Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, VA boosts affordable housing with new grant program

Virginia Beach has launched the Attainable Workforce Housing Performance Grant program to incentivize private developers to build affordable multifamily rental housing. The program provides annual performance-based grants to approved developers to help bridge funding gaps and make such projects more financially viable. The initiative has already supported two initial projects resulting in 372 affordable rental units.

VB

Virginia Beach, VA

United States

Virginia Beach, VA to transform municipal golf course into stormwater mitigation hub

The City of Virginia Beach has developed a plan that explores using the approximately 121-acre, City-owned Bow Creek Golf Course for flood mitigation. The vision for the project is to convert the land use from a golf course to a multi-faceted facility that will provide significant stormwater storage to mitigate flooding and restore natural systems while still providing active and passive recreational opportunities.

VB

Virginia Beach, VA

United States

Virginia Beach, VA integrates AI-enabled chatbot into its VB311 citizen request service

The chatbot supports the VB311 team in handling approximately 1,000 chat requests from residents each month. This bot refers users to online resources and service request links based on its knowledge of frequently asked questions. Residents may also be referred to VB311's live chat for more complex requests. Virginia Beach asks the community to select the chatbot's name and logo from five finalists - Beachbot, Ask Neptune, Ask VB, VBBot, or Botsby.

VB

Virginia Beach, VA

United States

Virginia Beach, VA is using Waze mobile app to communicate real-time road conditions information

The Virginia Beach Traffic Data-Sharing Partnership provides an overview of government-reported construction, crash and road closure data via the Waze mobile app. This real-time road condition reporting protects the public from major disruptions such as unplanned natural disasters or large-scale events. The crowd-sourced information gives the city's gives 311 and field personnel the ability to assess traffic congestion levels, road hazards, traffic light faults and potentially impassable roads.

VB

Virginia Beach, VA

United States

Virginia Beach, VA new performance incentives for first responders help with recruitment/retainment

Virginia Beach City Council approved a new ordinance that offers performance incentives for first responders to help with recruitment and retainment efforts. The ordinance provides extra college money and bonus pay based on longevity for firefighters, emergency medical services, and emergency dispatchers.

VB

Virginia Beach, VA

United States

Virginia Beach, VA accelerates startup growth in the region with The HIVE in Town Center

Early-stage businesses in the Hampton Roads region can work from shared offices at The HIVE. The city's Department of Economic Development works with partners like Fulton Bank and Tidewater Community College on customized training for participants. The HIVE hosts free workshops on subjects like customer service and project management. Entrepreneurs can also apply for loans up to $25,000 through the center's Small Business Capital Access Program.

VB

Virginia Beach, VA

United States

Virginia Beach, VA generates feedback on new mobile portal through resident testing

The city asks residents to download the Android and iOS versions of the as-yet-unnamed app. Testers do not need specific technical skills to provide their feedback on the app's functionality. City IT staffers ask participants to use the in-app feedback tool to point out errors, helpful features, and potential additions. The final version of the app will combine digital services ranging from property lookups to bill payments.

VB

Virginia Beach, VA

United States