The city has published an updated version of the City's Guide to Neighborhood Improvement . In order to keep the city's neighborhoods thriving and safe, it is important that both residents and city administration work together to maintain vibrant communities in which to live. This helpful booklet summarizes select city ordinances and additional information on penalties and fines. For questions not covered in the guide, please contact customer care at 646-7000 or 311. ###

Neighbor-to-Neighbor "100,000 Service Hour Challenge" is Mayor Dwight C. Jones' new volunteer initiative designed to promote service and volunteerism in the city of Richmond. As city residents, you can set an example by volunteering in city neighborhoods and encouraging others to join in brightening the lives of fellow Richmonders. You can help in many ways, such as serving as a resource in city schools tutoring a child in reading, or beautifying the city by helping to maintain one of its many green spaces. You might choose to serve as a friendly visitor to support the elderly or coach an athletic team to lead area youth. Click here to take the first step of the challenge by completing the simple registration form. Your volunteer efforts can help "Build a Better Richmond!" ###

Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced today an enhancement to several city parks by allowing non-powered watercraft on three city park lakes. Beginning today, visitors will be allowed to boat on Shields Lake and Swan Lake in William Byrd Park and on Forest Hill Lake in Forest Hill Park. “I believe residents will enjoy boating on these city lakes as it highlights the aesthetic beauty of our city parks as well as aids in promoting fitness in our city,” said Mayor Jones. “A city’s greatness cannot be measured without including its parks and green spaces, and this added activity highlights the numerous amenities of the already great park system we have here in the city of Richmond. I would like to thank the city’s department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities for implementing this initiative which allows residents and visitors to our city, enhanced access to the city’s parks and lakes.” The use of non-powered watercraft provides park boaters the opportunity to view the beauty of city’...

The city of Richmond has been awarded the Cities of Service Leadership Grant to hire a Chief Service Officer who will develop and implement a comprehensive citywide service plan to promote volunteerism and coordinate with Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative. Richmond was one of ten cities selected to receive a $200,000 grant over two years, funded jointly by the Rockefeller Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies, to hire a Chief Service Officer – a senior city official who will develop and implement a citywide plan to increase volunteerism and help volunteers address their city's greatest needs. “I am very pleased that Richmond has been selected to receive the Cities of Service Leadership Grant. This award will aid our Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative which encourages Richmond residents to embrace those values and caring natures that once framed our communities as a better place to do business, raise children and help our neighbor,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced today that the National League of Cities (NLC) has chosen Richmond as one of only four municipalities to join with the NLC in planning and hosting local "community conversations" on the topic of improving outcomes for young children by third grade. Richmond was chosen for the Educational Alignment for Young Children Initiative (the Initiative) after interviews with Dr. Carolyn Graham, deputy chief administrative officer for Human Services, and other city and school officials. The city's outcome based budgeting approach, wherein family and individual economic stability is a focus for the Jones Administration, is part of what has set Richmond apart for this opportunity. Mayor Jones has called for the development of strategies that will lead to increased quality early learning opportunities for children 0-5 years. Recognizing that learning begins long before children enter school, these early learning strategies are designed to help prepar...

WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones Bob Sledd, Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor Dr. Mark Gelbert, Senior VP, Global R&D, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Peter Chapman, Deputy CAO for Economic & Community Development WHAT: Pfizer Research & Development Facility Announcement WHEN: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 2 p.m. WHERE: Main Street Station 1500 East Main Street BACKGROUND: Mayor Dwight C. Jones will be joined by Bob Sledd, senior economic advisor to Governor Bob McDonnell; and Dr. Mark Gelbert, senor vice president for Global R&D for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare for a formal announcement regarding the Sherwood Avenue R&D operations in the city of Richmond. # # #

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Brandon, along with a collaborative of community organizations, announced today the intent to submit a Promise Neighborhood planning grant application to the U.S. Department of Education for the city’s East End. President Barack Obama will launch an initiative to create 20 Promise Neighborhoods in areas that have high levels of poverty and crime, and low levels of student academic achievement, in cities across the nation. Based on the highly acclaimed Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City, the Promise Neighborhood Initiative will provide a full network of services to entire needy neighborhoods from birth to college. "Our initiative is called, 'Richmond’s Promise Neighborhood,' and our collaborative approach will ensure the strongest possible outcome for our efforts," said Mayor Jones. "Our short term goal is to position Richmond’s East End to compete successfully for education dollars...