The Richmond Resilience Initiative (RRI), the City of Richmond’s guaranteed income pilot program made possible by strategic and financial support from Robins Foundation, has been operational for a year. To raise awareness of the effort, especially in preparation for a program expansion slated for 2022, the city is hosting a panel discussion.

The panel will feature four participants in the Richmond Resilience Initiative in a conversation moderated by Mayor Stoney. It will take place on December 15 at 7 p.m. The event will be streamed live on the city’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rva.gov), and anyone interested in learning about guaranteed income is encouraged to attend virtually.

In the discussion, participants Alvin, Montell and Peggy will speak to the role guaranteed income has played in their financial decision-making, their goals for the future, and how they believe the city can better support its residents.

To learn more about the panel and the program, visit the program hub, a dedicated webpage for RRI: https://www.rva.gov/community-wealth-building/richmond-resilience-initiative. The hub includes a report on the program so far, information on the cohort, FAQs, and an opportunity to support ongoing guaranteed income initiatives.                                                                              

Background:

Through the Richmond Resilience Initiative, a group of 18 Richmonders receive $500 per month for 24 months. There are no restrictions on how or when participants can spend the money.

Richmond’s program is designed to address “the cliff effect,” an economic phenomenon that occurs when individuals get a job or a promotion that makes them ineligible for federal benefits such as SNAP or EBT. While these individuals have fallen “off the cliff” when it comes to the social safety net, they still do not make the living wage required to survive and, ultimately, thrive.

The current RRI participants are all in this situation, with income too high to qualify for federal benefits and too low to constitute a living wage. Guaranteed income is a tool to close that gap.

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RICHMOND, Va. – The Department of Public Works recently completed work on a series of improvements along the Forest Hill Avenue Corridor from Hathaway Road to the Powhite Parkway. The $13 million federally funded project included improving the road from four lanes to five lanes by installing a raised landscaped median for left turn lanes, construction of a new storm sewer system for improved drainage, new sidewalks, curb and gutters, brick crosswalks, bike lanes, the installation of a new traffic signal, paving and pavement markings, and street light improvements. The corridor connects two limited access highways, the Powhite Parkway and Chippenham Parkway and now provides a safer, multi-modal corridor for all users. 

With the completion of this project, the Department and City Administration would like to express our sincere gratitude for the patience, service interruptions, and detours endured by the community during the long construction process. 
                   
For more information on Public Works, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public-works or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov 

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

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 178 currently 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; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA 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.
 

Richmond, VA — Mayor Levar M. Stoney today announced the appointment of April N. Bingham as the next director of the Department of Public Utilities.

Bingham is the first woman to serve in this critically important role. As director, she will manage the city’s water, wastewater, storm-water and streetlight utilities. Bingham will report to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations, Bob Steidel, who oversees the Departments of Public Utilities, Public Works, and the Office of Sustainability and Animal Care and Control.

Bingham came to the City in February 2020 as DPU’s deputy director for the customer service division. She replaces Alfred Scott, who has served as the interim director since the departure of former director Calvin Farr, Jr. in April.  Scott, the former deputy director for gas and streetlights, will become the general manager for Richmond Gas Works – the city’s natural gas utility.

“Mrs. Bingham developed effective partnerships and restructured the customer service division during the uncharted times and multiple challenges presented by the pandemic,” said Mayor Stoney. “Her leadership during this time, and 20 years of professional experience and success she brings to the city, make her the right choice to lead this critical public infrastructure going forward.”

Steidel touted Bingham’s leadership and dedication to customer service as key factors in her selection. “Mrs. Bingham’s experience, professionalism and passion will be great assets to the City of Richmond and I’m excited to have her in this new role,” he said.

“I’m truly humbled to be selected as the new DPU director and excited by the opportunity to further improve the customer experience and enhance DPU’s overall service delivery and workforce,” said Bingham.

Prior to joining the city, Bingham served in Washington, D.C. at the DC Water & Sewer Authority, where she oversaw the agency’s $33M meter upgrade project as the deputy program manager. She also served in the role of customer service manager for billing as well as meter and field services for a population of 120,000 water and sewer customers. Previously, she worked for Washington Gas Light Company and contributed to the improvement of its customer service operations.

Bingham earned a Bachelor’s degree in Science and Business Administration from the University of Maryland, and holds a Master’s degree in Management and Public Administration from the University of Phoenix.

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RICHMOND, Va. – A section of the Forest Hill Corridor is safer for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists now that a new traffic signal has been installed as part of the Forest Hill Avenue Improvement Project.   

The signal is at the intersection of Forest Hill Avenue and Melbourne Drive.  It will be energized on Monday, December 13 and temporarily placed in flash mode. Those approaching from Melbourne Drive will see a red indicator, while those approaching the intersection from Forest Hill Avenue will see an amber light.

The temporary flashing gives motorists an opportunity to adjust to the new signal ahead of it being set to function as a fully signalized intersection on Monday, December 20.     

For more information on Public Works, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public-works or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

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

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 178 currently 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; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA 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.

On December 10, 2021, the City of Richmond Department of Housing and Community Development will issue a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for its first tranche of funding for affordable housing and related services under the American Rescue Plan Act. The first tranche totals $10 million.  

Interested nonprofits and other entities must submit their applications by January 10, 2022, no later than 4:30 p.m. Eligible entities include nonprofit organizations and for-profit developers undertaking affordable housing activities and related services, including those for the homeless.

The city is hosting a mandatory virtual workshop on December 9, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to share information on the program guidelines and answer any questions. Interested applicants must attend this workshop.

To receive the meeting link, interested participants must register by contacting Gale Jones at Gale.Jones@richmondgov.com or (804) 646-7744. Registration closes at 4:00 p.m. on December 8.

Background Information: The Richmond City Council approved the spending plan for the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funding from the U.S. Treasury Department on October 25. That plan, which can be viewed in detail here, includes $20 million in total for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

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