La ciudad de Richmond anunció el lanzamiento del programa de subvenciones “Richmond Recovers II” para los pequeños empresarios. El programa es financiado con $2 millones de los fondos del Acta CARES otorgados a la ciudad y será administrado por la Agencia de Desarrollo Económico de la Ciudad de Richmond. Este nuevo programa de subvenciones expandirá el esfuerzo hecho por el programa de subvenciones “Richmond Recovers”, el cual en su primera etapa aprobó 260 subvenciones por un total de $2.79 millones.

“Los pequeños negocios son el pilar de nuestra economía local, y el COVID-19 sigue afectándolos desproporcionadamente”, dijo el alcalde Stoney. “Estos fondos no son ni remotamente suficientes para resolver el problema en su totalidad, pero ayudarán. Continuaremos trabajando para obtener más apoyo del gobierno federal hasta que Richmond se haya recuperado completamente”, añadió.

Los pequeños negocios podrán recibir subvenciones de hasta $15 000. Estos fondos pueden ser utilizados para reembolsar los costos del pago de nómina a los empleados, incluyendo los beneficios laborales; para el pago del alquiler y los servicios públicos de los locales comerciales; para cubrir los costos de equipos de protección personal (PPE) y artículos de limpieza; para gastos de comercio electrónico; y como capital de trabajo.

Las instrucciones completas y los requisitos de elegibilidad están disponibles en Las solicitudes se pueden enviar por Internet a partir de las 12:00pm (hora del Este) del 7 de diciembre de 2020 y hasta las 11:59pm (hora del Este) del 16 de diciembre de 2020.

En su totalidad, incluyendo los fondos del programa de subvenciones “Richmond Recovers II”, la ciudad ha destinado más de $6.3 millones para apoyar a los empresarios durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

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Se anima a los habitantes de Richmond para que den su opinión sobre esta oportunidad de desarrollo turístico y económico 

A partir de hoy, los richmondeses pueden llenar una encuesta en internet aquí en la que se les pregunta si creen que la administración debería considerar la propuesta sobre la construcción de un resort con casino en Richmond. La encuesta estará abierta hasta el 14 de diciembre a las 11:59 p.m.
 
Los resultados de esta encuesta alimentarán el documento de Solicitud de Calificaciones y/o Propuestas (RFQ/P), el cual dará inicio al proceso competitivo para seleccionar un operador y una ubicación para el resort y casino. Esta RFQ/P delineará las expectativas que la administración de la ciudad y sus residentes tienen hacia el desarrollo de propuestas completas y competitivas.
 
Esta encuesta es sólo el comienzo de la participación comunitaria en el desarrollo potencial de un resort y casino. El proceso de selección tendrá en cuenta las opiniones de la comunidad y un referendo de votantes de toda la ciudad determinará si Richmond sigue adelante en este proyecto. 
 
“Un proceso competitivo de selección nos permitirá evaluar la mejor oportunidad para Richmond”, dijo el alcalde Stoney. “Esta encuesta es la oportunidad que tienen ustedes para asegurase que las propuestas de desarrollo reflejen sus prioridades, tales como trabajo que paguen un salario digno, practicas sostenibles de construcción, además de inversión en la comunidad”, agregó. 
 
“Nuestro objetivo principal es identificar una propuesta exitosa que tenga oportunidades económicas y beneficios comunitarios sobresalientes para Richmond”, dijo Leonard Sledge, director de Desarrollo Económico. “Anticipamos que vamos a recibir múltiples solicitudes, es por eso que queremos poner en funcionamiento un proceso que identifique un operador y una ubicación que resulten en una verdadera ganancia para Richmond”, concluyó.
 

Antecedentes:
 
La legislación aprobada por la Asamblea General de Virginia y convertida en ley por el gobernador Northam a comienzos de este año, autoriza a la ciudad para que albergue un establecimiento de apuestas, tal como un casino, siempre y cuando los residentes de Richmond aprueben la medida mediante un referendo. Se anticipa que este referendo sea efectuado en noviembre de 2021.
 
La ley requiere que la ciudad escoja un operador y una ubicación preferidos para el casino antes de solicitar que la corte ordene un referendo para ese casino. En lugar de preseleccionar un operador, la administración decidió participar en un proceso competitivo. 
 
Las otras cuatro localidades a las que el estado les dio permiso de solicitar propuestas para el desarrollo de un casino hicieron sus referendos en el día de elecciones del 2020. Puede leer más sobre este tema aquí.

Puede encontrar más información acerca de la construcción de un resort y casino para Richmond, incluyendo una lista extensa de preguntas frecuentes, haciendo clic aquí.

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~Current permits expire December 31~

RICHMOND, Va. –  New parking decals for residents of the Carver Restricted Parking District go on sale Monday, November 30. They cost $25 each and are limited to three per house or building address. Both mail-in and in-person renewal options are available for qualifying residents. The current Carver parking permit expires December 31, 2020. 

