County poised for further growth, with development, enhanced focus on sports tourism

Visitors spent more than $1.3 billion in Henrico County during 2021, the highest total of any locality in central Virginia and the fifth highest in Virginia, according to an annual study released today for the Virginia Tourism Corp.

Henrico will support purchase with $750,000 contribution over 3 years

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will acquire 6.2 acres along the western edge of its Lakeside Avenue location through a purchase agreement with Lakeside Baptist Church that is being supported by Henrico County.

With Henrico’s help, nonprofit uncovers thousands of gravesites in 2 years

Two years after acquiring the neglected, vine-choked property, Marvin Harris isn’t interested in slowing or pausing the work to restore historic Woodland Cemetery.
Not for Virginia’s sweltering summer heat.

Not even for a broken right foot.

“You couldn’t take me away from this project,” Harris said, toweling perspiration from his face and hobbling across the grounds in a protective boot – an injury caused in March by a toppled headstone.

Name picked in 23% of more than 1,400 votes cast at NameTheShelter.com

Henrico Pet Adoption Center was selected as the name for the county's proposed animal adoption center. The name was preferred on 23% of the 1,411 votes cast at NameTheShelter.com. Among the seven finalists, Henrico Animal House finished second, with 19%, followed by Furever Friends Pet Adoption Center, 16%; Wags & Whiskers Pet Adoption Center, 15%; Happy Tails Pet Adoption Center, 12%; Henrico P.A.C.K. (Protect and Adopt Canines and Kitties), 8%; and Henrico Hope Pet Adoption Center, 7%.

First lady Jill Biden visited Henrico Friday, promoting COVID-19 vaccinations for young children. She stopped by the county’s Health Department East Clinic on Laburnum Avenue with Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, to tout the benefits of the vaccine, which recently was approved for children ages 6 months to 5 years.

Biden toured the health center and talked with parents whose children were waiting for shots, including Tuckahoe residents Kyle Wendling and Cathy Marcelo. The couple had brought their 9-month-old son Patrick to be vaccinated.

Plan would give a credit based on a 52-cent rate cut, make 1st payments due Aug. 5

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors will consider a personal property tax relief proposal that would give residents an additional 60 days to make their first payments and provide a credit on year-end bills to offset higher-than-expected vehicle values. With the credits, the county would provide an effective 52-cent reduction to the personal property tax rate for 2022, based on current estimates.

UPDATE: At its April 12 regular meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the budget for fiscal year 2022-23. The spending plan will take effect July 1.

Highlights include 2-cent cut to real estate rate, more tax relief through REAP, 117 positions for public safety, education, $20 million to jumpstart bond projects

In new role, longtime head of Richmond Raceway will bolster sports tourism

Dennis Bickmeier has been appointed to lead a new authority that will oversee Henrico County’s sports tourism program and manage its private-public facilities, including an indoor events center under construction at Virginia Center Commons.