The City of Richmond was recently recognized as a SolSmart GOLD community for its efforts to make it faster, easier and less expensive for Richmonders to put solar on their homes and businesses.

The city’s solar power initiative is championed by the Office of Sustainability, in furtherance of RVAgreen 2050, the City's equity-centered climate action and resilience initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and help the community adapt to Richmond's climate impacts of extreme heat, precipitation and flooding.

The city received the GOLD designation after the Office of Sustainability worked with the Permits & Inspections Division of the Planning Department to verify that permits for small residential rooftop solar PV systems can be processed in three days.

Richmond is one of only four localities in Virginia that have received the GOLD level designation from SolSmart, a national program that assists and recognizes localities that foster the growth of strong solar markets in their communities by reducing barriers to going solar.

In 2018, Richmond received a SILVER designation for making changes to become more solar friendly, including clarifying solar related zoning issues and creating a one-stop resource to make it easier and quicker for residents to find information on solar related permits. The city was also a Special Recognition Award winner in Inspections for going above and beyond and earning at least 60% of the total points available in at least one of the eight SolSmart categories.

The city's efforts to advance clean energy and support its RVAgreen 2050 initiative also include partnering with Henrico County and local non-profit Viridiant in the SolarizeRVA program to offer free one-stop, unbiased guidance for Richmond area residents to explore their solar and clean energy options and understand the costs and benefits of solar power systems for their homes.

Local non-profit Viridiant leads the effort to engage residents through community events, webinars, digital and direct engagement in order to provide information and resources about the value, technology and logistics of home solar arrays to ensure that potential solar adopters are fully equipped to make smart decisions for their households. To maximize the value and savings of solar energy, Viridiant also helps residents implement energy efficient strategies in their homes through home energy audits and community education events.

Over the long term, SolarizeRVA aims to bring 1,000 solar roofs to the Richmond region, reduce dependency on nonrenewable resources and provide real savings for area residents. Solar energy saves money and reduces energy dependency, and the switch is more appealing than ever, as the federal tax credit of 26% is set to expire at the end of 2022.

Free SolarizeRVA informational webinars for residents are hosted monthly. The next virtual events are June 24 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. Learn more here.

Learn more about SolarizeRVA at www.viridiant.org/solar or by contacting Andrew Grigsby, Viridiant Energy Services Director, at energy@viridiant.org.

Find Richmond's online solar resources at https://www.rva.gov/sustainability/initiatives.

Learn more about Richmond's SolSmart designation and SolSmart at www.solsmart.org/communities/richmond-va.

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The City of Richmond and cultural organizing nonprofit Performing Statistics have teamed up to give Richmond’s youth a space of reverence and reflection on the sides of Richmond's City Hall.

Freedom Constellations, a multimedia public art project led by artist Mark Strandquist featuring two large banners flanking the Marshall Street and 9th Street sides of City Hall, will include two Richmond Public Schools students involved with RISE for Youth (Ta’Dreama McBride and Clyde Walker) voicing a group of local youth’s vision for a future where all youth are free.

When the exhibit is installed, 160 foot tall portraits will flank City Hall. As visitors hold smartphones up to the portraits, augmented reality animation and audio will display the young leaders’ dreams for the future as they articulate the investments they say will keep the community safe, healthy, and free. They will hear the words and voices of young people in the form of a co-written poem: “In a world without youth prisons. I walk down the streets and… I hear happiness in the community, and I feel safe…”

The experience will ask visitors to imagine a world where every young person feels empowered, free, heard and hopeful, growing up surrounded by the support and love they need to thrive.

Exhibit installation will begin at the end of June. Visitors will be able to experience Freedom Constellations starting in July, with the augmented reality experience located on the corner of 9th Street and Marshall Street.

Quotes from Project Partners:

“We must build a future where every young person feels unlimited in potential and unimpeded by the burdens of systemic racism and poverty,” said Mayor Stoney. “Freedom Constellations will be a beacon shining brightly from City Hall in support of that vision.”

