Venue drew about 112,000 visitors in first 4 months
Traveling teams, families and other visitors will soon have more places to stay and eat when they head to the Henrico Sports & Events Center.
A pair of excavators and a dump truck paused long enough Thursday morning for officials to celebrate the next phase of development at the site of the former Virginia Center Commons mall.
Shamin Hotels will soon begin construction of a Residence Inn and Suites hotel, which eventually will be joined by a Home2 Suites hotel and two restaurants – all a short walk from the entrance to the Sports & Events Center. The 185,000-square-foot facility opened in October and attracted about 112,000 visitors in its first few months. That equates to an estimated economic impact of $14.9 million, according to the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority.
Continue reading 2 hotels, 2 restaurants set for construction beside Sports & Events Center
Project will bring new dam, environmental improvements, public access
Richard Flanagan can’t wait to see Lake Overton vibrant once again, with fishing and other recreation, as it was before Hurricane Gaston’s remnants brought pounding rain in 2004.
Continue reading 20 years after Gaston’s rains, Henrico celebrates start of work to revive Lake Overton
Plan retains 85-cent real estate rate, supports RECAP program, doubles BPOL exemption, advances bond projects, reinvests in education, safety, employees
UPDATE: The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously April 9 to adopt the county’s proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The approved budget added $4.5 million to create a reserve fund for Henrico County Public Schools to expand planning periods at elementary schools and $89,500 to fund a community health worker position. It also adjusted funding for several nondepartmental agencies.
Continue reading Henrico Board of Supervisors approves proposed budget for fiscal 2024-25
Plan focuses on service access, coordination, navigation in schools, community
With children and teenagers struggling more than ever with depression, sadness and hopelessness, Henrico County and Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) are implementing a plan to strengthen access to high-quality mental health services by making them more available in schools and expanding efforts focused on prevention, support, and early and intensive intervention.
Continue reading Henrico CARES signals ‘call to action’ to strengthen youth mental health services
County prepares to issue $121 million in bonds for schools, other projects
Henrico County’s triple AAA bond ratings – the highest possible endorsement of its creditworthiness – have been reaffirmed ahead of a sale of bonds to improve schools and other public facilities.
Continue reading Henrico’s triple AAA bond ratings reaffirmed
Henrico County’s oldest park has a fresh, modern look – and Fran Shinholser couldn’t be happier.
On Wednesday, she and her daughter, Janis Kouche, headed to Cheswick Park for their daily walk and ended up joining county officials in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its recent renovation and reopening.
Continue reading Cheswick Park – Henrico’s first park – reopens with improved trails, playground, restroom facilities, other amenities
Federal funds will help develop stations for public use at seven county facilities
Henrico County will install electric vehicle charging stations at seven locations, including at libraries, parks and recreation facilities and government centers, after being awarded a $1.4 million federal grant to promote clean energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Continue reading Henrico earns $1.4 million grant to create EV charging station network
Tobacco – and Virginia’s prosperity – took root at former riverfront plantation
The Henrico County Board of Supervisors voted today to buy Varina Farms, a 2,095-acre former plantation along the James River that will be preserved for its historical significance, natural beauty and sensitive environment.
Continue reading Henrico to buy 2,095-acre Varina Farms for land preservation
Embrace the moment, Nelson urges, citing county’s fiscal strength, sustainability efforts
The veteran supervisors were elected by unanimous votes during the board’s organizational meeting Tuesday. Joining Nelson and Schmitt on the dais are newly elected Supervisors Roscoe D. Cooper III, of the Fairfield District; Misty D. Whitehead, of the Three Chopt District; and Jody K. Rogish, of the Tuckahoe District.
Continue reading New Board of Supervisors taps veterans Nelson, Schmitt for leadership posts
2 HCPS seniors who embody the supervisors’ values will be recognized each year
Henrico County, with the nonprofit Henrico Education Foundation and a host of donors, has established a scholarship fund to honor trailblazing Supervisors Frank J. Thornton and Patricia S. O’Bannon, who will conclude 28 years of service when their terms end Dec. 31.
Continue reading Scholarship fund established to honor retiring Supervisors Thornton, O’Bannon
The members of Henrico County’s next Board of Supervisors and School Board as well as its constitutional officers and Henricopolis directors have been sworn in to begin serving their terms on Jan. 1.
“Welcome, we all look forward to working with you and seeing you succeed as a group,” County Manager John A. Vithoulkas said at the conclusion of the Henrico County 2024 Investiture, which was held Dec. 15 at the Henrico Sports & Events Center.
