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Vol. 36, No. 14 | Richmond Suburban News | August 26, 2020
Holiday parade canceled due to coronavirus By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
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ECHANICSVILLE – In 2013, Ronnie Planz of the Mechanicsville Rotary Club was tasked with deciding whether to have the annual Mechanicsville Rotary/ Ruritan Christmas Parade due to impending inclement weather. On Dec. 6, the following announcement appeared on The Local’s social media sites: “Due to the upcoming weather forecast for Sunday and our huge concern for the
safety of all our participants and the overall public, we regret that we will have to cancel this year’s Mechanicsville Rotary/Ruritan Christmas Parade. There is no rain date and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year. Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” Planz did not take the responsibility of making the decision lightly. This year, Dave Fuller and Bret Atwood, co-chairs, found themselves in Joel Klein/file photo the same predicament. The Flag Corps of the Hanover High School Marching Band performed at last year’s Mechanicsville Rotary/Ruritan Christmas Unlike Planz’s situation Parade in the Village of Mechanicsville. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, organizers decided to cancel the holiday see PARADE, pg. 4
tradition. Plans are being made for the 2021 parade.
Town seeks CDBG to help businesses through COVID-19 losses By Melody Kinser Managing Editor ASHLAND – The Town of Ashland is pursuing funding opportunities to assist businesses that have been financially set back by COVID-19. During last week’s regular Ashland Town Council meeting, members unanimously agreed to seek a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Virginia Funding Opportunities for COVID-19 Response. The Ashland Planning Commission had held a public hearing on the application on Aug. 12. Council’s action took place on Aug. 18. Nora Amos, director of Planning & Community Development, appeared before town council to request public comment in the
second of two hearings. She said the application is being sought to aid in long-term business goals for businesses affected by COVID-19. Among programs included in the grant proposal are: z A proposed safety enhancement grant that the Economic Development Authority (EDA) created earlier this year. “And we have had over 45 applications AMOS and almost $6,000 in that program. We will have to limit to funds to $2,000 just because of the amount of money that we had.” She also said that the town “would like to touch as many as possible. Some of those businesses have had to invest a little more than $2,000.”
z Business rental assistance. Amos said the grant would help with paying rent. She also said that the town has been trying to work with larger property owners, delaying rents if possible. But, she added, they had not been very successful with that plan. The goal was to cover rent for up to six months for town businesses. z Technical training program in partnership with Dominion Innovation Center, which is a service provided to town businesses. In 1988, the town had applied for CDBG funding, which, Amos continued, “usually goes to low-income neighborhoods, water, sewer, and infrastructure. This is a different type of CDBG program pushing these federal funds through.” She said the town can apply for up to $400,000, and be reimbursed up to that amount to cover the three programs. Mayor Steve Trivett called for any comments, which there see CDBG, pg. 4
