15 Metro stations to reopen this weekend
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced Monday that 15 rail stations closed due to the agency’s COVID-19 response will reopen on Sunday, June 28. The following Monday, buses will also be added to 14 lines to increase capacity and offer more frequent service. WMATA, which runs the transportation system, began reducing service hours […]
Va. COVID-19 cases continue weekly decline
Virginia continues to see a weekly decline in COVID-19 cases, with the Virginia Department of Health reporting 3,579 new cases for the week ending June 22. The state reported 68 new deaths from the coronavirus during the same time period, bringing the state death toll for the pandemic to 1,620. The state has seen 58,465 […]
Survey: Economic, cultural impact of virus concern Va. execs
A newly released survey finds that Virginia business and nonprofit leaders are concerned not only about the financial but the cultural impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Culture Conundrum survey, which polled 365 leaders across Central Virginia, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, was conducted from May 19-31 by Williamsburg-based marketing research firm Brand Planning LLC […]
Loudoun County to fund 400 additional small businesses
On Tuesday, June 23, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will hold a random drawing for the third round of grants from its COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund, which supports small businesses affected by the pandemic. The funding was allocated from the $36.1 million in federal funding to Loudoun County from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and […]
State directs nearly $250M to long-term care facilities for COVID-19
Because a majority of COVID-19 outbreaks in Virginia have occurred in long-term care facilities, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday that the state will direct nearly $250 million to these facilities for coronavirus response, with most of the funding coming from federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Northam has also directed the […]
12K+ Virginians refuse to return to work amid pandemic
More than 12,000 Virginians who have filed jobless claims during the pandemic have refused to return to work, the Virginia Employment Commission announced Friday, while there are approximately 400,000 job vacancies posted on the Virginia Workforce Connection website. “While certain circumstances, such as health, child care or other caregiver responsibilities, may warrant continued payments of [&[...]
Va. hotel revenues still down by more than 60%
Even as Phase Three of Virginia’s reopening plan looms on the horizon, Virginia hotels are continuing to see revenues dropping. in the second week in June by 64% compared to the same time a year ago, according to findings released Thursday by Old Dominion University’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy. Rooms sold were […]
Northam releases Phase Three reopening plan details
Virginia isn’t ready to enter Phase Three of the state’s Forward Virginia reopening plan yet, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday, but when it happens, it will bring some big changes back to public life — like allowing social gatherings of up to 250 people. “We are not entering Phase Three this week. While statewide [COVID-19 […]
386K+ remain unemployed in Va. during pandemic
UPDATED 4 P.M. FRIDAY | More than 386,000 Virginians are still unemployed following the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, though the number of initial jobless claims across the commonwealth continues to decrease. The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) announced Thursday that 849,486 initial unemployment claims have been filed since March 15. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unempl[...]
Charlottesville Chamber to distribute reopening toolkits
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday announced that its COVID-19 economic recovery initiative Project Rebound will distribute 500 reopening toolkits to local businesses starting Monday, June 22. The Project Rebound toolkits include branded items that communicate standards such as complying with occupancy limits, wearing face masks and practicing social distancing. Each kit[...]
Richmond Folk Festival canceled this October
The Richmond Folk Festival, which often draws hundreds of thousands of music fans to the capital in the second weekend of October, will be canceled due to COVID-19 this fall, Venture Richmond announced Tuesday. Also canceled is Richmond’s 2nd Street Festival, another cultural food and music event held downtown the first weekend of October. “For […]
$14.66M in GO Virginia funds redirected to COVID-19 recovery initiative
More than $14.66 million of Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) funding for economic development has been redirected to a new Economic Resilience and Recovery Program in response to COVID-19-related economic impacts, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on our economy, and we must use every asset […]