Impact Stories

Set within the colorful exuberance of the Arts and Culture District in Richmond, Virginia, 1708 Gallery sits in between busy restaurants, hotels, and museums. While the sounds of the newest exhibit resonate throughout the long and lofty space, plans within the office are unfolding for a bold new project. The idea of a live-in artist residency program has long captured the imaginations of the 44-year-old nonprofit’s leaders and community. The organization’s mission is to create …

Nestled near the Downtown Mall in the bustling heart of Charlottesville, Virginia, stands a community of 150 families called Friendship Court. Echoes of children at play bounce across the buildings in between the sounds of excavators and delivery trucks. Construction workers and engineers are up early, working to build not only new homes, but the foundation of a new chapter for this community.  Many others are working alongside the builders to bring the vision to …

Addiction is a lifelong disease and recovery is an ongoing process. The founders and leaders of the McShin Foundation were driven by their own journeys through recovery to start the 17-year-old organization with a mission to provide alcohol and substance use recovery to individuals in the Richmond Region.  Founded in a church basement in 2004, McShin now provides a 15,000-square-foot residence and more than 100 beds across various homes for people in recovery in the …

Virginia Community Capital and LOCUS Impact Investing are excited to launch Reimagine Together, a storytelling series to celebrate VCC’s 15-year anniversary. Throughout the summer and into the fall, VCC will be sharing stories of mission-driven projects and partnerships from throughout our history. Thanks to the help of many likeminded collaborators, these multimedia stories will cover the community impact we’ve supported in various areas, including affordable housing, job creation, entrepreneurship, healthy food access, impact investing, and more. We’ll discuss how the …

OPPORTUNITY In August 2019, Cristo Rey Richmond High School opened its doors to 95 students, marking the realization of a mission to provide a private-school education to students of limited economic means. It’s the kind of environment many families in Richmond simply can’t afford. The education, which sets high school students up for success in college, is paid for mostly by corporate support and donations, which greatly reduce the tuition impact on families. Part of …

OPPORTUNITY In July 2019, the Town of Bluefield’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA) bought an empty building in the heart of its idyllic Southwest Virginia downtown. The vision: Turn the 5,400-square-foot commercial building — once home to a carpet store, dance theater, fitness center, and medical equipment company — into a small business and retail incubator to accelerate business growth. Bluefield, a community of 5,400 in Tazewell County, has put a focus on sparking new ventures and …

Opportunity Converting a former candy factory into a 43-unit multifamily housing project – with expansive water views of the Pasquotank River – could contribute to economic development in downtown Elizabeth City, N.C. Built in 1921 as the modern home of The Weatherly Candy Factory, the building once witnessed the production of up to 2 million pounds of candy annually. The Weatherly family founded the business in 1890, with generations overseeing it until its closing about …

Spread over 285 acres, the Winton Country Club estate in Amherst County is home to the historically significant Sarah Henry Manor House, an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, and an 18-hole golf course with stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains at every turn.

OPPORTUNITY Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation (SCDHC) is a nonprofit serving Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield and Henrico. The organization earns most of its revenue through home sales to individuals and families earning below 80% of the area median income. That means price points are typically between $160,000 and $180,000 for a new home certified by EarthCraft, a top standard for environmental stewardship in building materials, environmental use, and daily operation. Yet in …

For nearly a quarter-century, Appalachian Voices has been working side-by-side with local communities to protect the land, air, water, and people of Central and Southern Appalachia.  The organization also advocates for an equitable clean energy economy that will better serve the region. The effort centers on a continued push away from fossil fuels and making sure that people in the region have access to healthier energy sources, like affordable solar power. These shifts lead to …