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Albemarle County Community Digest
February 2025
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Welcome to another monthly edition of the Albemarle County Community Digest. Thank you for subscribing and being an engaged member of our community! Please share this email with any friends, family, and neighbors who might be interested in staying informed. | |
Upcoming Events & Opportunities | |
Albemarle County Parks and Recreation (ACPR) Updates | |
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Registration for Spring Break Camp is Now Open
Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a Spring Break Camp at Greenwood Community Center! These programs for children aged six to thirteen consist of organized recreational activities, sports, games, contests, arts & crafts, roller skating, special events, and more.
The camp runs daily on March 31 - April 4 from 8 am – 5:30 pm and costs $160 per child. Registration online is now open. Don't delay, only a limited number of spots are available. Sign up today online.
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Economic Development Office (EDO): Piedmont Pitch Competition is Happening Soon | |
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Piedmont Pitch Competition is happening Thursday, May 29 at the Piedmont Ascent Business Conference (More details on this conference will be coming soon!) - Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville Offices of Economic Development, alongside the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center (CV SBDC), will host the 3rd Piedmont Pitch Competition on May 29 at the Piedmont Ascent Business Conference.
Indicate your interest in participating in Piedmont Pitch by submitting a rough draft of your business plan by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 14, 2025. This business plan does not need to be complete, it is simply a starting point. Finalists will have the opportunity to pitch for $15,000 in prizes to advance their business. Learn more and apply at https://cvsbdc.org/piedmont-pitch/.
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Current Job Openings: Join the Albemarle County Team | |
Upcoming Rivanna Solid Waste Authority: Special Collection Day | |
The Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Budget | |
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On February 26, 2025, County Executive Jeff Richardson presented his Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Recommended Budget to the Board of Supervisors. This was the first step in developing, and ultimately adopting, the annual budget for Albemarle County. That presentation can be viewed here.
Stay informed and engaged during the budget development process. Visit www.albemarle.org/finance to learn more about the process, including the complete schedule, FAQs, and the County’s current Operating and Capital Budget. Town halls will be held throughout the county for community members to attend and learn more about the recommended budget and County services. View upcoming town hall dates here.
FY 26 Budget Public Hearings
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Wednesday, March 5 | 6 pm - County Executive's FY 2026 Recommended Budget
- Wednesday, April 23 | 6 pm - Board’s Proposed Budget
- Wednesday, April 30 | 6 pm - Calendar Year 2025 tax rate
FY 26 Budget Work Sessions
- Monday, March 10 | Work Session #1
- Wednesday, March 12 | Work Session #2
- Monday, March 17 | Work Session #3, To include School Board presents budget
- Wednesday, March 19 | Work Session #4, Board proposes Budget and sets maximum tax rate for advertisement
- If needed - Wednesday, March 26 | Work Session #5
- If needed - Monday, April 7 | Work Session #6
Read more about the FY 2025 Recommended Budget and hear from our County Executive on how the FY 2025 Recommended Budget is aligned to the FY 24-28 Strategic Plan.
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Let's Talk About Local Government and the Recommended FY26 Budget | |
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Curious about what local government does, the services we provide, and how budget priorities shape the year ahead?
Everyone is invited to attend the upcoming town hall and open house events with our elected officials, County executives, and local government staff.
Each event will follow the same format and will include the same information. At 5:30 pm we will begin with an open house where you will meet department staff and learn about the variety of services we provide and projects we engage in. At 6 pm, our County Executive's Office will present the recommended budget for fiscal year 2026, focusing on the revenue outlook and priority projects. Following the presentation, we will have time for audience questions and staff responses.
We hope to see you at one (or more) of our Community Budget Town Halls. Read this email to view all dates on our County Calendar and additional details for location, and other related information.
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Daylight Saving Time is approaching on Sunday, March 9! | |
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Daylight Saving Time is on Sunday, March 9, and is a great time for some annual safety precautions. Do you have your safety checklist ready?
- Change the batteries in your smoke alarms.
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Visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and check your VIN for safety recalls.
We may lose an hour of sleep but don't hit snooze on these important safety tips.
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Board of Supervisors Recognizes Black History Month | |
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The Board of Supervisors proclaimed February 2025 as Black History Month in Albemarle County, VA. This proclamation recognizes and celebrates the wisdom of civil rights leaders and community builders this month (and every day). (L-R) Jesse Brookins, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion is pictured with Rebecca Kinney, Board President of the St. John Family Life and Fitness Center, who accepted the proclamation.
