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[...]
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[...]
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 we[...]
$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 […]
Virus cases spike among Latino population in Richmond area
The Richmond region has seen a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among Latinos because of workplace spread, health officials reported Friday. Although Hispanics make up only 6.5% of the population in the city of Richmond, they represent 30% of all virus cases and 30% of hospitalized patients there, said Richmond [...]
Va. COVID cases down nearly 38% from prior week
New COVID-19 cases in Virginia dropped by nearly 38% this week, with the commonwealth reporting 3,635 new confirmed and probable cases for the 7-day period ending June 15, down 5,853 new cases during the prior week. The state has had 1,552 deaths from the coronavirus since the pandemic began. Nevertheless, last week, the Unite[...]
Central Va. CEOs ‘unhappy’ with pace of reopening
Although a majority of Central Virginia CEOs have an improved outlook for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months, they’re unhappy with the pace of reopening, according to a follow-up 2020 CEO Economic Outlook Survey released Friday by the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business and the Virginia Council of CEOs […]
State extends utility disconnect ban to Aug. 31
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) announced Friday it has extended the moratorium on service disconnections for electricity, natural gas, water and sewer utilities customers until Aug. 31. The SCC first ordered a 60-day ban on disconnecting utilities in mid-March for customers who have been unable to pay bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It […]
Va. launches platform to connect people to jobs, education
With more than 400,000 Virginians unemployed, the state has launched a platform designed to connect people to educational and work opportunities broken down by region, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The Virginia Career Works Referral Portal connects people to training, certification, education and employment services to aid in job search and career development. Users can […]
Colleges need to play a role in rebuilding the economy, panelists say
As Virginia moves into its recovery phase from the COVID-19 pandemic, economic leaders say there is work to be done to support college students and Virginians who are changing careers, especially in terms of equal opportunities. Thomas Barkin, president and CEO of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank, and Virginia Economic Developm[...]
VMFA plans public reopening July 4
In an email to members Thursday, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts announced it would reopen to the public July 4, and to members on July 1. The Richmond museum closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained shut since, except for its grounds, where many people gather in nice weather. “As the […]
Phase Three timeline is coming Tuesday, Northam says
Gov. Ralph Northam said that he will provide information at Tuesday’s news conference about when the state could enter Phase Three of his “Forward Virginia” reopening plan, although he noted Thursday that the state will spend a minimum of two weeks in Phase Two, which started for most localities June 5. Richmon[...]