RICHMOND, Va. — The City of Richmond is offering to reimburse business owners up to $7,500 for new security camera systems that connect directly to the police department, an initiative launched following a mass shooting in Shockoe Bottom in February.
The program, Connect Richmond, allows business owners to enhance security by registering newly purchased or existing equipment with the Richmond Police Department.
"We’ve partnered with the Police Department to provide or incentivize business and property owners to get the tools that they need in order to make their spaces safe," Jacquelyn Teemer said.
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Teemer, with the Richmond Department of Economic Development, said new systems can be reimbursed dollar-for-dollar up to $7,500. Business owners who allow RPD to tap into existing security measures would be reimbursed 50% of the costs. The equipment must be on a pre-approved list and include a connection to the police department's Community Connect Program.
"Our rebate also includes not just the equipment itself, but it includes a year subscription for monitoring of that equipment," Teemer said.
Unlike FLOCK cameras that monitor an area 24/7, police will only access the footage if a business owner gives permission following an incident or crime.
"In the event an emergency happens at a business, we could access the camera footage in real time and then go back up to 72 hours in order to obtain any information that we need," Sherwood Jones said.
Jones, the Capital City Intelligence Center supervisor with RPD, noted the department cannot manipulate the camera systems.
"We’re just streaming from the business, so we don’t have direct access to the cameras," Jones said. "I’m seeing what they’re seeing."
The program was presented to Shockoe Bottom business owners during a safety meeting in March. While no businesses have officially taken part yet, Robert Kenney, who has operated Stockpile Men’s Boutique for more than four years, said his store may be among the first.
"Our security needs to be stepped up, period," Kenney said. "It is something we’d be interested in looking into."
Kenney said the energy in the neighborhood was off following the February mass shooting, prompting neighboring businesses to watch each other's backs.
According to the city, there are currently 183 cameras registered across Richmond, with 479 cameras integrated with the CCIC.
"It was sad, it was sad for the families, both sides of it, the victims and the guys that were accused of it," Kenney said. "All families suffer when something happens like that. The city suffers."
Richmond Connect is part of the Commercial Area Revitalization Effort or CARE Program, which provides rebates to businesses and property owners for investments in their commercial properties.
In order to qualify, a business must be in one of the following areas:
- Brookland Park Boulevard
- Fulton Hill
- Hull Street
- Jackson Ward
- Jefferson Davis
- Lombardy/Chamberlayne
- Meadowbridge Road
- Midlothian Turnpike
- North 25th Street
- North Avenue
- Richmond Highway
- Shockoe Bottom
- Swansboro
"We haven't established a limit on the amount of businesses that can take advantage of it, but we definitely encourage as many businesses as possible that meet those basic qualifications to submit and application," Teemer said.
The CARE program provides rebates equal to 50% of eligible investments in existing commercial structures located in the CARE area, for a maximum benefit of up to $25,000 per building or $50,000 per applicant for multiple buildings. Teemer says the funding for the program is allocated from the city's annual budget.
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