoning and provisional-use permit requests that were originally scheduled for the commission’s April 9 agenda. Items include a request from SXCW Properties II LLC to rezone 6 acres on the west side of Staples Mill Road north of its intersection with Parham Road for a car wash and fuel facility. Full agenda here.
The Planning Commission postponed its April 1 meeting for plans of development and subdivisions. Actions regarding items on that agenda have been deferred.
The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet April 23 at 9 a.m. The agenda will include items deferred from the board’s canceled April 2 meeting.
Henrico seeks nominations for annual ‘Clean Business’ property awards
The Keep Henrico Beautiful Committee is accepting nominations for its 2020 Land Lover and Clean Business awards. The annual awards recognize home and business properties that are attractively landscaped, well-maintained and litter-free.
Nominees for a Land Lover or Clean Business award must participate in an ongoing recycling program, such as composting, curbside pickup or drop-off service. All nominees are encouraged to follow best practices for water quality and soil health.
The committee will select one residential property from each of the five magisterial districts and one business property to represent the entire county. Business owners may nominate their own properties as well as others. Nomination forms will be accepted online and at [email protected] through April 30.
City rolls out ‘RVAStrong’ resource and donation website
The City of Richmond launched RVAStrong, a website with resources for those who have been impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The site also includes opportunities for Richmonders to donate to local causes.
www.rvastrong.org
Visitors to the interactive site can explore causes such as housing stability, food security or families and neighborhoods, and navigate to a page with donation links and volunteer opportunities. Visitors also can sign up to receive public briefing emails with updates and links to city resources, among other site features.
Information on the site is being developed into a printable resource that will be distributed for those who do not have access to the internet. A Spanish version of RVAStrong is in development. The city will continue to update the COVID-19 page on its website with news and city services information.
www.Richmondgov.com/covid19
Richmond to contribute $500,000 to relief fund for city families
The City of Richmond is providing a $500,000 match to the Robins Foundation Family Crisis Fund to provide relief payments to families in the city. The fund is intended to aid families with children who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Robins initiative includes an investment from the foundation of $500,000 and will provide eligible families with a one-time payment of $500. The city’s Office of Community Wealth Building will facilitate disbursement of city funds to eligible families, working with Enrichmond as the nonprofit coordinating with the foundation. More on the fund is available here.
Information on how to qualify for assistance is available here and by calling the Office of Community Wealth Building at 646-6464.
Applications start this week for city’s small business disaster loan program
The Richmond Economic Development Authority created the Richmond Small Business Disaster Loan Program (COVID-19), which will offer interest-free emergency loans of up to $20,000 to small businesses within city limits.
The program is intended to provide relief to small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Monies will go toward paying employee wages, allowing local small businesses to continue operating and keep employees on their payroll.
The maximum loan amount for the program is six months of current employee wages or $20,000, whichever is less. Loan payments will be disbursed over six months. Repayment of the loans will be deferred for six months, followed by 48 months of no-interest payments.
The application for the program is available here. Small businesses interested in applying should fill out the application and provide the required documentation via email. The city is providing COVID-19 updates here. Funding is limited and applications will be considered in the order they are received.
Chesterfield revises budget, holds meetings this week
Chesterfield County released its revised proposed budget for fiscal year 2021. The new budget is $50 million less than the previous proposal, due to projected decreases in revenue from real estate, personal property, sales and lodging taxes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
A 2 percent merit pay increase for employees is removed, and countywide operations are reduced by $13.7 million, among other adjustments. The new proposal can be viewed here.
The county will use Facebook Live to stream newly scheduled community meetings on the budget April 9 and 13 at 7 p.m. Citizens can participate via the county’s Facebook page.
The Facebook Live sessions will follow a presentation on the budget revisions to county supervisors April 8. That meeting will be livestreamed on the county website. The agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting is available here.
Industrial park appeal back on Hanover agenda
A January plan shows three entrances to the industrial park, including a ‘right-in, right-out’ off Route 1, shown to the right. Cedar Lane runs along the bottom of the map. Click to enlarge. (Hanover County)
Hanover supervisors meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. Business on the agenda includes a previously deferred review of the appeal by Chickahominy Falls Association of an approved site plan for an adjacent industrial park across Cedar Lane from the residential development. The appeal, filed in late 2019, prompted revisions to the plan that were presented in January, and the board deferred action on the appeal for 90 days.
In a memo to the board for this week’s meeting, county staff said the plan now includes a requested truck entrance off Route 1 and that an agreement had been reached between developer Scannell Properties and the neighborhood association that effectively resolves the appeal.
The board also will vote on the proposed tax rates and fees for calendar year 2020. The only rate change is an increase in the recycling service district tax rate from $28 to $32 due to an increase in direct associated costs. County staff anticipates making recommendations for further rate adjustments in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Full meeting agenda here.
Goochland holds budget hearings Tuesday
Goochland supervisors meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. Business on the agenda includes public hearings on the proposed budget, tax rate and fee schedules for fiscal year 2021. Other previously scheduled hearings are being deferred to the board’s June 2 meeting. Full agenda here.
Henrico reschedules Planning Commission, BZA meetings
Henrico County has rescheduled upcoming meetings of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Planning Commission will meet April 14 at 2 p.m., with rezoning and provisional-use permit requests that were originally scheduled for the commission’s April 9 agenda. Items include a request from SXCW Properties II LLC to rezone 6 acres on the west side of Staples Mill Road north of its intersection with Parham Road for a car wash and fuel facility. Full agenda here.
The Planning Commission postponed its April 1 meeting for plans of development and subdivisions. Actions regarding items on that agenda have been deferred.
The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet April 23 at 9 a.m. The agenda will include items deferred from the board’s canceled April 2 meeting.
Henrico seeks nominations for annual ‘Clean Business’ property awards
The Keep Henrico Beautiful Committee is accepting nominations for its 2020 Land Lover and Clean Business awards. The annual awards recognize home and business properties that are attractively landscaped, well-maintained and litter-free.
Nominees for a Land Lover or Clean Business award must participate in an ongoing recycling program, such as composting, curbside pickup or drop-off service. All nominees are encouraged to follow best practices for water quality and soil health.
The committee will select one residential property from each of the five magisterial districts and one business property to represent the entire county. Business owners may nominate their own properties as well as others. Nomination forms will be accepted online and at [email protected] through April 30.
City rolls out ‘RVAStrong’ resource and donation website
The City of Richmond launched RVAStrong, a website with resources for those who have been impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The site also includes opportunities for Richmonders to donate to local causes.
www.rvastrong.org
Visitors to the interactive site can explore causes such as housing stability, food security or families and neighborhoods, and navigate to a page with donation links and volunteer opportunities. Visitors also can sign up to receive public briefing emails with updates and links to city resources, among other site features.
Information on the site is being developed into a printable resource that will be distributed for those who do not have access to the internet. A Spanish version of RVAStrong is in development. The city will continue to update the COVID-19 page on its website with news and city services information.
www.Richmondgov.com/covid19
Richmond to contribute $500,000 to relief fund for city families
The City of Richmond is providing a $500,000 match to the Robins Foundation Family Crisis Fund to provide relief payments to families in the city. The fund is intended to aid families with children who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Robins initiative includes an investment from the foundation of $500,000 and will provide eligible families with a one-time payment of $500. The city’s Office of Community Wealth Building will facilitate disbursement of city funds to eligible families, working with Enrichmond as the nonprofit coordinating with the foundation. More on the fund is available here.
Information on how to qualify for assistance is available here and by calling the Office of Community Wealth Building at 646-6464.