Continue reading Oaths administered to incoming supervisors, School Board members, constitutional officers, Henricopolis directors
Hundreds of residents, supporters and community members packed the entrance and lobby of the Henrico Sports & Events Center to celebrate the opening of the massive facility that will host games, tournaments, graduations and other events.
The 185,000-square-foot venue began hosting tournaments and other events in late October, but officials reserved the formal dedication and ribbon-cutting for the Community Celebration event, which was held Dec. 4 and welcomed in the public with music, games and giveaways.
Continue reading ‘Welcome to Showtime’: Community celebrates new Sports & Events Center
For its annual State of the County address, Henrico traded its usual, formal setting in a hotel ballroom for the county’s shiny, new sports arena.
It enlisted the talents of the Henrico High School marching band and handed out thundersticks and other noisemakers to give the gathering a hint of a major sporting event.
Continue reading 2023 Henrico State of the County celebrates accomplishments, community in new sports arena
For nearly 20 years, the Henrico County Police Division has based its southeastern units in leased space on Eastpark Court, near North Airport Drive and Interstate 64.
But by early 2025, the Fair Oaks Station will give way to a permanent South Station, which also will include training facilities for the county’s emergency communications and division’s K-9 unit.
Continue reading South Station represents permanent home, ‘sound investment’ for Police
Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade said she was impressed by the clean, fresh aroma when she stepped inside the new Henrico Sports & Events Center.
It’s almost like when you say, a new car smell. Well, this is a new arena smell, and it’s really nice, McGlade said Thursday in an interview with ESPN’s Angel Gray at the conference’s Media Day event.
Continue reading From ‘great lighting’ to ‘new arena smell,’ Henrico Sports & Events Center shines for A-10 Media Day
County’s 1st phase of Ashland-to-Petersburg trail will be built in Lakeside
Henrico County is set to begin construction of its portion of the 43-mile Fall Line trail, following a ceremonial groundbreaking today in Lakeside for the trail’s 0.26-mile Park Street Phase.
Continue reading With groundbreaking event, Henrico ready to begin Fall Line trail construction
AEDs installed at Henrico parks, outdoor spaces
Units allow lifesaving treatment for cardiac events ‘until first responders arrive’
Henrico County is installing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at its parks and outdoor recreation areas in response to increased participation in strenuous activities and related medical calls.
Continue reading AEDs installed at Henrico parks, outdoor spaces
Henrico's Annual Report provides the most comprehensive overview of the county's accomplishments, projects and initiatives for fiscal year 2022-23.
These pages provide a window into what we have done – and what we are doing – as we strive to become the best community in which to live, work, play and visit, County Manager John A. Vithoulkas said.
Continue reading Henrico’s 2022- 2023 Annual Report is now available
County poised for continued growth with Sports & Events Center opening in fall
Visitors spent more than $1.7 billion in Henrico during 2022. That's the highest total of any locality in central Virginia and the fifth highest in Virginia, according to an annual study for the Virginia Tourism Corp.
Henrico’s total includes sales of $406 million on food and beverage, $226 million on lodging, $165 million on retail, $167 million on recreation and about $754 million on transportation. Overall, spending by tourists and other visitors to Henrico jumped by 27.2% from 2021.
Continue reading Tourist spending in Henrico exceeds $1.7 billion in 2022
Voting by absentee ballot begins Friday, Sept. 22 for the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
In Virginia, all registered voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot. To vote absentee by mail, voters first must complete an application. Forms are available online.
Continue reading Absentee voting begins Friday, Sept. 22 Tax relief program for seniors, disabled homeowners would build on REAP Program
Henrico County is proposing a tax relief program that would cap the real estate tax bills of qualifying homeowners who are older or disabled, helping to mitigate the higher costs associated with rising property values.
Continue reading Henrico RECAP program would lock in real estate tax bills of qualifying owners
Henrico has partnered with nonprofit housing developers to sell 12 new or renovated homes to working individuals and families with lower or moderate incomes. To get the maximum impact, the effort has focused on an area of historic Highland Springs, where 10 of the homes are within 1 mile of each other.
Continue reading Henrico broadens strategy for increasing access to affordable housing
County enhances programs to address damage caused by opioid epidemic
With the first wave of grants from the national opioid settlement, Henrico County is strengthening its programs and services for individuals working to recover from substance use disorder, particularly mothers and their children.
Continue reading With opioid settlement grants, Henrico seeks ‘treatment for the moms’, ‘prevention for the kids’