RICHMOND--Governor Ralph Northam today issued a proclamation designating May as Business Appreciation Month in Virginia. Throughout the month, the Governor and members of his administration will visit companies and attend events in each region of the Commonwealth to highlight the diversity and importance of Virginia's robust business community.

Six entrepreneurs will receive funding for innovative resilience-building solutions

RICHMOND--Governor Ralph Northam today announced $1.5 million in funding for six business winners of the first-ever RISE Coastal Community Resilience Challenge. The winners will each receive between $160,000 and $310,000 to develop innovative products, services, and workforce development programs to help coastal communities adapt to climate change.

Funding to assist 30 permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing projects across the Commonwealth

RICHMOND--Governor Ralph Northam today announced $2.2 million in Homeless Reduction Grants through the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF) for 30 projects in Virginia. The selected projects will result in targeted efforts to reduce homelessness around the Commonwealth. The grants will support 16 rapid re-housing projects, 12 existing permanent supportive housing projects, and the pre-development of two permanent supportive housing projects.

Commonwealth to partner with Virginia Community Capital to create online marketplace matching investors with communities

RICHMOND--Governor Ralph Northam today announced a new initiative that will bolster the Governor's goal of ensuring that every region, community, and household can participate and share in the Commonwealth's economic progress through the federal Opportunity Zones program, which was created through the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017.

RICHMOND--Governor Northam today announced more than $6.7 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) funding for seven regional projects. Key members of the Governor's cabinet, the General Assembly, and the business community approved the GO Virginia grant funding for projects across the Commonwealth. These grants are for projects each region identified as vital to their efforts to diversify the regional economy, strengthen their workforce, and support collaborative programs between localities, public entities, and private businesses.

Funding will support broadband, business and entrepreneurial development, and economic diversification

RICHMOND--Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Virginia will receive five grants totaling more than $2.8 million in the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) program. Three of the grants are multi-state implementation grants. One grant will go to Bland County for broadband deployment, and a technical assistance grant will go to Friends of Southwest Virginia.

LEXINGTON, Va. - The Lex Running Shop in downtown Lexington is open for business. 

"My husband and I just thought that a running store would be a great addition to an already vibrant downtown," said Jess Reid, owner of Lex Running Shop. 

Reid was able to celebrate the opening Monday with a special guest -- Gov. Ralph Northam. 

"I'd love to continue to grow running and running culture in our town and to help people meet their goals," said Reid.