Creating a proud, unified Community of Richmond starts with a process to continually strengthen the fabric of the many smaller elements of our community. Towards that end the Plan to Create a Proud, Unified Community of Richmond is based around the following twelve (12) planning strategies. Replenish Richmond considers education, equality and public safety to be primary considerations for any thriving community, so all planning strategies and related programs will intentionally consider them at all times.
1) Buy Richmond Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when Richmonders patronize other Richmonders. The Buy Richmond Strategy will complement and supplement other regional efforts like the Retail Merchants’ “Think, Shop, Buy Local” Campaign which is designed to keep more of our dollars in the Region. The continued strength the Community of Richmond’s economy is directly dependent on the decision of Richmonders to buy from a local business whenever making a product or service purchase. It is expected that the success of this strategy will both support the economy of the region and strengthen the bonds between Richmonders.
Associated Replenish Richmond Program – Richmond Information Library
2) Community Service Database Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when more of our citizens are better aware of the multitude of programs and services available to enhance their quality of life. Many Richmonders needing assistance are unaware of available programs and services, while many service providers are unaware of other programs and services. The Community Service Database Strategy intends to maximize access to information for all Richmonders through a public-private collaboration that creates a current, objective, user-friendly, information source for the Richmond Region for all services related to: Child Care / Public Safety / Transportation / Job Training / Workforce Readiness / Education / Housing / Social Services / Health and Fitness / Financial Management / Recreation / Government Assistance
Associated Replenish Richmond Program – Richmond Information Library
3) Community Transportation Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when more of our citizens have better access to the many wonderful aspects of living in Richmond – access to education, to jobs, to services, to entertainment, to history, to life in the region. Unfortunately Richmond has many holes in its public/private transportation network. The Community Transportation Strategy intends to maximize the Transportation Capacity of the Region through well-managed community collaboration, matching available public and private transportation resources to our citizen’s transportation needs – supporting the development of our workforce and expanding the experiences and opportunities of all Richmonders, and all visitors to Richmond.
Associated Replenish Richmond Program – Stone Dam Partnership
4) Creativity Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when the creative spirit in all of us is allowed to flow freely. Replenish Richmond believes the strength of the Community of Richmond is mystically tied to the collective creative spirit in all its citizens and that power grows when all citizens, especially youth, have regular access to and are surrounded by the beauty, joy and stimulation of innovative and creative people. The Creativity Strategy intends to complement and supplement other regional efforts to support and promote creativity and innovation, like C3 and the GRCC “i.e.” Campaign. It is expected that the success of this Strategy will have a direct positive impact on the other eleven strategies of this Plan.
Associated Replenish Richmond Programs – A Piece of Peace / Big Yankee Doodle / Our Richmond / Sesquicentennial Art / Toasting the Sesquicentennial
5) East End Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when poverty, unemployment and related negative economic conditions impact fewer and fewer Richmonders. Unfortunately, for too many residents of the East End of the City of Richmond and Henrico County, poverty and unemployment have been constant for years, and sometimes generations. The East End Strategy intends to strengthen the East End by expanding awareness in the Richmond Region and beyond of the “community treasure chest” that is the East End – great people, unparalleled history, amazing parks and community spaces, spectacular architecture, incredible scenery, and the James River. The Strategy will pay particular attention to creating opportunities for the poor and underserved, utilizing the many talents of these East End residents to execute a comprehensive community building and marketing campaign designed to benefit their community and all of Richmond.
Associated Replenish Richmond Programs– CFMW Master Plan / Seeding the Bottom
6) Environmental Stewardship Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when Richmonders intentionally consider the health of their natural environment in all of their decisions and actions. Since environmental stewardship is a learned behavior, the Environmental Stewardship Strategy will concentrate on teaching our youth to be excellent stewards of their environment so that it will be instinctual for the rest of their lives. It is expected that the best way to reach adult Richmonders who were not raised in such a manner is through their children and grandchildren.
