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As I write this, it’s been 6 weeks since our local school divisions closed for the year and more than a month since Governor Northam issued executive order 55, extending the stay-at-home order to June 10. Although just yesterday the governor announced a phased reopening to begin mid-May, it’s hard to feel completely comfortable about it. In that short time, people have already experienced economic hardship and stress, an inability to keep up with rent payments, food insecurity, illness, and lack of child care, not to mention the myriad unforeseen ways the pandemic has wreaked havoc on how we collectively and individually move through each confusing day. In that same short time, ordinary people have recognized cracks in the system and swiflty and creatively pivoted to weave some sort of safety net. Our school cafeteria employees are cranking out thousands of meals each week, distributed drive-thru style by teachers to hungry families. Teachers and school administrators have spent hours figuring out how to deliver instruction safely and equitably through online platforms and paper packets. Local businesses, like the Harrisonburg Farmer’s Market, have altered the way they offer their services or temporarily reinvented themselves to meet these new challenges with no real pre-existing model of how to do that (like Pale Fire Helps and Magpie Diner). And folks watching this all unfold in very scary ways have simply felt a call to help in some manner and created new channels for accessing desperately needed resources. For Lori Mier, it started with a simple offer of child care. more
By Katie Mitchell — As you’re well aware, downtown Harrisonburg’s response to the COVID-19 has been swift, thorough, and multifaceted. People of all backgrounds and businesses of all kinds are putting their heads and hearts together to innovate ways to keep local businesses afloat and Harrisonburg residents healthy and supported. As one business after another announced changes to their regular hours, curbside service, or closures, HDR threw together a directory to organize all that information. Businesses have begun offering their space for COVID-related community needs, and ordinary people have organized grassroots initiatives to promote local business and advocate for residents who are struggling to make ends meet. During a time when we are physically isolated from one another, the heartache of this collective struggle vibrates in a way that brings us closer together. more
A community of makers and creators in our area are coming together to produce a piece of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) called the Prusa Face Shield. They are currently trying to pull together 3D printers in the community who would be interested in teaming up to produce the 3D printed parts in the design. more
HDR has worked in partnership with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham COVID-19 Business Support Taskforce to coordinate support and resources for businesses in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham area in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Taskforce has raised $50,000 for small business grants for quick distribution to downtown Harrisonburg, City of Harrisonburg, and Rockingham County businesses. This fund would not be possible without the generous donation of F&M Bank. Maximum grant amounts are $5000. This is not a loan. more
March 24, 2020 -- Harrisonburg, VA -- Pale Fire Brewing Company is teaming up with Sysco, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, and Digital Minerva for “Pale Fire Helps,” a food bank resource to support restaurant workers during the COVID-19 crisis. more
HDR regularly sends out bi-weekly all-business emails with resources, news, and updates, and has been in regular contact with downtown small business owners in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. See below for the email sent to business owners on Thursday, March 19th. If you're interested in receiving news and updates like this, please email Andrea.dono@harrisonburgva.gov. more
March 19, 2020 [Harrisonburg, VA] -- Regional agencies and organizations have teamed up to coordinate support and resources for businesses in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham area. The Regional COVID-19 Business Support Taskforce started meeting weekly to brainstorm ideas, curate resources, share information, and unify their efforts as they address business and employer concerns. more
Read HDR's statement on the COVID-19 pandemic, a guide to what you can do if you're feeling powerless and want to help, and updates on what HDR is doing to support our downtown community at downtownharrisonburg.org/resilience. more
Dr. Carole Nash and HDR Executive Director Andrea Dono gave a presentation on January 21st to share what is known about the judicial system expansion as it relates to the Denton Buildings and their potential demolition as well as opportunities for a better way forward in accommodating all needs and best practices for downtown development. We relived the rapid nature of how the blocks of businesses and apartments were wiped out to make room for the jail and judicial complex in 1991 with no public engagement. If you couldn't attend, please explore the links below and take action - contact city and county leadership to let them know what you value. Special thanks to Hotel Madison for donating the meeting space to accomodate an audience of 200 concerned community members! more