WHEREAS, Virginia has a long-standing commitment to conserve its energy resources and to help low-income households through the Weatherization Assistance Program; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has administered the Weatherization Assistance Program since the program's inception in 1976, providing a variety of state and federal resources through 17 community action agencies, nonprofits, and local governments that serve people in every town, city, and county in the Commonwealth; and

Governor Ralph Northam today announced $1,440,000 in Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) grants for the towns of Bedford and St. Paul, and the cities of Covington and Richmond. IRF grants provide gap financing for construction projects aligned with local and regional economic development strategies, primarily in distressed communities. Governor Northam made the announcement at Virginia Union University, where IRF funding will support a project to redevelop the historic Industrial Hall building into a Center for African American History and Culture.

Partnership between Commonwealth and Virginia Community Capital to create Opportunity Zone marketplace will help increase investment in low-income communities

CHARLOTTESVILLE--Governor Ralph Northam today announced the official launch of Opportunity Virginia, a new initiative designed to leverage the federal Opportunity Zone program.

Governor Ralph Northam today announced $180,000 in Community Business Launch (CBL) grants for Giles County, the city of Norton, and the towns of Buchanan and Culpeper. The CBL funding will provide training to entrepreneurs and assist the communities in conducting business plan competitions that align with local and regional economic development strategies, primarily in Virginia's downtown commercial districts. Governor Northam made the announcement at an event in the town of Buchanan, where he presented local officials with a check.

Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Virginia will receive six grants totaling $4,227,512 in the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) program. Projects include broadband and solar energy expansion, workforce development, water systems improvements, and recovery health programs focused on re-employment. One project is a multi-state project focused on Opportunity Zone development.

Grant funding will help address home health and safety hazards in low-income households

RICHMOND--Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Virginia has been awarded $5.6 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help protect families from lead-based paint and home health hazards. The grants are provided through the federal Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program and Healthy Homes Production Grant Program.

The Accessibility Equipment Manufacturers Association (AEMA) and the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) join me in warning consumers with home elevators and visitors to homes with elevators to protect small children from a deadly gap that may exist between the doors. The distance between the inner elevator car door and the room access door (hoistway door) on home elevators may be too wide, allowing a small child to enter the space and close the room access door without opening the elevator car door.