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Ask the Mayor

Mayor L. Douglas Wilder answers your questions

Mayor L. Douglas Wilder
Richmond.com
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Are there any city programs that help small businesses?

Charmaine White

Manchester

The City's Office of Minority Business Development (OMBD) increased minority contracting with the City last year to an outstanding 18.5 percent. As a comparison, the Commonwealth of Virginia only has about a 2 or 3 percent minority contractor participation. OMBD also partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide training on developing market plans and other kinds of "start up" assistance. Please contact the City's OMBD at 646-5947.

The City provides financial support to small businesses through Commercial Area Revitalization Effort (CARE) and Enterprise Zone grants that can be used for interior and exterior improvements, sprinkler or fire suppression system upgrades and other approved uses. For more about the City's economic development incentives, call 646-5491.

What's the status of getting a marina in the City of Richmond?

Mike Hunt

Varina

The City is nearing approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a public 73-slip marina at the City's Intermediate Terminal, east of Downtown. Next will come public hearings by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. We hope to begin construction this year so the marina can open for recreation and enjoyment in 2009.

Our plan represents the City's first and only public marina, which will attract boaters traveling on the Intracoastal Waterway as well as cruise ships from Hampton Roads. The marina is envisioned as a public-private venture with The Village of Rocketts Landing, a residential development at the Richmond-Henrico line that is developing its own private marina, so that the two marinas can share amenities such as a harbormaster, fueling station and restrooms.

What's happening with the "City of the Future" money?

Don Boatwright

Fan District

City of the Future signs are popping up all across Richmond to indicate where significant upgrades are being made to our City parks, playgrounds, libraries, streets and sidewalks. My City of the Future program will bring more than $300 million in community improvements, of which approximately $113 million is already in the pipeline over the next several years.

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4 comments.

Edwin - Email this User
5/9/2008 at 2:34:50 PM

Richmond.com Article Feedback - Leave your comment today!

Why is Wilder ignoring Battery Park? Is he punishing the district because of his conflict with Hilbert? The park is still closed. The kids have no place to play this summer. Here we are almost two years later and the place is still fenced off!

laura bryant - Email this User
5/8/2008 at 12:58:35 PM

i am serious when i ask this question, why does it take four vehicles and six city employees to street sweep the streets? i have witnessed on two occasions all this personell and equipment burning gas and money at one time cleaning my street on west 12th street in old manchester.
thank you for looking into this matter - i believe there has to be a more efficient way to clean our streets!

CCamplell
5/4/2008 at 1:00:41 PM

I just saw your mayor on Face the Nation and he had the nerve to say that we white moderate Democrats are part of some right wing conspiracy and that's why we are voting for Hillary Clinton...I want to inform you Mayor, that I am a Moderate Democrat and I voted and will vote for Hillary Clinton because she is the best candidate NOT because she's white, a woman or anything else you can dream up! So, are the blacks voting for Obama because of some Black Panther conspiracy??? That's about as foolish as what you said! If YOU Sir, don't know what you are talking about then YOU Sir should just SIT DOWN or you may be out of a job when YOUR re-election comes around and it won't be that 'right wing conspiracy' at work against you!

WHNickerson - Email this User
5/1/2008 at 9:01:27 PM

I just left the Meadowridge Police station where the officer just blew me off after explaining to him how a door to door salesmen just hasseled my girlfriend who is in a wheechair. Maybe if he wasnt so invloved in his internet porn he could have more helpful.

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