It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go — and Rappahannock County Public Schools are pairing up with Businesses of Rappahannock to help teachers and staff check holiday shopping off their to-do lists.

Front Royal is about to receive a huge economic boost with the creation of 249 jobs that hopefully could be filled by some Rappahannock County residents.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam today announced this afternoon that nearby Revalation Vineyards will invest more than $2.3 million to build a new wine production facility, tasting room and event space off of Route 231 between Etlan and Madison. 

RICHMOND — Del. Elizabeth Guzmán, D-Woodbridge, said she is no stranger to the struggles of low-paying jobs. Guzmán said she immigrated to the United States from Peru as a single mother and worked multiple minimum wage jobs just to be able to pay rent and care for her daughter.

The process is not preferential but strictly qualifications-based

As the manager of the sporting goods department at Gary’s ACE in Culpeper, Pennepacker is responsible for keeping ammunition stocked. But since the start of the pandemic in March, it has been nearly impossible to keep up with demand. 

With last month’s expiration of $600 in enhanced federal unemployment benefits coupled with bleak prospects for a new stimulus package, Rappahannock’s web of social service agencies and nonprofits is bracing for a surge in requests for assistance.

Roughly 80 Rappahannock businesses and nonprofit organizations have received at least $4.7 million in loans under the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Allan Delmare, distiller (as in hundreds of gallons of hand-sanitizer of late) at Dida’s Distillery at Rappahannock Cellars, announces word this week “about our consortium and our associated charitable fundraising efforts.”

More than 110 homeowners in Rappahannock have installed solar arrays

The shutdown forced by the pandemic put a massive dent in economic activity. And now, as business slowly resumes under state-issued guidelines, many are rethinking their operations in ways they never could have expected.

When you open your next Rappahannock Electric Cooperative bill, look for your portion of $13 million in cash back capital credits now that REC’s board of directors voted to return a record amount of money to members due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Some but not all of Rappahannock County’s restaurants are reopening today (Friday, June 5) for indoor dining service, not to surpass 50 percent capacity, as specified under Phase Two of the governor’s effort to reboot the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visitors passing through Rappahannock County often hear the call of nature, yet COVID-19 has made answering that urge extremely difficult, what with the many closed or partially closed businesses.

Rappahannock residents Kymber Messersmith and her husband, John Eisenhart, enjoy lunch last weekend on the front porch of Griffin Tavern, one of several restaurants in the county to reopen for outdoor dining.

Appleton Campbell, owned by Amissville resident Mike Appleton and Scott Wayland, is a recipient of the prestigious President’s Award from Carrier for the sixth year in a row. This award provides recognition for outstanding dealers in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) indus…

Your COVID-19 Resource Guide

‘Hospitality and masks!’ Griffin Tavern’s Debbie Donehey describes it

A sampling of Rappahannock County businesses finds several that will reopen this weekend under relaxed state COVID-19 guidelines — the first phase of the governor’s economic jumpstart plan — while others aren’t in any hurry.

Governor details the first phase of planned reopening

Rappahannock businesses are open and serving the community

Another 34 residents of Rappahannock County filed for unemployment insurance for the week ending April 25, it was announced today. There had been 84 claims filed by Rappahanock residents the prior two weeks combined, 72 claims for the week ending April 4, and 84 claims filed the previous two weeks.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has extended the closure of non-essential businesses for an additional week but said he expects the state to move to the first phase of its reopening by the end of next week.

Virginia hospitals and dental practices can resume non-emergency elective surgeries and other procedures on Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. 

Virginia banks to disburse funds ‘expeditiously’

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) charged with guaranteeing bank loans to borrowers for the Paycheck Protection Program announced on its website Thursday that it had run out of funding.

This story has been updated