Norfolk eyes two former school sites for development
The Norfolk city government is soliciting help to figure out how to transform two former school sites into significant assets that generate tax revenue. The city government has sent out two Requests for Information asking professional real estate development firms to provide insights on how it should develop the former Coronado School and former Madison […]
Arlington taps community planning, housing leader
Samia Byrd has been named to lead Arlington County’s Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development beginning Jan. 3, 2024, the county announced Wednesday. Byrd’s responsibilities will include leading the next generation of land use regulations, plans, development policies and practices, housing, and community and neighborhood planning programs. She succeeds Claude Williamso[...]
Truist grants $500k to aid Richmond Community Wealth Building office
Truist Foundation announced it has made a $500,000 grant that will ultimately help Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building provide further financial, education and employment coaching to city families, the philanthropic arm of Truist Financial Corp. announced in a press conference Friday. “At Truist, our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and […]
Katie Cristol to lead Tysons development nonprofit
Arlington County Board of Supervisors member Katie Cristol will step down early to take a job as the first permanent CEO of the Tysons Community Alliance, the Tysons community development nonprofit announced Tuesday. Cristol will assume the role on July 5, relieving acting CEO Richard Bradley. In October 2022, the Tysons Community Alliance replaced the […]
River District Association gives leader a title upgrade
Diana L. Schwartz’s title is changing from executive director to CEO of the River District Association, the Danville downtown revitalization association announced Monday. The title more accurately reflects her role, according to an RDA news release. It has shifted from creating and managing programs for the downtown business community to putting greater emphasis on growing […]
Sentara invests $11M in Newport News revitalization
Sentara Healthcare invested $11 million in Newport News’ Marshall-Ridley Choice Neighborhood revitalization initiative, the Norfolk-based health system announced Wednesday. Sentara is providing $11 million in loan financing support for the project’s second phase, which focuses on the former Ridley Place neighborhood. The project is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Devel[...]
NY foundation invests $10M in Appalachian Community Capital
Appalachian Community Capital, a Christiansburg-based community development financial institution that provides capital for small businesses across the Appalachian region, will receive an additional $10 million investment in the form of a low-interest loan from the Ford Foundation, the New York-based nonprofit announced Wednesday. The Ford Foundation initially invested $3 million in ACC in 2015. A[...]
Hampton Roads Community Foundation elects new chair
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation Board of Directors elected Sharon Goodwyn as chair, the foundation announced last week. An attorney at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Goodwyn is the first African American and the first woman to serve as chair of the foundation, which was established in 1950. She served as vice chair of the board […]
Gilbert Bland to receive Civic Leadership Institute award
Urban League of Hampton Roads President and CEO Gilbert T. Bland will receive the Civic Leadership Institute’s 2022 Individual Darden Award, the Norfolk-based nonprofit organization announced Thursday. “Over the last three decades, I have joined with many to build upon the efforts of countless, often unsung, past leaders to help improve the lives and build […]
Va. Community Capital names new president and CEO
Richmond-based nonprofit Virginia Community Capital (VCC) has hired Amir Kirkwood as its president and CEO, following founding executive director Jane Henderson’s January announcement of her retirement. He will assume the role on Nov. 1. “I am excited about Amir’s choice to join our organization,” Henderson said in a statement. “He brings the talent and market […]
“Port host communities” receive revitalization funds
The General Assembly allocated $1 million in grants to redevelop port-related properties in Virginia’s “port host communities,” including Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The goal of the funding is to enable timely redevelopment of port structures for economic development and employment growth, according to the Department of Housing and Communit[...]
Richmond-based investment nonprofit to manage $33M guarantee pool
Richmond-based LOCUS Impact Investing, a subsidiary of Virginia Community Capital, will manage a newly formed $33.1 million national guarantee pool to encourage community development, according to a press release Tuesday. The Community Investment Guarantee Pool has $33.1 million in unfunded guarantee commitments from the endowments of 10 philanthropic organizations, which help mitigate investment [...]