We truly value the Black Americans and residents in our community – we recognize and support your social, physical, and cultural contributions. We will continue to take meaningful actions to create an inclusive and more equitable community for us all. Your stories and achievements are part of our story. We celebrate you and your contributions to the community to keep Albemarle County growing. View the proclamation.
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We're pleased to share our 2024 Annual Community Report - thank you to the community members, partner agencies, elected officials, and staff that work each day to make this community great.
Click to view the full report, which features images and stories from 2024, and read more about the year.
We also highlight some of the work we’re proud to have performed in service to our community in our 2024 Year-In-Review video.
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Reminder: Business License Filing Deadline is March 3 | |
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The deadline to renew a Business, Professional, Occupational License (BPOL) is quickly approaching. Business owners are required to obtain a BPOL if operating in Albemarle County and can easily renew and pay online at AlbemarleCountyTaxes.org/Business.
There is no fee for payments by electronic check; however, payments by debit/credit card will include a convenience fee. Renewal applications for business licenses are due by Monday, March 3, 2025. Read more about other important reminders related to business filing.
If you have any questions or would like assistance in completing your business filing forms, contact Albemarle County's Department of Finance & Budget:
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Event Recaps: Economic Development Office (EDO) | |
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Exciting Developments in the Life Sciences Sector
Earlier this month, our Economic Development Office (EDO) staff joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Commonwealth BioAccelerator at UVA’s North Fork Research Park. This initiative is part of a $14.3 million grant awarded by GO Virginia to support three biotech organizations across the state under “Project VITAL: Virginia Innovations and Technology Advancements in Life Sciences.” CvilleBioHub received a $4.3 million portion of the grant to partner with UVA in establishing the region's first lab accelerator. Starting this March, the Commonwealth BioAccelerator will focus on advancing life sciences companies, particularly therapeutics, medical devices, tools, and digital health innovations. Albemarle County's Economic Development Director, Emily Kilroy, spoke at this ceremony. (pictured, at the podium)
Additionally, EDO staff attended the 2nd Annual Device & Tech Expo, hosted by CvilleBioHub at its new headquarters in North Fork Research Park, attracting nearly 300 attendees. Some local exhibitors included Rivanna Medical, Lighthouse Instruments, and PS Fertility, all contributing to the growth of the region’s biotech ecosystem. These events showcase the vibrant biotech community. We look forward to the continued growth of these groundbreaking companies. Stay tuned for further updates as we work to promote innovation in Virginia's biotech ecosystem.
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Reminder: Burn Ban in Effect | |
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Virginia’s 4 pm Burning Law is in effect from February 15 through April 30 each year. The 4 pm Burning Law bans open-air burning before 4 pm if the fire is within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass which could carry fire to the woods. Burning is allowed between 4 pm and midnight as long as the burner takes proper precautions and attends the fire at all times.
In addition to the state code that limits open-air burning to the hours of 4 pm to midnight only, the Albemarle County code bans all commercial burns (for example, land clearing for development) during the Virginia Department of Forestry's ban of February 15 to April 30.
Learn more about open-air burning guidelines here.
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Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT): Temporary CAT Detours at Fashion Square Mall Starting March 1, Affects Three Bus Routes | |
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We'd like to share an important update from our partner, Charlottesville Area Transit. CAT will implement temporary detours for Routes 5, 7, and 11, affecting service to Fashion Square Mall and nearby stops due to the closure of the mall.
Please review the following related details on their website and plan your trips accordingly. For other updates on transportation services, please visit CatchtheCAT.org.
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Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT): Work has begun on Old Ivy Rd. bridge in Albemarle County | |
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Work started earlier this month to replace the structurally deficient Old Ivy Rd. bridge over U.S. 29/250 in the county.
As a reminder, during construction, the Old Ivy Rd. bridge over U.S. 29/250 will be restricted to eastbound traffic only and will narrow to a width of 10 feet 8 inches. Due to the narrower lane, eastbound trucks measuring greater than 45 feet in length will not be able to turn north on U.S. 29 east of the bridge. Trucks measuring greater than 45 feet should instead use U.S. 250 (Ivy Road).
The work also requires intermittent nighttime weekend closures of U.S. 29/250 at the bridge as needed to complete the work. Anticipated completion of this project is expected in fall 2026.
Read the full news release for full detour information and project details.
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