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Roanoke Capital Access Fund for City of Roanoke Small Local Businesses Now Available
The City of Roanoke’s Economic Development Authority “EDA” announced a partnership with Freedom First offering Roanoke City licensed businesses the opportunity to apply for a business loan through the Roanoke Capital Access Fund.
In order to apply, City of Roanoke businesses must hold a current business license, must utilize accelerator and mentoring programs including the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program “RAMP”, the Advancement Foundation’s Gauntlet, or the Roanoke Small Business Development Center, and must be entrepreneurs, businesses and/or higher education professionals working to create opportunities and success in research, healthcare and technology.
Eligibility requirements for the Capital Access Fund can be found by clicking here.

City Observed National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2022
The City of Roanoke celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 10-16 to honor the men and women who serve as public safety communications officers. The city recognized its dispatchers with various forms of appreciation throughout the entire week.

The center’s dispatchers handle more than 275,000 emergency and non-emergency calls each year, dispatching calls to Roanoke Police, Fire and EMS personnel to meet the needs of the public in emergencies and on a routine basis. Congress proclaimed the second week of April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in 1991. Today, hundreds of thousands of calls placed to 911 centers across the nation are answered by telecommunicators, dispatchers and communications operators, who utilize telephones, radios and computers to provide support to law enforcement, Fire-EMS, and other government field personnel.
Mothers Uplifting Mothers Women's Group
The Political Awareness and Involvement and Social Action Committee of the Roanoke Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta in partnership with the Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Unit for the City of Roanoke present Mothers Uplifting Mothers Women’s Group! The first group will meet from April 20th-June 1st from 6pm-7:30pm at Forest Park Academy. The program is targeted to mothers of at-risk youth; however, all mothers are encouraged to participate!
Please contact Chris Roberts at [email protected] to register.
Ukraine Flag Raising
The City of Roanoke raised the Ukraine flag at 10 AM on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at Freedom Plaza directly across from City Hall.

City Council Appoints Anita James Price to Fill Unexpired Term
On Monday, April 18, Roanoke City Council announced the appointment of former Council member Anita James Price, to fill the unexpired City Council term of Robert Jeffrey Jr., effective as of April 18, 2022. Anita James Price will serve a 9-month term of office ending on December 31, 2022.

City Manager Proposes Fiscal Year 2023 Budget
On April 18, City Manager Bob Cowell presented the Roanoke City Council with a proposed Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) General Fund Operating Budget of $324,789,000, representing an increase of 5.6% over the current year approved budget. The City Manager also presented the City’s 5-Year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for FY23-FY27. The $163 million CIP includes funding for school buildings, bridges, parks and recreation, street paving, fire stations, library facilities, stormwater facilities, courthouse renovations, and technology upgrades.
Visit https://www.roanokeva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17334/FY23-RECOMMENDED-BUDGET-DOCUMENT?bidId= to read the City Manager’s full budget message and the proposed budget which was presented to the City Council at their meeting on the afternoon of April 18, which may be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/RoanokeVa/videos/519276853067914/. A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for 7:00 pm on April 26. Adoption of the FY23 budget will occur on the evening of May 9.
City of Roanoke Ordinance to Realign Summit Hills and Lee Hi Voter Precincts, and Establish New Polling Places in Peters Creek and Summit Hills Precincts
Currently, the City of Roanoke has 20 separate voter precincts throughout the City and one (1) central absentee voter precinct at 317 Kimball Avenue, N.E., Roanoke, Virginia.
City Council approved the realignment of the Summit Hills and Lee Hi Voter Precincts to move the portion of Summit Hills Precinct located south of Shenandoah Avenue into neighboring Lee Hi Precinct. In addition, new polling places are established in Peters Creek and Summit Hills Precincts. The new polling place in Peters Creek Precinct will be located at William Fleming High School, 3649 Ferncliff Avenue, NW. The new polling place in Summit Hills Precinct will be located at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2216 Peters Creek Road.
The Council of the City of Roanoke approved these changes on April 18, 2022, and the changes will take effect on May 18, 2022.
Questions or comments regarding the proposed changes?
Please submit your questions or comments by email [email protected] or telephone (540) 853-2228.
Star City Safe Cleanup – Saturday, April 30, 2022
The Roanoke Solid Waste Management Division and the Star City Safe Initiative are teaming up to host a Star City Safe Cleanup event for streets located in Northwest Roanoke. The designated cleanup area for this event from west to east, is Hershberger Road to Gainsboro Road and from north to south is Interstate 581 to Shenandoah Avenue. Please see the attached map of the collection area designated in light blue.

Residents living in the designated area are invited to toss ALL clutter, unwanted brush, and unlimited bulk items to the curb. The Solid Waste Division will be running a full fleet of trucks to collect that waste starting on Saturday morning, which means everything must be set out before 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 in order for it be picked up. The cleanup event is from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Please do not discard the following hazardous items during the cleanup: liquid paint, motor oils, batteries, liquid pesticides, gasoline, diesel fuel, stains, or finishes. These hazardous materials can harm citizens and our employees and cause fires, explosions, or harmful chemical reactions in the solid waste trucks. To safely dispose of household hazardous materials, please call RVRA at 540-857-5050. If you have any questions or need more information about the Star City Safe Cleanup event, please call the Solid Waste Division at 540-853-2000, Option 1 or visit https://www.facebook.com/CityRKESWM.
Read the “Roanoke Recap” blog to catch up on the most recent City news. Use this link: https://www.roanokeva.gov/Blog.aspx?CID=3