Updates from the Office of Economic Development

Charlottesville Named One of America's "Next Great Food Cities"

Charlottesville was recently highlighted in Food & Wine Magazine as one of America’s Next Great Food Cities under the category “Small Cities with Big Food Scenes.” Charlottesville is alongside other smaller U.S. cities such as Bozeman, Montana and Greenville, South Carolina, in addition to bigger metropolitan areas like Charlotte, Tucson, and Indianapolis. With over 100 restaurants within city limits, Charlottesville can cater to almost anyone’s palate! To read the entire article in Food & Wine Magazine, please click here.

Help Celebrate Burger Week in Charlottesville

Craving a burger this week? From April 20^th to 26^th, various burger restaurants across the City will be offering $8 signature burgers in celebration of Cville Burger Week. A full list of participating restaurants can be viewed here.

OED Fun Fact

Outdoor dining began on the downtown mall in 1976 when the Hardware Store Restaurant opened the first open-air café on the bricks. With an average of 219 sunny days per year, that is over 10,000 opportunities to enjoy al fresco dining on the mall over the years. Currently, there are over 30 cafés lining the 8-block pedestrian mall. Bon Appétit!

Rockfish Brewing Opens on Downtown Mall

Rockfish Brewing Company is opening the doors of its new location on the Downtown Mall. The micro-brewery is currently open Thursday through Sunday and hopes to soon be operating every day. Rockfish will also maintain its original location on Present Avenue. Cheers!

Ralph Sampson's American Tap Room Opens at Barracks Road

The Minority Business program was delighted to attend the grand opening of Ralph Sampson's American Tap Room on April 8, 2022. Ralph Sampson’s American Tap Room is located at 973 Emmet St N, Charlottesville, VA in the Barracks Road shopping center. Stop by and show your support to the new restaurant location.

GO Cook Class Forming

GO Cook is a culinary arts boot camp offered by Chef Antwon Brinson and his team at Culinary Concepts AB. The OED will support City residents who are accepted into the program with a full scholarship. The upcoming class will be a day offering; Monday through Friday, 9am to 1:30pm. This class schedule is ideal for individuals who have children in school or daycare and for individuals that work in the afternoon and evening hours. Valuable certifications will be earned by all participants that complete the program. The Downtown Job Center is available to assist with the application process. For more information, contact Roy Fitch by phone at 434-970-3933 or by email fitchrl@charlottesville.gov.

RMC Events is Hiring in Charlottesville

RMC Events is an event staffing service firm providing services in the Charlottesville area. Current opportunities with the agency include Peak Season Event Staff, Year-round Event Staff and Unarmed Security Service Ambassadors. The Downtown Job Center is available to assist with the application process and can provide general information about the company. For more information, contact Roy Fitch by phone at 434-970-3933 or by email fitchrl@charlottesville.gov.

Upcoming Webinars from CVSBDC

CV SBDC is a team of business and technical experts available to listen, advise and assist entrepreneurs, confidentially and free of charge. They offer 1:1 assistance, connection to curated research, access to technical experts and professionals, and timely events and training.

Industry Trends, Your Customers & Market Fit – April 28^th at 3:00 pm PREREGISTER

Federal Government Contracting 101 – May 3^rd at 10:00 am PREREGISTER

Pricing, Costs and Launch Preparation – May 5^th at 3:00 pm PREREGISTER

Mobile Apps: How to plan, execute & launch – May 10^th at 12 pm PREREGISTER

Marketing, Sales and Your Brand – May 12^th at 3 pm PREREGISTER