“Covering the sides of city hall with interactive portraits of youth fighting to make Richmond a better place is exactly the kind of monumental public art that Richmond needs in this moment,” says Mark Strandquist, lead artist for the project and creative director at Performing Statistics. “Through photography and augmented reality, Freedom Constellations elevates not singular historic voices, but a multitude of powerful and visionary youth in the city. It is deeply important that the city provide platforms for all youth to speak about their experiences, showcase their leadership, and share their dreams for a more just, whole, and free Richmond with all of us. We can never build that future if we can’t imagine it, illustrate it, design it, and youth need to be part of that process. These young leaders have given us all a huge gift; they’ve shared a beautiful blueprint for a Richmond where all youth have the support we all deserve. I hope we all use this as an opportunity to listen, learn, and find more ways to involve youth in all of our efforts to make the world and future a better place.”

“The Human Services portfolio in the City of Richmond is dedicated to facilitating the hopes and dreams that Freedom Constellations embodies,” said Reggie Gordon, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services. “Richmond’s youth provide a key voice in our conversation on building a more compassionate city, and I greatly look forward to the other conversations this monumental public art installation will inspire.”

“Being a part of something that’s bigger than myself is just extraordinary,” said Ta’Dreama McBride, a youth activist and subject of the public art installation. “I hope when you see this you’re inspired to make a change in your community – not just that, but a change in the world.”

This project was made possible by support from the City of Richmond Departments of Human Services, Social Services, Justice Services, Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities, the Richmond Police Department, Richmond Region Tourism and Venture Richmond.

To learn more about Performing Statistics, please visit https://www.performingstatistics.org. 

For a live stream of the event, visit the city’s Facebook page here. Please contact Sam Schwartzkopf of the Office of Public Information and Engagement at sam.schwartzkopf@richmondgov.com with questions about the exhibit.

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Resolution advances the resort casino toward referendum

Richmond, VA — Richmond City Council this evening approved the resolution introduced by Mayor Stoney to name ONE Casino + Resort (RVA Entertainment Holdings, LLC) as the city’s preferred casino gaming operator for a proposed resort casino project in South Richmond at the former Philip Morris Operations Center. 

Passage of the resolution also includes City Council’s support of the business terms in the Host Community Agreement Term Sheet between the city and resort casino operator and authorizes the preparation and negotiation of the full Host Community Agreement, which will be voted on by Council later this summer.

The city will now submit the preferred operator/site to the Virginia Lottery Board for pre-certification. Upon successful pre-certification, and approval by City Council of the full Host Community Agreement, the city will petition the Circuit Court to hold the November 2^nd voter referendum on the negotiated project.

“ONE Casino + Resort is a $562.5 million project that will create 1,300 well-paying jobs with benefits in South Richmond, and every Richmond resident will benefit from the new revenue created by the project,” said Mayor Stoney.  “City Council’s vote tonight paves the way for every voting Richmond resident to have their voice heard on this important project.”

More information on the city’s resort casino process can be found at https://www.rva.gov/economic-development/resort-casino.

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Resolution advances the resort casino toward referendum

Richmond, VA — Richmond City Council this evening approved the resolution introduced by Mayor Stoney to name ONE Casino + Resort (RVA Entertainment Holdings, LLC) as the city’s preferred casino gaming operator for a proposed resort casino project in South Richmond at the former Philip Morris Operations Center. 

Passage of the resolution also includes City Council’s support of the business terms in the Host Community Agreement Term Sheet between the city and resort casino operator and authorizes the preparation and negotiation of the full Host Community Agreement, which will be voted on by Council later this summer.

The city will now submit the preferred operator/site to the Virginia Lottery Board for pre-certification. Upon successful pre-certification, and approval by City Council of the full Host Community Agreement, the city will petition the Circuit Court to hold the November 2^nd voter referendum on the negotiated project.

“ONE Casino + Resort is a $562.5 million project that will create 1,300 well-paying jobs with benefits in South Richmond, and every Richmond resident will benefit from the new revenue created by the project,” said Mayor Stoney.  “City Council’s vote tonight paves the way for every voting Richmond resident to have their voice heard on this important project.”

