City of Richmond COVID-19 Public Briefing
Friday, April 3, 2020

The website is a source of help for those who need it and way to help for those who want to.
Tell your story, add a resource, or just explore your relief options at www.rva.gov/mayors-office/rva-strong. You can also sign up for the public briefing to be sent to your email!

The City of Richmond thanks small businesses, offers resources for paying employees

Richmond Economic Development Authority proposes a small business disaster loan program. 
The maximum $20,000 loans will go toward keeping employees on payroll, allowing businesses to stay open and continue to employ people. 

Robins Foundation starts Family Crisis Fund for families who have lost income due to COVID-19

The City of Richmond matched the foundation’s generosity, funding $500,000 of relief checks for eligible Richmond families. 
To learn more about this opportunity, visit RVA Strong here and fill out the interest form. 

Mayor provides weekly update 

Click here to watch the Mayor’s update on YouTube. 
Parks and Rec leads the way in social distancing

The administration this week took several measures to ensure that parks users abide by social distancing guidelines.

Restricted activities:
·      Playing sports on courts in parks and public schools, like basketball, pickleball, and tennis;
·      Using playgrounds in parks and public schools;
·      Sunbathing in the James River Park System;
·      Swimming in the James River; and 
·      Generally gathering in groups along the James.
 
Parks staff have started taking down basketball hoops and tennis nets to make sure people aren’t grouping to play those sports. This is a public safety measure. 

Richmond residents are still encouraged to exercise outside. This is listed as an essential activity under the Governor’s order, and responsibly using the city parks is a great option for recreation. 

Mayor Stoney announced today that the City of Richmond will provide a $500,000 match to the Robins Foundation Family Crisis Fund. The money will fund relief payments to families in the City of Richmond. 
The Robins Foundation announced the launch of the fund, intended to aid families with children in the Greater Richmond Region that have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier today, Friday, April 3.   
Under the Robins initiative, which includes an investment from the foundation of $500,000, eligible families will receive a one-time payment of $500. The city’s Office of Community Wealth Building will facilitate disbursement of city funds to interested and eligible families, working with Enrichmond as the nonprofit partner coordinating with Robins.
Households who have lost income due to COVID-19 may qualify. This could include losing wages due to reduction of hours or layoffs, losing wages while caring for children out of school, or incurring additional cost for childcare due to school closures.
Interested parties may contribute to the fund so that more families in the region, including the city, can receive support. Those interested in learning more or contributing to the fund are encouraged to visit www.robinsfdn.org.
“We are grateful to our community partners like the Robins Foundation who continue to step up to do the right thing and help those in a time of need,” said Mayor Stoney. “This is a challenging time for all, but efforts like this represent Richmond at its best.”
For information on how to qualify for assistance, please call the Office of Community Wealth Building: 804-646-6464 or fill out an intake form that will be available on this page of RVAStrong.

The City of Richmond and the Washington Redskins are pleased to announce a significant modification to the current Redskins Training Camp agreement that eliminates the requirement of the city’s Economic Development Authority to pay a local cash contribution to cover some team expenses.

The modification applies to both 2019, for which the EDA had a contractual obligation to pay $161,767.85 due to the team, and for 2020, the final year of the original eight-year pact.

This contract modification has been under discussion among the parties for many months but comes at a time when the city is focusing its resources on helping local businesses and residents respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds saved as a result of this partnership will help the EDA fund the small business loan program the city and EDA announced today.

The mutually agreed upon decision between the city, EDA and the Redskins is based on their longstanding partnership, with a focus on the community's local economic development needs and established goals. 

“We’re pleased we were able to negotiate this relief for the city,” said Mayor Stoney. “We value the investments and contributions the team has made in our community and look forward to continuing our work together this year and further exploring ways to grow our partnership.”
  
Under the original agreement signed in 2013, the City of Richmond Economic Development Authority agreed to make an annual contribution to the Redskins in the form of in-kind services and cash to help defray some of the incremental expense of relocating the team’s training camp. The Redskins collaborated with the city, Bon Secours and other community stakeholders to deliver a unique fan experience, facilitate growth and encourage development in the area.

The partnership has led to generous charitable initiatives by the team that have resulted in the construction of new playgrounds and high school football facilities, the implementation of high-impact educational programs in elementary and high schools and donations of sports equipment.

The 2020 training camp is the last under the original eight-year contract. As part of the original deal, the team has the option to extend the agreement, but it does not obligate the city’s EDA to provide a cash contribution.

The Richmond Economic Development Authority today 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 who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Monies will go toward paying employee wages, empowering local, small businesses to continue operating and keep employees on their payroll. 

“Small businesses have made Richmond the thriving culture capital we love,” said Mayor Stoney. “They’ve been understanding, patient and selfless in adapting to the recent social distancing guidance, no matter the economic consequences for them. This loan program is one way we can help provide some relief and support in this tough time.”

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.

Small businesses interested in applying should fill out the application and provide the required documentation via email. The application will be available starting Monday, April 6.  

Funding is limited. Applications will be considered in the order they are submitted.

From the Office of Emergency Management