Locally contributed ideas were considered + refined into formal proposals during the project’s first two phases. | Photo via Quincy Coppage
“Our City. Our Money. Our Ideas.” That’s the mission statement behind Richmond People’s Budget, an initiative started by locals to encourage community participation in a $3 million spending budget from the city.
The People’s Budget: a brief timeline
Phase 1— Brainstorm
Last year, residents submitted nearly 2,000 budget spending ideas across Richmond’s nine districts.
Phase 2— Develop
Ideas were narrowed down and polished into approximately 10-15 project proposals per district.
Note: You can read an overview of each district’s proposals on the Phase 2 page. Here’s an example for District 1.
📍 Phase 3— Vote
Richmonders (aged 14+) can now vote on their preferred district proposals until Tuesday, April 15.
Phase 4— Fund
Voter-selected proposals will receive funding, and project action will occur between July 2025 and June 2026.
Note: Projects that receive above 50% of the public vote will be funded first.
Stonewall Yoga | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Diversity Richmond | $5 | Unwind in the evening with this yoga class, open to folks of all skill levels.
A Hard Light Cinema Screening of “Tropical Malady” | 7:30 p.m. | Studio Two Three | Free | Attend this immersive film screening, hand-picked by Hard Light staff for its complex themes and unique perspective on storytelling.
Friday, April 4
Beers & Banjos | 6 p.m. | The Camel | Free | The name of this live-music event encapsulates it pretty fittingly — enjoy a beer + tune in to the twangy banjos.
Family Night Hike | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Maymont | $15 | Join an evening hike to observe Richmond’s animal nightlife, from croaking frogs to hooting owls.
Akron RubberDucks vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels | Friday, April 4-Sunday, April 6 | Times vary | The Diamond | $12+ | Hit the stands, grab a hot dog, and watch some baseball at one of three opening weekend games.
Saturday, April 5
¡FridaFest! | 1-7 p.m. | VMFA | Free | Get excited for the art museum’s highly anticipated Frida Kahlo exhibit at this day-long celebration with food, art demonstrations, live music, and community vendors.
Saturday, May 17
HistoryFest | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Virginia Museum of History & Culture | $75+ | Dive into history with 20+ interactive presentations covering musical revolutions, U.S. presidents, and key events that shaped generations at this all-day festival and conference.*
$21. That’s the expected monthly bill increase for Dominion Energy customers by 2027. This increase includes a projected fuel-rate hike of $10.92 in July, followed by additional base-rate increases over the next two years. (CBS 6)
Coming Soon
Manchester is getting a new breakfast + brunch hub — Sassy’s. Owner Jilan Hall-Johnson plans to open the Hull Street spot in July, so get ready for all your in-house biscuit + hot sauce fixings. (Richmond BizSense)
Feel Good
Poppy the pygmy hippo (“the people’s princess”) just made her official outdoor debut after spending her first few months in a climate-controlled indoor habitat. Metro Richmond Zoo welcomes folks to read about all her latest life milestones or visit Poppy + her mother Iris in person.
Open
Putting together a new gallery wall in your home? Shockoe Valley Picture Framing — owned by Dave Hantoot — just opened as a retail space on Valley Road for all your gallery-curation needs. You may be tempted to run online for ease, but consider making the trip to support RVA’s small business scene. (Richmond BizSense)
Today Is
National Film Score Day. You can still catch the second half of Studio Ghibli Fest at The Byrd for some gorgeous instrumental scores. Grab tickets for tonight’s showing of “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” at 7 p.m.
Don’t waste time bouncing between dealerships when shopping for a car. With CarGurus, you can browse millions of cars + compare dealer ratings all in one place. Shop smarter.*
Stat
$10,000. If you owe this much in personal debt, this company can reach out to credit card companies + potentially reduce it. See how it works.*
Tech
Invest in award-winning AI-powered marketing technology. With 12+ years of research behind them, RAD Intel is backed by Adobe and Fidelity and trusted by Hasbro, Skechers, and Sweetgreen. Join 6,000+ investors and get $0.55 per share (before prices change next Thursday, April 10).*
Today’s Best voting is in full swing and there is still time to give your two cents. Remember, you can vote once per day. Share the love for your favorite local businesses here.
The Buy
The Buy
Chic drawstring denim pants. The roomy, straight-leg design keeps these jeans comfortable and casual, while the drawstring cinch ensures they fit snugly around your waist. Bonus: Shop this Madewell version.
I cast my vote for the Richmond People’s Budget just before writing today’s story, and I found it to be a very quick + straightforward process. We want to know how your experience with voting goes. Did you have any trouble with the tech or finding a convenient voting location? Did you get to vote for a project that you’ve been wanting in your neighborhood for years? Let us know.
}})
