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Va. jobless claims drop slightly last week
Virginia saw a small decrease in the number of initial jobless claims last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday, but the number of initial claims filed from mid-March through the Sept. 26 filing week totaled 1.167 million, or 28.4% of pre-pandemic payroll employment. For the week ending Sept. 26, 9,377 Virginians filed initial claims […]
State to allocate $10M in block grants for COVID-19 recovery
The state government is earmarking more than $10 million in federally funded Community Development Block Grants (CBDG) for COVID-19 recovery projects across the commonwealth, including some small business assistance funds, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. “Our administration remains committed to investing in rural communities during this unprecedented health crisis and as we work to rebuild [...]
State rent, mortgage relief program expands to aid landlords
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday the expansion of the state’s Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP) to include financial assistance for landlords. The RMRP was launched in late June with $50 million in federal CARES Act funding to assist households facing eviction or foreclosure due to COVID-19. Landlords can now apply to receive financial assistance […]
Northam expands $70M Rebuild VA program
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday that the $70 million economic recovery program Rebuild VA is expanding its eligibility criteria to allow more small businesses to apply for economic relief grants. Under the Rebuild VA program, which launched in August, businesses that received federal CARES Act funding are now eligible to receive up to $10,000 in […]
Hampton Roads to deploy first electric buses in Va.
Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday signed legislation that will bring zero-emission electric buses to Virginia as part of an initiative to change public transportation in Hampton Roads. Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Louise Lucas and Del. Alex Askew creates the first-ever dedicated Hampton Roads Regional Transit Program and Fund, which will be managed by the […]
Northam casts ballot on first day of early voting
Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday voted early in person at the Richmond general registrar’s office on the first day of Virginia’s 45-day early voting period. Amid the pandemic, Virginians, through a new law, are permitted to vote absentee by mail or in person at their local registrar’s office or satellite locations. Under legislation signed by […]
Four Va. localities earn Main Street designation
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday that the towns of Cape Charles, Onancock, Tappahannock and Tazewell have joined the Virginia Main Street Program, which, through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), provides services to strengthen downtown communities. Designated towns must participate in an application process to receive services including market analysis, marketplace[...]
Va. attorney general secures $15.3M settlement for former ITT Tech students
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring secured an agreement to obtain $15.3 million in debt relief for at least 1,840 former ITT Tech students in Virginia as part of a settlement including 47 additional attorneys general and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, his office announced Tuesday. The entire settlement is approximately $330 million for 35,000 […]
Center for Innovative Technology names president, CEO
The Herndon-based Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced Friday it has promoted former state Secretary of Commerce and Trade Robert J. “Bob” Stolle as its new president and CEO, replacing Ed Albrigo. A not-for-profit corporation created in 1985 by the Virginia General Assembly, CIT functions as the state government’s economic development organization for the technology [...]
Va. Small Business Financing Authority didn’t loan out $28M
The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) disbursed only 8% of its available funds in 2018 and just 10% in 2019 for loans, grants and bonds to help small businesses — holding on to $28 million, according to a study released Monday by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC). A division of the […]
State General Fund revenue down only 0.2% in August
Despite the pandemic, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday that August General Fund revenue collections decreased only 0.2% compared to the same time last year. “Despite trying economic conditions, collections from payroll withholding and sales taxes remained steady,” Northam said in a statement. “We look forward to September’s receipts, which will provide more insight into Virginia’s [[...]
Virginians debate mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations
RICHMOND, Va. — Though the federal government is asking states to prepare for the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccine within months, some Virginians differ on whether the vaccine should be mandatory when it becomes available. Virginia Freedom Keepers, a nonprofit that advocates for medical freedom, gathered in Richmond this week for a “March Against Mandates,” […]
