Henrico News Archives for Author: Will Jones

Henrico Chief of Staff/Deputy County Manager Cari Tretina selected to lead Economic Development Authority

photo of Cari Tretina, Henrico County Chief of Staff
Tretina has served as Henrico’s chief of staff since 2019 and in an expanded capacity that includes deputy county manager since 2022. Among her accomplishments for Henrico, she has collaborated with EDA on dozens of agreements and initiatives to attract jobs and investment to Henrico, while also enhancing business opportunities and livability in the county.

EDA is responsible for attracting business growth and investment in Henrico, which has more than 353,000 residents, 25,000 businesses and 200,000 jobs. Overall, the county represents the fourth largest economy in Virginia. Continue reading Henrico Chief of Staff/Deputy County Manager Cari Tretina selected to lead Economic Development Authority

Board of Supervisors recap: Public hearing on animal cruelty registry set for Dec. 2

Henrico Board of Supervisors 2024
At its Oct. 28 meeting, the board initiated its process to consider establishing a local animal cruelty registry. A public hearing for the proposed ordinance will be advertised for Dec. 2. A state law that took effect in July 2024 allows localities to create a registry that includes the names and relevant information of people convicted of certain felony offenses of animal cruelty. Continue reading Board of Supervisors recap: Public hearing on animal cruelty registry set for Dec. 2

Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance to be available for SNAP participants

Help neighbors facing food insecurity. Feed More. Donate. Volunteer. feedmore.org.
Due to expected delays and gaps in accessing benefits, Henrico is collaborating with neighboring localities and Feed More, central Virginia’s nonprofit food bank, to ensure that the community’s nutritional needs are met. About 116,000 individuals in Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties and the city of Richmond typically qualify for SNAP. Continue reading Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance to be available for SNAP participants

With discipline and precision, National Honor Guard Academy shares expertise with local units

As part of an honor guard training, participants carry a casket.
More than 50 representatives of two dozen public safety agencies across three states attended the National Honor Guard Academy (NHGA) hosted by the Henrico County Division of Fire. The training session, held Oct. 19-24, was dedicated to elevating the knowledge, skills and execution of public safety honor guard units.

NHGA came about because “there just wasn’t any training for public safety honor guards,” said Doug Swartz, the academy’s founder and commanding officer.

“Traditions were being missed or misrepresented and our fallen just weren’t being honored the way we wanted them to, so we put a training program together.”

The 45-hour course offered a mix of classroom and hands-on learning. Materials covered basic drills, church and casket protocols, proper casket handling, precise movements and flag etiquette. It culminated with a full, mock line-of-duty funeral procession to give participants a chance to practice all they learned.

Instructors are retired or active public safety officers, with both civilian and military experience. Continue reading With discipline and precision, National Honor Guard Academy shares expertise with local units

Henrico’s residential leaf-collection programs to begin early November

Map of Bagged Leaf Collection Areas.
Free collection of bagged leaves will get underway Monday, Nov. 10 and continue through Sunday, Feb. 8. Crews will work week to week in five zones; each zone will be collected twice over the course of the program. Residents living outside the zones can order free pickup of bagged leaves by calling 804-727-8779. Continue reading Henrico’s residential leaf-collection programs to begin early November

Community celebrates opening of Bungalow City Firehouse 23

A little girl sits in a fire engine and touches a fire helmet on a man’s head.
Since opening in mid-February, Firehouse 23 has enhanced fire protection and emergency medical response to areas of eastern Henrico. Officials celebrated the station and its new fire engine with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event that included a traditional fire engine push-in ceremony.

Located at 5618 Nine Mile Road, Firehouse 23 is named after its surrounding neighborhood of modest bungalow houses dating to the 1920s. “It’s tight-knit and resilient – a thriving community to this day,” Varina Supervisor Tyrone Nelson said of Bungalow City. “So, the name has deep roots, and it’s appropriate the fire station’s title reflects the community which it serves.” Continue reading Community celebrates opening of Bungalow City Firehouse 23

Henrico becomes first to earn ‘quadruple AAA’ status for water, sewer bonds

Utility worker working on a water valve with four sets of AAA.

The county's 'quadruple AAA" status reflects that it has received the top ratings from all four of the main municipal rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

In August, Henrico became the third county in the nation to receive AAA ratings for general obligation bonds from the four agencies.

“This elite bond-rating status – ‘quadruple AAA’ – underscores Henrico County’s commitment to excellence in fiscal management and leadership in all aspects of governance,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Dan J. Schmitt, of the Brookland District. “These ratings – first with general obligation bonds and now with water and sewer revenue bonds – represent far more than accolades. They translate into lower interest rates and ultimately millions of dollars in savings for our taxpayers as we continue to make strategic investments in facilities and infrastructure that support the county’s high quality of life. These ratings will help us provide tremendous value as we improve and modernize our public utilities system, making it stronger, with enhanced redundancies and resiliency, for all our customers.”

