By: Martin Short, Lead Economic Development Specialist & Public Information Officer

Thanksgiving week kicks off the busiest time of the year for retail businesses. Many businesses, particularly small retail shops and restaurants, rely heavily on the end of year sales to close out the year in the black. Together with American Express, the SBA sponsors Small Business Saturday each year to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for our communities.

The year’s Small Business Saturday is November 26^th. Small business owners can participate in Small Business Saturday in many ways. 

1. Get free Small Business Saturday marketing materials including sample posters, press releases, and social media updates
2. Utilize social media platforms to connect with current and potentially new customers
3. Implement an email marketing campaign 
4. Connect with customers and make their experience special, unique, and safe

Supporting our small businesses is a way to support the well-being of our neighborhoods and communities. The more we value our common resources, the more resilient we become.

Please join the SBA, American Express and others across the country in supporting your local small business by Shopping Small!  Please visit us at www.sba.gov under Small Business Saturday to learn more.

Southside Virginia Community College hosted a Nurse Aide Pinning Ceremony on November 16th for its graduates that attended classes at the Southside Virginia Education Center in Emporia. The graduates were: Tamira Allen, Zakia Bacon, Shaquanta Drumgoole, Elizabeth Barnes, Mallie Manning, Marissa Boyd, Stacey Vaughan and Annie Hill. SVCC Nurse Aide training can be completed in seven weeks, for more information, visit: https://southside.edu/nurse-aide-training.

RESOLUTION 23-29
GREENSVILLE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
SUPPORTING OPERATION GREEN LIGHT FOR VETERANS

WHEREAS, the residents of Greensville County have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all of the men and women who have selflessly served our country and this community in the Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, the contributions and sacrifices of the men and women who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by our citizens; and

WHEREAS, Greensville County seeks to honor these individuals who have paid the high price for freedom by placing themselves in harm's way for the good of all; and

WHEREAS, Veterans continue to serve our community in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, religious groups, civil service, and by functioning as County Veteran Service Officers in 29 states to help fellow former service members access more than $52 billion in federal health, disability and
compensation benefits each year; and

WHEREAS, approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian communities annually; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 20 percent increase of service members will transition to civilian life in the near future; and

WHEREAS, studies indicate that 44-72 percent of service members experience high levels of stress during transition from military to civilian life; and

WHEREAS, Active Military Service Members transitioning from military service are at a high risk for suicide during their first year after military service; and

WHEREAS, the National Association of Counties encourages all counties, parishes and boroughs to recognize Operation Green Light for Veterans; and

WHEREAS, the County of Greensville appreciates the sacrifices of our United States Military Personnel and believes specific recognition should be granted.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, with designation as a Green Light for Veterans, the Greensville County Board of Supervisors hereby declares from October through Veterans Day, November 11th 2022, a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform transitioning from Active Service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in observance of Operation Green Light, the Greensville County Board of Supervisors encourages its citizens in patriotic tradition to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying a green light in a
window of their place of business or residence.

By Chloe Voss, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – The housing market in Virginia’s 4th District is turbulent on many fronts, but reelected Democrat U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin says he will fight to ease the crisis for his constituents. 

McEachin for a third term will represent a district that generally encompasses a swath of territory stretching from parts of Henrico County down south past the city of Emporia, westward to Brunswick County and east over to Surry County. 

McEachin secured a victory with almost 65% of the vote against previous Republican challenger Leon Benjamin, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

“I am going to continue fighting for forward-looking policy solutions that address the issues most important to Virginians: rising costs and inflation, job creation, the right to choose, gun violence, and housing insecurity,” stated McEachin in an email.

The most populous areas of the 4th District have faced a tumultuous few years in almost every aspect of the housing market. 

• Richmond City experienced a 14% rent increase on the low end and Henrico County experienced a 28% rent increase on the high end from 2021 to 2022 according to CoStar data published in March.

• Evictions have increased 678% in Chesterfield County, 340% in Henrico, 513% in the city of Hopewell, 582% in the city of Petersburg and 751% in Richmond from 2021 to 2022 according to data from the RVA Eviction Lab.

• Median home sale prices have increased 3.7% in Richmond, 8.7% in Henrico and 12.5% in Chesterfield from September 2021 to September 2022 according to data from Redfin.

• The median household income varies throughout the 4th District, but a recent market value analysis report shows most homes are unaffordable.

McEachin’s campaign did not tout housing reform or relief as a platform issue, but he said he is aware of the problems in Virginia.

“I will continue fighting to expand and improve affordable housing, bolster rental assistance and other resources and explore additional legislative avenues to help tackle our nation’s housing crisis,” McEachin stated in an email. 

House lawmakers have introduced several bills to combat housing insecurity, which have not yet come to a vote, but McEachin’s staff said he is committed to helping those in need through policy. 

“Rep. McEachin remains committed to advancing smart policies that will provide much-needed assistance to renters and home buyers, as well as improve and expand affordable housing,” stated Shahid Ahmed, McEachin’s communication director, in an email. 

 McEachin helped secure $1.6 million in Housing and Urban Development funding to combat youth homelessness earlier in the year, along with almost $400,000 from Veteran Affairs to help with housing for homeless veterans.

“My staff and I will also continue to keep our localities apprised of federal grants and other funding opportunities to help improve affordable housing and reduce housing insecurity,” McEachin said.

The RVA Eviction Lab conducted through the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University released its third quarter data last month showing evictions are quickly climbing in the Richmond metro area.

State lawmakers began tackling housing reform legislation the year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, after five Virginia cities ranked in the top 10 for national eviction filing rates, including Richmond, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Chesapeake. 

Renters have more legal protections in place than before the pandemic, but emergency housing protections that expired in June were most effective at keeping evictions at bay.

“I think there's certainly a risk that that could happen [pre-pandemic eviction rates] based on how it's already happened in certain places, but it's by no means inevitable,” said Ben Teresa, RVA Eviction Lab co-director. 

There is still time for policymakers and advocates to help prevent the situation from worsening, Teresa said. 

While housing aid may be available, the conversation around fiscal aid does not address helping those in need more permanently, according to Jatia Wrighten, an assistant professor of political science at VCU.

“This is the conversation of the deserving and undeserving poor,” Wrighten said. “Virginia actually does a pretty good job of allotting funds for social programs like housing, but they are very difficult to gain access to.” 

 A lot of housing solutions are going to be temporary, according to Wrighten. “Temporary is sort of the name of the game as it relates to social welfare programs.”

Resources for those in uncertain housing situations can see if they are eligible for aid on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website.