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Va. hotel revenue inching upward
Hotel revenues in Virginia continued to incrementally improve last week, according to new data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group providing market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. During the week of Aug. 9 through Aug. 15, hotel revenues in Virginia decreased by 44% and rooms sold declined by 32%, compared to the […]
Montgomery County, Blacksburg, Christiansburg launch small business relief grants
Montgomery County and the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg on Wednesday launched a grant fund to support small business recovery in response to COVID-19. Eligible businesses can receive one-time grants of up to $27,500. The Small Business Recovery grant program is funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and funding […]
Facebook opens Black business grant program
Starting Wednesday, any majority Black-owned business in the U.S. with up to 50 employees can apply for a grant through Facebook Inc.’s Black Business Grant. In June, Facebook announced it had committed $100 million in grants this year to support U.S. Black-owned businesses, creators and nonprofits. The social media giant announced Wednesday that $40 million […]
U.S. hotel industry faces foreclosure wave
The U.S. hotel industry is facing an historic wave of foreclosures due to the pandemic, according to findings released Tuesday from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), but Virginia might be an exception — for now. “We are not seeing much in the way of foreclosures or defaults as of yet,” says Virginia Restaurant, […]
Va. initial jobless claims dropped 46% last week
Initial unemployment claims in Virginia fell by 46% last week, according to a Thursday release from the Virginia Employment Commission. More than 13,000 Virginians filed initial jobless claims last week — a decrease of more than 10,000 claims from the previous week, according to a VEC statement released Thursday. For the first time since the […]
Dominion Energy directs $1M to help small businesses, residents pay energy bills
Virginia small businesses and residential customers can receive additional support to pay their energy bills through Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc.’s EnergyShare program, the company announced Thursday. Small businesses, nonprofit organizations and houses of worship can receive up to $1,000 to go toward unpaid Dominion Energy Virginia electric bills that have accrued during the pandemic[...]
Va. hotel revenues improved only 1% last week
Hotel revenues in Virginia improved by only 1% last week and still remain at a 45% decrease compared to the same week last year, according to new data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group providing market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. The week before last, STR reported a 46% decrease in Virginia […]
State awards $278K to COVID-19 economic recovery projects
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that the state has awarded $278,000 among 18 economic revitalization projects in Virginia as part of the state’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan. “Downtown districts are the lifeblood of our communities and our local economies and they need our support now more than ever,” Northam said in a statement. “Main Street […]
$8.79M in CARES Act funding going to affordable housing
Following Gov. Ralph Northam’s announcement on Aug. 7 that the eviction moratorium would be extended through Sept. 7, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine on Monday announced that $8.79 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding will go to affordable housing in Virginia. “As housing insecurity continues to […]
UPDATED: Sen. Chase refused to wear mask at Harrisonburg restaurant
Updated, Aug. 19 The owners of a Harrisonburg restaurant posted a message on Facebook saying that GOP gubernatorial candidate Amanda Chase refused to wear a mask in their restaurant Sunday and threatened to sue them for enforcing the policy. “Chase came into our restaurant,” wrote Katharine Nye Pellerito, co-owner of Vito’s Italian Kitchen with her […]
Va. Supreme Court grants eviction moratorium through Sept. 7
The Supreme Court of Virginia granted a temporary statewide eviction moratorium to begin Aug. 10 and remain in effect through Sept. 7, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The moratorium halts all eviction proceedings related to rent payment failures due to the pandemic. Northam requested the moratorium in a letter to the state’s highest court on […]
Va. first state to launch COVID-19 tracking app
Virginia on Wednesday became the first state in the nation to launch an app that offers alerts to people who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The app, Covidwise, is available for Apple and Android devices. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology (which does not drain phone batteries) […]
