Activation and Beautification CARE (ABC) Grants

Activation and Beautification CARE (ABC) Grants provide local funding through the Richmond Economic Development Authority and the City of Richmond for interim activation and beautification projects in Richmond’s designated CARE areas. The program is intended to improve and revitalize the commercial environment for retail, service, and other businesses by supporting visible, expediently implemented projects that enhance the vibrancy and appearance of CARE areas. The EDA and City reserve the right to update program guidelines and related Commercial Area Revitalization Program information without prior notice. Eligible applicants include neighborhood, civic, and business associations, non-profits, foundations, and similar groups. The applicant group does not need to be based in a designated CARE area, but the proposed project must be located in a designated CARE area. Applicants must be registered with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and current on required City of Richmond licenses and taxes. Projects must also have the support of the underlying property owner where the project will occur. Eligible projects must beautify or activate a CARE area, improve the environment for retail, service, and other businesses, and be visible from the public right-of-way. Examples include landscaping, window displays in vacant buildings, facade improvements, building wraps, murals, decorative or pedestrian-scale lighting, public-facing art installations, exterior building cleaning, pop-up concepts, and other activation or beautification efforts. Projects must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including zoning, permitting, safety, and health requirements. Projects that are not viable because they have not received or are unlikely to receive necessary approvals within a reasonable timeframe will not be funded. Grant amounts are based on proposed eligible direct project implementation costs. The program provides grants of up to $25,000 with no matching requirement, and up to an additional $25,000 if the applicant has a dollar-for-dollar matching source, for a maximum award of $50,000. ABC funds may not replace or supplant funding from the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, federal government, or their agencies for the same or substantially similar use or purpose. Organizational overhead and ongoing maintenance are not eligible for ABC grant funding. Funding will not be provided until required regulatory approvals are granted, although eligible direct project implementation costs incurred between Conditional Concept Approval and regulatory approval may be reimbursable after approval is achieved. Applications open at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, May 1, 2026, and close at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026. Applicants apply online at www.richmondeda.com. The application asks for the project concept description, anticipated CARE area impact, implementation timeline, ongoing maintenance plan if relevant, project financials and budget, applicant and partner background and qualifications, stakeholder support letters, property owner support documentation, and proof that the applicant organization is in good standing with the Commonwealth of Virginia and City of Richmond. Required uploads include proof of Virginia State Corporation Commission registration, City of Richmond business license or explanation if not applicable, project implementation timeline, project budget, property owner support documentation, project support letters, renderings or designs as needed, and any additional narrative or background materials as needed. Applications will be reviewed by a cross-disciplinary selection team for alignment with program goals, financial, operational, and regulatory feasibility, project timeline, project team experience, community support, project visibility, expected CARE area impact, and funding availability. Before a final grant award, selected applicants are expected to receive Conditional Concept Approval, meaning the project concept was selected subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. The EDA will then facilitate a Concept Path Meeting with the applicant and City to identify required steps and processes. Final grant awards require necessary approvals, a signed grant agreement, and banking information before funds are transferred. Two identical virtual information sessions are scheduled during the application period: Monday, May 4, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, and Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. Economic Development staff are available to answer application questions one-on-one during the application period. Questions may be sent to RichmondEDA@rva.gov. For mural projects in Old and Historic Districts, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult Commission of Architectural Review staff, including Alex Dandridge at Alex.Dandridge@rva.gov, because historic brick requires careful review to protect historic building integrity. No recurring deadline is stated in the source material.

Prioritize projects that are visible from the public right-of-way, ready to commence after grant contract execution, feasible within 12 months, supported by the property owner and stakeholders, aligned with CARE area revitalization, and likely to obtain required regulatory approvals. Avoid idea-stage projects without realistic milestones, partner buy-in, or approval viability.