The City is hosting a business workshop with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance. The workshop will cover how to do business with local, state and federal government agencies, licensing and permits, business financing, marketing, and available resources.

Monday, January 20, 2014, is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal holiday, which is celebrated as a National Day of Service. The City’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor (N2N) Initiative, in partnership with AmeriCorps ACES (Action for Community Enhancement Services), Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, and New Jubilee Heroes and Dreams invites Richmond residents to be a part of the MLK, Jr. Day “Servicing the Dream” program. “The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal holiday is a time for us to remember Dr. King’s legacy and what he stood for,” commented Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “This day is an opportunity for us to give back to our community and help keep his dream alive.” MLK, Jr. Day “Servicing the Dream” program will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, located at 3701 R Street. The event will feature Paul Manning, the City’s Chief Service Officer, as keynote speaker to be followed by a dynamic group discussion on the importance of volunteerism. Beginning at n...

In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, city government offices, including City Hall, will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2014. City offices will reopen at regular business hours on Tuesday, January 21. Monday’s closing includes all branches of the Richmond Public Libraries and all city community centers, both of which will reopen on Tuesday. Refuse collection will not be performed on Monday as the city’s Solid Waste Management Division will also be closed. This closure will result in a one day delay of refuse collection for the remainder of the week, as the collection schedule will begin on Tuesday and continue through Friday. The East Richmond Road Convenience Center and Hopkins Road Transfer Stations are also closed on Monday, January 20. Each facility will resume its normal schedule on Tuesday. For more information on city services and schedules, please visit www.RichmondGov.com .

~Christmas tree and electronics recycling  promote sustainability ~ On Saturday, January 11, 2014, the City’s Department of Public Works is sponsoring the fourth annual “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling program.   In addition to Christmas trees, the event will include electronics recycling, document shredding and donations  of clothing and small household items  to Goodwill Industries. “Bring One for the Chipper 2014” will take place in the paved lot at 1710 Robin Hood Road (northeast corner of Robin Hood Road and North Boulevard), from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 11.   The event began in 2010 as part of Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ City-wide sustainability initiatives.  Recycling  keeps the Christmas trees and electronics equipment  out of landfills, which  helps reduce   the City’ s carbon  footprint. Residents can bring up to five boxes of paper for shredding.  Electronic items  that will...

The City of Richmond is beginning preparation of the fiscal year 2014-15 Annual Consolidated Plan for the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds.  The Federal funds are entitlement dollars allocated to the City through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for neighborhood development and supportive services.  Only applications for projects within the City of Richmond will be considered, except for HOPWA funds for which the City administers funds for the entire Metropolitan Statistical Area. Application packages will be available by November 25, 2013 on the City’s website at http://www.yesrichmondva.com/neighborhood-revitalization/Federally-Funded-Programs   Applications packages will also be available at the Main City Library located at 101 E. Franklin Street.  All proposals and applications must be...

The City’s annual Vacuum Leaf Collection Program begins on Monday, November 11.  The schedule for the first cycle is as follows:  Worthington Farms                     November 11 - 15 Northside/Highland Park November 11 - 22 Bellevue/Ginter Park/Washington Park November 11 - 29 Bellemeade November 18 – 22  Westover Gardens  November 18 – 29  Newtowne/Carver/Jackson Ward November 25 – 29  Broad Rock/Brookbury November 25 – December 6 The Fan/Shaffer December 2 – 6   Westover Hills/Forest Hill/Woodland Heights December 2 – 13  Museum District December 9 - 13 Church Hill/Fulton December 9 - 20 Stony Point December 9 - 20 Windsor Farm/Univ. of Richmond/Far West End December 16 – January 3 Maymont/Byrd Park/Oregon Hill/Carillon December 23 – 27 Stratford Hills/Willow Oaks December 23 – January 3 ...

~ Vehicles without authorized parking passes will be ticketed and/or towed~ During the Tuesday, November 5 general election, special on-street parking restrictions will be in place near polling locations in order to accommodate chief election officers and those working the polls.  Parking will be prohibited in the following downtown areas from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. November 5 and on Wednesday, November 6, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.:  Three parking meters on 1 st Street, on the west side of the Main Library All parking meters on 9 th Street and 10 th Street between Broad Street and Marshall Street North side of Marshall Street between 9 th Street and 10 th Street All meters will be marked accordingly. In addition, Hermitage Methodist Home at 1601 Palmyra Avenue is a polling location.  Special parking will be designated on the north side of the 1600 block of Palmyra Avenue from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday only.   Unauthorized vehicles will be ticketed and...