Continue reading Henrico becomes first to earn ‘quadruple AAA’ status for water, sewer bonds

Henrico opens survey to enhance how it connects with, supports communities

logo for Outreach And Engagement
Henrico will use the survey responses to guide its efforts to strengthen communication, expand resources and enhance opportunities for civic participation. The input also will be used to identify strategies to deepen relationships across neighborhoods, faith communities, cultural groups and civic organizations. Continue reading Henrico opens survey to enhance how it connects with, supports communities

HEART invites nonprofits to apply for second round of Community Impact Grants

Community Impact Grants Program, with photos of a young girl cleaning up a lake or stream and a landscaped garden by an arbor. Logo for HEART - Henrico's Environmental Action Resource Team.
Applications for funding through the Community Impact Grants Program may be submitted online through Wednesday, Nov. 26. HEART will review the applications for compliance with program requirements. Grant awards of up to $5,000 are expected to be announced in the spring.

“The Community Impact Grants Program aims to inspire and empower residents and organizations to look closely at their neighborhoods and communities for ways to create a more resilient environment,” said Samantha Hudson, director of Henrico’s Sustainability Division. “The collective impact of even small, hyperlocal projects can be quite significant, especially when paired with all the county is doing to reduce carbon emissions and build a stronger, more sustainable community.” Continue reading HEART invites nonprofits to apply for second round of Community Impact Grants

A ‘generational project,’ Fall Line trail’s northern section opens with connection at Woodman Road

Bicyclists ride the Fall Line trail
Local officials from across the region and other trail boosters gathered Sept. 24 along the paved pathway in Ashland for a ribbon-cutting and ceremonial first ride. From the Ashland Trail Line Trail, the new portion cuts through Hanover County and into Henrico with a crossing of the scenic Chickahominy River.

Ultimately, the Fall Line is planned to extend 43 miles and cross through seven jurisdictions between Ashland and the city of Petersburg. Henrico opened its first portion of the trail – the 1,400-foot Park Street section in Lakeside – in July 2024. Continue reading A ‘generational project,’ Fall Line trail’s northern section opens with connection at Woodman Road

Henrico to reconnect to city’s system as water main repairs pause for the day

As planned, the Department of Public Utilities disconnected from the city’s system shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday to allow the city repairs to occur during overnight hours when system use is low. Throughout the night, customers in areas of eastern Henrico were served with water from the county’s reserve tanks. Public Utilities will follow the same process late tonight, allowing city crews to resume work to repair the water main that broke Thursday evening. Continue reading Henrico to reconnect to city’s system as water main repairs pause for the day

‘We’ll be ready’; Henrico welcomes Richmond’s faster timeline for water main repairs

Henrico Public Utilities logo with water droplet
Richmond announced today that crews will begin to repair the water main at Seventh and Canal streets at 10 p.m. Sunday. The work is expected to be completed in the early morning hours of Monday. Previously, the repairs were expected to start late Monday. The work is timed to occur when water use is low across the system. A station that receives water from the city and serves areas of eastern Henrico will temporarily be offline. Continue reading ‘We’ll be ready’; Henrico welcomes Richmond’s faster timeline for water main repairs

Henrico water pressure continues to stabilize as Richmond flows strengthen

Photo of pallets of bottled water outside Harvie Elementary School
Henrico County customers should be seeing consistent water pressure, although it may remain slightly lower than normal, as water flows from Richmond have strengthened and the city prepares to fix a broken water main that occurred Thursday on Canal Street in downtown. Residents are encouraged to call the Henrico Department of Public Utilities at 804-501-5025 (weekends/after hours) if they notice any unusual water conditions. Continue reading Henrico water pressure continues to stabilize as Richmond flows strengthen

Henrico’s water remains safe, stable following Richmond water main break

A forklift operator loads a pallet of bottled water at Best Plaza for distribution
Henrico customers may experience lower-than-normal water pressure as crews work to address the impacts of a water main break on Canal Street. Customers are encouraged to limit water use when possible. Henrico has opened a drive-thru water distribution site at Best Plaza, 1400 Best Plaza Drive. A distribution site at Harvie Elementary School, 3401 Harvie Road, will open Saturday. Residents may pick up bottled water – one case per car – daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Continue reading Henrico’s water remains safe, stable following Richmond water main break

Henrico replenishes east end water reserves overnight as Richmond continues to ramp up production

Henrico Public Utilities logo with water droplet
“By successfully routing water from our Water Treatment Facility in western Henrico to our system of six tanks in the east end, we’ve ensured that these reserves are fully restored and able to meet the needs of our residents and other customers, as needed, for at least 24 to 48 hours,” said Bentley Chan, director of the Henrico Department of Public Utilities. Continue reading Henrico replenishes east end water reserves overnight as Richmond continues to ramp up production

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