More information on the city’s resort casino process can be found at https://www.rva.gov/economic-development/resort-casino.

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~ Company will relocate corporate headquarters to larger facility in Scott’s Addition neighborhood ~

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that CarLotz (NASDAQ: LOTZ), the nation’s largest consignment-to-retail used vehicle marketplace, will retain and expand its headquarters in the City of Richmond, creating 192 new jobs. The company will relocate operations from its location in the Manchester neighborhood of Richmond to the Handcraft Building in Scott’s Addition to accommodate recent growth. Virginia successfully competed with Tennessee, Texas, and Washington for the project. Governor Northam joined company leaders and local officials at the new facility this morning to make the announcement.

“CarLotz has experienced tremendous success since its founding in Richmond a decade ago, and we are excited to see this homegrown company deepen its roots in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Northam. “With a fourth Virginia location opening in late June, CarLotz continues to expand its network of hubs in the Mid-Atlantic and nationwide. Central Virginia has a deep bench of skilled workers and a strong commitment to developing a robust talent pipeline, making the region an ideal location for fast-growing businesses like CarLotz.”

CarLotz was founded 10 years ago in Richmond, Virginia as a peer-to-peer car consignment marketplace designed to put the value back into the hands of people. Today, it has grown to be the nation’s largest consignment-to-retail used vehicle marketplace with hubs across the country. CarLotz’s omnichannel approach offers guests exceptional experiences whether online or in-hub. 

“Richmond has proven to be a great home for CarLotz, offering a wonderful community and a talented workforce to support its growth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “We thank the company for creating nearly 200 high-quality jobs and look forward to many more years of partnership with CarLotz.”

“CarLotz was born in Virginia, and we couldn’t be more excited to build this next chapter of the company right here in our home state and in the city we love,” said Michael Bor, Co-Founder and CEO of CarLotz. “We are confident in the workforce and the access to markets that further investing in Virginia will provide for CarLotz, our team members, and our guests.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with the City of Richmond to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $700,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Richmond with the project. CarLotz is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Support for the company’s job creation will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a workforce initiative created by VEDP in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System and other higher education partners, with funding support from the Northam Administration and the Virginia General Assembly. Launched in 2019, the program accelerates new facility start-ups through the direct delivery of recruitment and training services that are fully customized to a company’s unique products, processes, equipment, standards, and culture. All program services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies as an incentive for job creation.

“Richmond is both thankful and excited to have a publicly traded company like CarLotz make the strategic decision to expand in the city,” said Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. “The 192 new jobs create opportunities for our citizens to work for a growing and thriving company that has created an innovative way for buying and selling cars. Scott’s Addition has gained a new neighbor that will add to the area’s vibrancy. This is a great project for Richmond, and we look forward to helping CarLotz grow even more in the city.”

“CarLotz’s choice to expand in the Commonwealth’s capital is welcome news and will have important impacts for the City of Richmond,” said Congressman Donald McEachin. “Not only will the expansion create nearly 200 new jobs, it will help further stimulate our economy through innovation and competition and will create important opportunities for our residents. I commend all of the local, state, and federal leaders and coalitions who played a part in securing this project for Virginia.”

“Virginia certainly welcomes the decision by CarLotz to expand its headquarters in Richmond and thus bring more jobs to the city,” said Senator Ghazala F. Hashmi. “I am especially delighted by the company’s partnership with VEDP and Virginia’s Community College System through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program in its recruitment and training of new hires. The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program has proven to be a critical initiative that assists business and industry partners identify and develop local talent for their innovation and growth efforts.”

“We are overjoyed that CarLotz not only chose to stay in our City of Richmond, but also to expand its operations further,” said Delegate Jeff Bourne. “That they chose us over several cities demonstrates how powerful a hub for business and investments Richmond has become. The creation of new jobs and the company’s ability to provide consignment vehicles at comparable or below dealership prices is vital to an economy that is beginning to turn around.”

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