Associated Replenish Richmond Program – RVA Green Team
7) James River Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when a common identity is felt among all members of the community. In the Richmond Region, the greatest common bond for all Richmonders is our water source and playground, the James River. In an effort to take maximum advantage of our multi-faceted natural resource, the James River Strategy intends to inspire and enable Richmonders to be excellent stewards of this incredible asset and also to brand the James River as the icon for the Richmond Region, helping to craft a regional identity that will help lead to a proud, unified Community of Richmond.
Associated Replenish Richmond Programs – Stone Dam Partnership / RVA Green Team / Double the Travelers / Shockoe Tourism Center
8) Most Historic Community in America Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when more Richmonders are proud of their home community, including and especially its complex and conflicting history. Replenish Richmond believes the Community of Richmond, especially Downtown Richmond, is quite literally the most historic community in America. Richmonders have yet to capitalize economically on the power of this history and have been anything but proud of it. The Most Historic Community in America Strategy intends to establish the accuracy of the statement and to use the power of Richmond’s past to positively change Richmond’s future, both economically and socially. The Strategy intends to use the current Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War and Emancipation as an engine because it offers Richmond an opportunity to quickly change both its own perception, and that of the rest of the world, of its powerful historical resume.
Associated Replenish Richmond Programs – Stone Dam Partnership / Double the Travelers / Shockoe Tourism Center / Richmond Travel Ambassadors / Traveller
9) Non-Profit Capacity Building Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when the non-profit and charitable communities work together efficiently and effectively. In Richmond, the silo mentality is fully established and non-profits are just now starting to understand the importance of cooperation and collaboration. The Non-Profit Capacity Building Strategy intends to take advantage of our community’s caring and generous nature and maximize the positive impact of our non-profits on the lives of Richmonders across the region. The Strategy includes working with other entities in the development of a comprehensive Regional Non-Profit Strategic Plan, the institution of stricter operational guidelines and enforcement, enhancement of overall administrative efficiency, elimination of service duplication, and significantly increased organizational collaboration and coordination.
Associated Replenish Richmond Program – Richmond Information Library
10) Nurture the Heart – Support the City Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when the Region’s core, its heart – the City of Richmond, the Capital of the Commonwealth – is strong and thriving and regarded as the centerpiece of the region. In recent past, the City of Richmond has been perceived as inferior by its jurisdictional neighbors, in part due to a concern about crime, poverty and other common urban problems. The Nurture the Heart – Support the City Strategy intends to reverse the negative perception of the City by helping to reduce urban problems and accentuating the many positives. An important part of this Strategy will be to introduce many Richmonders to the City, a place they have spent little or no time in, and to re-introduce Richmonders who have abandoned the City.
Associated Replenish Richmond Program – Stone Dam Partnership
11) Richmonds of the World Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when more Richmonders, particularly our youth, better understand the global community they are a part of and feel a direct connection to that community. The Richmonds of the World Strategy intends to use our Twin City relationship with Richmond upon Thames (Richmond’s namesake) and the other 80 communities around the world named Richmond to expand the minds of all Richmonders and to inspire a desire to help strengthen Richmond’s future participation and influence in the global community.
Associated Replenish Richmond Program – Richmonds of the World
12) Smart Growth Strategy
Our regional community is stronger when more Richmonders are consciously invested and involved in the physical growth of our community. Until very recently the Richmond Region has grown at a rate that is both uncoordinated and unsustainable. The Smart Growth Strategy intends to supplement and complement the efforts of organizations like Partnership for Smarter Growth (PSG) to curb sprawl, to maximize use of what we already have in place, and to promote cooperation and collaboration in planning for the future. It is expected that the success of this Strategy will have a direct positive impact on the other eleven strategies of this Plan.
Associated Replenish Richmond Program – Stone Dam Partnership / Richmond Information Library / Seeding the Bottom