To park longer than an hour between 7 a.m. and midnight, Monday through Saturday, residents must display the Carver permit on their cars.

A resident is either the owner of record or renter of property located within the Restricted Parking district. A City of Richmond Residential Parking Permit Application must be completed and approved prior to decal issuance. To enable the Department of Public Works to verify residency, the following information and photo identification must be provided:
     
Residential property owners must provide either a copy of their real estate bill or other information that verifies ownership of the property.
     
Renters must provide a valid written lease for the property in the Carver parking district, and have the appropriate approval of the property owner on the application they present. 

A resident of the district is defined as an owner of record or renter of property in the district and members of their immediate family who reside with the owner or renter at the address in the District:
(1)    Who are licensed drivers;
           -and-
(2) Whose domicile is the address for which they are seeking to obtain the parking permit.
     
Annual Visitor Passes also are available and limited to two per house or building address at a cost of $35 each. Annual Visitors Passes must be purchased at the same time the Carver permit is purchased and are restricted to residential home owners.

Property owners and renters are required to comply with the residency requirements and the motor vehicle registration requirements of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Residents can get more information, verify residency in the Carver parking district and download an application for mailing in on the City’s website: http://www.richmondgov.com/Parking/CarverDistrict.aspx
     
Carver decals and applications are also available at City Hall, Room 102, 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia. The office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Please call 646-5700 if you have any questions.

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

                        -###-
The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 146 accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance;  trash collection; recycling;  urban forestry;  signs; signals and pavement markings;  grass cutting;  graffiti removal;  and parking. In addition, DPW issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way, manages Richmond’s Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles.  DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.   For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1.
 

City of Richmond government offices, including City Hall, will be closing at noon on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 and will remain closed Thursday, November 26, through Friday, November 27, 2020 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. City offices will reopen at regular business hours on Monday, November 30, 2020.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ administrative offices will operate from 8 a.m. until Noon on Wednesday. All city community centers will operate from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday and will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Richmond Animal Care and Control is currently only available by appointment and will be closed Thursday and Friday. All city libraries will be closed Thursday and Friday. All library branches will resume normal scheduling on Saturday.

This closing will also affect the city’s Solid Waste Management Division. Refuse collection will take place on Wednesday off Thursday and Friday and resume on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at regular schedule from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The East Richmond Road Convenience Center will be closed Thursday and Friday and resume on Saturday, November 28, 2020 on a regular schedule from, 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

For more information on city services and schedules, please visit RichmondGov.com.

Sale allows city to save more than $41 million in additional interest costs over next 20 years; reduces payment period for new school construction by five years

Follows reaffirmed AA+ bond rating by Fitch and Standard & Poors, Aa1 rating by Moody’s   

Based on a competitive bidding process finalized on November 19, on December 10, 2020, the City of Richmond will close on its $103.5 million tax-exempt General Obligation (GO) Bonds, Series 2020A in order to issue new debt for city and schools projects, and its $51.6 million taxable Series 2020B bonds to refund existing debt service for interest rate savings.
 
Through the tax-exempt bond sale, the city is avoiding about $41.6 million in additional interest payments over the next 20 years compared to previous borrowing assumptions.
 
The overall true interest cost of funds for the city’s 2020A Bonds was approximately 1.42 percent, which is the lowest cost of long-term GO bonds for city and schools projects in the city’s history, other than federally-subsidized Build America bonds issued many years ago.
 
The bond sale follows the city administration’s virtual meetings with all three credit rating agencies, and then the affirmation of the city’s strong bond ratings from each firm attesting to strong financial management. Fitch and S&P reaffirmed their strong ratings on the city’s 2020 GO Bonds at AA+, while Moody’s listed the city as Aa1, consistent with a recent upgrade. 
 
The city’s FY2021 general fund debt service budget presumed 4.0 percent interest on the $50 million portion of the bonds for City CIP projects. Based on the 1.42 percent pricing, the debt service expenses over the next 20 years is estimated to be $15.4 million less than it would be at 4.0 percent.
 
In terms of funding for the recently completed three new schools, $60 million (the remainder of the $150 million plan for Richmond Public Schools) is now locked in for 20 years. That portion will be paid off in 2041, rather than in 2046, per previous projections that also presumed a 5 percent long term rate. To provide some context for cost avoidance, debt service for $60 million over 20 years is $26.2 million less at the 1.42 percent interest rate, compared to 5 percent. This cost avoidance will alleviate long term pressure on the 1.5 percent meals tax levy that has been dedicated to fund the three new schools and has been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
 
The refunding components of the 2020 bonds will result in over $5 million in debt service savings over the next 15 years.
 
“These savings will allow us to pay off debt from the construction of three news schools early and be better prepared to fund future city- and school-related capital projects,” said Mayor Stoney. “The strong credit ratings demonstrate Wall Street’s confidence in the city and its financial management.”
 
Lenora Reid, Acting Chief Administrative Officer, added, “Selling these bonds at remarkably low rates really helps position the city well for our capital spending and will benefit our citizens for many years to come.”

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