Impact Stories

Opportunity After purchasing the 25-acre Clopton Siteworks and its 26 former tobacco warehouses in South Richmond, Lynx Ventures has been redeveloping the community to create office, warehouse, and studio space for small businesses. Already, 11 of the buildings have been renovated and leased for many different uses, starting to reinvigorate a once-vibrant neighborhood. Among the early tenants in the reimagined Clopton Siteworks was Hatch Kitchen, co-founded by Lynx Ventures, Brad Cummings, and Austin Green.  Hatch …

Addiction is a struggle for many people. The McShin Foundation, founded in 2004, provides the resources and tools to help individuals succeed in their initial battle and for sustained recovery over the next three years. From two offices in a church basement, McShin now offers a 15,000-square-foot recovery residence and more than 100 beds across the Greater Richmond area. Last year, the Foundation served 419 participants, including 172 individuals in its 28-day residential recovery program. …

Tom McDougall and the team at 4P Foods have been “one of the lucky ones” among the many food businesses that have struggled or been overwhelmed by supply shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As grocery stores were emptied and online delivery was seeing spikes in demand, local farms have remained open for business,” says McDougall, whose organization delivers farm-fresh food to homes and businesses in the Washington, D.C. region, and is expanding through Virginia. “It …

Opportunity A new 40-unit apartment facility will provide needed affordable housing for seniors in Gloucester, Va. Being developed by Bay Aging, a nonprofit organization based in nearby Urbanna, Daffodil Gardens Phase II will include five fully accessible apartments. Daffodil Gardens Phase II will be constructed adjacent to the original Daffodil Gardens, which brought 64 units to the area in 2001. The complex includes the Gloucester Adult Day Care Center and a Bay Transit facility, which …

OPPORTUNITY Now for sale in Danville: Manufactured homes, but probably not the kind you have in mind. Built offsite and delivered to a lot, these manufactured homes don’t have wheels. Instead, they feature improved durability, energy efficiency, aesthetics, and meet stringent quality standards. In addition to permanent foundations, the houses have higher-pitched roofs, sheetrock interiors, covered front porches, and offer low operating, maintenance, and utility costs. The homes are, in both appearance and construction, similar …

Opportunity A four-building complex in the heart of Norton’s main business corridor largely remained empty for many years. Because location is everything in real estate, the Norton Industrial Development Authority (IDA) purchased the property in 2005, recognizing its business development potential. In 2012, one building was partially renovated to house a weekly indoor farmers’ market, a critical first step in reimagining this location as a “center of gravity” for future business development and social activity. …

Opportunity A faith-based substance abuse rehabilitation ministry – and long-time VCC client – has had to turn away patients and visiting families due to lack of space. Based in Virginia’s picturesque New River Valley, Eagles News Regeneration is at capacity with 24 men enrolled in the residential treatment program. Eagles Nest Regeneration was founded in 2006 by William and Tonya Maddox. William “Robbie” Maddox is a former associate pastor who has worked on the front …

Opportunity By 2032, Washington, D.C., will require 100 percent of the electricity used in the city to be renewable – one of the most aggressive clean energy targets in the country. This ambitious goal is predicted to cut greenhouse emissions by 50 percent over the next 12 years. One tool available to electric utilities serving Washington to meet this goal is Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). SRECs provide a financial incentive for building owners to …

Partnership spurred $5.5 million in Tri-Cities development since 2017 PETERSBURG, VA (JUNE 22, 2020) – Three years after its successful initial investment, The Cameron Foundation has renewed a $1 million loan and deposit with Virginia Community Capital (VCC), a community development financial institution that makes impact investments throughout the Commonwealth. As the community begins to reopen from the COVID-19 closures, the funds will be deployed into the Tri-Cities and other areas in Cameron’s footprint, supporting …

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) is a nonprofit affordable housing developer with a focus on both places and people. Founded in 1989 to meet the urgent housing needs in Arlington, they are committed to supporting low-income neighbors across the DC metro region. They offer more than 1,800 apartments and have more than 650 in development to become available within the next three years. As rents outpace income, APAH believes safe and affordable housing provides …