October 22nd Newsletter
I am writing this introduction after spending my afternoon and evening knocking on doors and speaking with voters in the 73rd district. These past few months I have had the opportunity to knock on thousands of doors and have one on one conversations with over 1,500 members of our community.
It has been such a joy to speak with so many of you, and our conversations have carried me through what has been a challenging time for us all. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Virginia just three months after I was sworn in as your Delegate, and while I loved getting to know so many of you virtually, I have truly enjoyed being able to speak with you face to face and hear more about the issues that matter to you and your family.
This is the last newsletter I will send before Election Day, November 2nd. I want to thank you for being engaged in our community, and make one final ask — to please VOTE in this year’s election!
If you have any questions or need assistance with a state agency, please contact my office at delrwillett@house.virginia.gov or phone at 804-698-1073, and a member of my staff will be happy to assist you. I also will continue to keep you informed with relevant, accurate information via Twitter, Facebook, and my website. Please stay well and stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Rodney
New Information
Important Deadlines and Information for the November Election
There are only 11 days left before Election Day on November 2nd for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and the House of Delegates. See below for more information on upcoming deadlines and how you can cast your vote by mail, in-person absentee, or in-person on Election Day.
Vote by Mail — The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is today October 22nd by 5:00 pm. You can apply to vote by mail online here, or by filling out this paper application and returning it to your local registrar’s office by the deadline tonight.
You can return your ballot at one of Henrico County’s ballot drop boxes, via mail, or you may hand-deliver your ballot to your local registrar’s office by 7:00 pm on Election Day. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your registrar by noon on the third day after the election. Please make sure you read your ballot and fill it out completely. A witness signature is required to verify the validity of your ballot.
Vote In-Person Early — In-person early voting is available through Saturday, October 30th. If you vote in Henrico County you can vote early in person at the Western Government Center (4305 E. Parham Rd) or Eastern Government Center (3820 Nine Mile Rd). Early voting is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm and Saturday, October 23rd and 30th from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. You do not need an excuse or reason to vote early, simply visit your local registrar’s office with a valid form of voter identification.
Vote In-Person on Election Day — As always, you can vote in-person on Election Day, November 2nd, from 6:00 am - 7:00 pm at your polling location. Find your Election Day polling place online here, and make sure you bring a form of acceptable identification, like a driver’s license, military ID, or a passport.
You can see sample ballots for Henrico County online here. If you have any questions or concerns about voting this year, please contact my office at DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov and my team and I will be happy to assist you.
Governor Northam Announces $2 Billion Public-Private Broadband Investment
Governor Northam announced that Virginia has received a record number of local and private sector applications to match state broadband investments, putting the Commonwealth on track to become one of the first states to achieve universal broadband access by 2024. As you may remember, the General Assembly allocated $700 million of COVID-19 relief funding from the American Rescue Plan to the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative during the 2021 Special Session in August. Virginia anticipates more than $2 billion in total broadband funding, thanks to local and private-sector matching funds that go beyond the $874 million in state appropriations since 2018.
The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative is the Commonwealth’s broadband program. It was started in 2017 to fund public-private partnerships to extend broadband service to areas unserved by an internet service provider. Applications require a portion of the funding to by matched by the locality or a private partner. When the most recent application round closed last month, the program had received 57 applications from 84 localities, requesting $943 million to connect more than 250,000 Virginia homes and businesses. These applications leverage $1.15 billion in private and local matching funds. The Department of Housing and Community Development is reviewing applications and expects to award the funds by the end of the year.
You can read the Governor’s full announcement online here. See more information on the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative online here, including applications from localities for potential projects.
Henrico Small Business Resiliency Grant Program offering $375k in grants
LISC Virginia and Henrico County have launched the Henrico County Small Business Resiliency Grant Program, a $375,000 fund that will provide grants and coaching services to small businesses in Henrico to assist in their transformation toward improved safety, sustainability, and profitability.
LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) is a nonprofit that works to support community development in cities and rural areas throughout the county. Through this partnership with Henrico County, approximately 15 small businesses will receive business coaching services to design a plan to improve their resiliency and sustainability during the pandemic and beyond. Businesses also will receive grants between $10,000 and $25,000 to implement their plans.
Small businesses interested in applying should register and express their interest by filling out this form by Wednesday, November 3rd at 11:59 pm.
Businesses can use the grant funds for creating new products or services related to the core business, modernizing technology for e-commerce, rehabbing space to efficiently and safely serve customers, purchasing equipment, and more. Businesses will work with a coach for six months to create a project plan that includes goals, benchmarks, and strategies to implement their vision. See more information on the grant program online here.
Henrico Supervisors Approve Zoning for Green City Development
The Henrico Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to approve rezoning plans and a provisional use permit for the planned 204.2-acre GreenCity mixed-use development in northern Henrico. This site is located at the former Best Products headquarters off East Parham Road at Interstate 95. The Board’s vote followed the recommendation by the Henrico County Planning Commission on September 9th.
The development is designed around principles that promote environmental sustainability, civic engagement, and inclusion. When construction is complete the development will include a $250-million, 17,000-seat arena, more than 2,100 residential units, more than 2 million square feet of office space, 280,000 square feet of retail space; and an extensive network of parks, plazas, and open spaces as part of its “eco-district” design.
The arena is planned to be the greenest arena venue in North America and would accommodate up to 17,000 patrons in flexible seating configurations to accommodate touring concerts, family shows, and potentially new sports teams, including ECHL Hockey and G-League Basketball. You can see more information on the Green City Development online at https://henrico.us/greencity-info/.
Dialing Area Code Required for 804/276 Calls Starting October 24th
Beginning October 24th calls made within the Richmond region (area code 804) and Southwest Virginia (area code 276) will require all 10 digits to be dialed. This change will support the creation of the new 988 number to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) is a critical emergency resource and can be reached, day or night, at 800-273-8255. Starting in July 2022, the NSPL will also be getting its own three-digit dialing number – 988. Virginia is among 35 states and one U.S. territory that must start using 10-digit dialing to clear the way for use of the 988 national number next year.
You can see more information on this announcement from the SCC online here. For more information about phone service changes resulting from the NSPL’s upcoming 988 number, visit the FCC website at fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline or the SCC website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/988-Preparation.
Henrico Schools’ Opens Applications for Community Members on School Health Advisory Board
Henrico County Public Schools officials are now accepting applications for several spots on the School Health Advisory Board, which helps guide the school division on critical health issues, from health policy to the coordination of school health programs.
Parents, students, professionals, educators, and other members of the community are invited to submit applications. The board seeks representation from each of Henrico County’s five magisterial districts.
The School Health Advisory Board:
Assists the HCPS School Board and superintendent in the development of school health policy.
Reviews and monitors the status of the division’s coordinated school health program in meeting the needs of students and staff.
Advises the School Board and superintendent on school health issues.
Advocates for action to meet identified needs and concerns.
See more information and apply online here. For questions about HCPS’ School Health Advisory Board, contact Robin Gilbert, HCPS supervisor of school health services, at rdgilbert@henrico.k12.va.us.
