Virginia Mortgage Relief Program Hosts Application Assistance Outreach Event Program Staff Onsite in Greensville and Brunswick Counties

The Virginia Mortgage Relief Program, or VMRP, was established through the 2021 American Rescue Plan to address mortgage and other qualified home ownership-related delinquencies to avoid default, foreclosure, or displacement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

VMRP will be in Greensville and Brunswick Counties hosting outreach events at the following locations:

Location:     William E. Richardson Jr. Memorial Library
100 Spring Street

Emporia, VA 23847

Date:            Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Time:           3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Location:     Brunswick County Library
133 West Hicks Street
Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Date:            Thursday, September 8, 2022

Time:           3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

During the event, case management and outreach staff from the Virginia Mortgage Relief Program will be on-site to help homeowners, who need assistance with mortgage and other housing-related costs due to the pandemic, learn more about the program and complete their applications.

Note: Applicants with a completed application on file with the VMRP do not need to attend. If you have a constituent who would like application assistance, please ask them to schedule an appointment to meet with a case manager at this event by contacting the VMRP Call Center at 833-687-8677, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Walk-ins for application support at the outreach event will be accepted as availability permits.

Those interested in applying for program assistance at the event can view a list of required documents and program eligibility requirements by visiting www.VirginiaMortgageRelief.com.

Program Background

VMRP provides assistance of up to $40,000 for qualified homeowners as long as funding is available.

For qualified homeowners, the VMRP offers:

• Mortgage payment assistance on first and subordinate mortgages, including down payment assistance loans provided by nonprofit or government entities.
• Financial assistance to allow a homeowner to reinstate a mortgage or to pay other housing-related costs related to a period of forbearance, delinquency or default.
• Payment assistance for delinquent property taxes to prevent homeowner tax foreclosures.
• Personal property (real estate) taxes and, in some cases, lot rental fees on unaffixed mobile homes. However, applications for lot rent only are not eligible under VMRP.
• Homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance and mortgage insurance.
• Homeowner’s association fees or liens, condominium association fees, special assessments or common charges.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number HAF-0003 awarded to the Commonwealth of Virginia by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

ChallengeHer is celebrating 10 years of helping women-owned small businesses access federal contracts

WASHINGTON –Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced the return of ChallengeHer - a government contracting education initiative to help women-owned small business gain access to federal contracts and encourage participation in the SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program, alongside partners from Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and American Express (AMEX), during a recent event in Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, ChallengeHer is free for all registrants as part of a national initiative designed to promote the WOSB Federal Contract Program, bring more women-owned firms into the federal government’s supply chain, and provide an avenue for government agencies to meet qualified women-owned small business contractors. 

“Throughout the past decade, ChallengeHer has helped tens of thousands of women-owned small businesses break glass ceilings and grow their revenue by selling to the world’s largest buyer: the U.S. government,” said Administrator Guzman. “Thanks to the SBA’s collaboration with WIPP and American Express, ChallengeHER continues to level the playing field in the federal marketplace by investing in and empowering more women-owned firms, connecting federal buyers directly with women entrepreneurs, and providing continued advocacy on behalf of WOSBs in every sector of the economy and every corner of the nation -and we are committed to ensuring it continues to open doors for women for decades to come.”

“WIPP is honored to co-sponsor this much-needed and well-respected program, now in its 10th year, as we provide women-owned small businesses with the education and resources needed to navigate the road to success and sustainability during these historical times,” said Candace Waterman, President & CEO, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP).

Last month, the SBA announced the Biden-Harris Administration exceeded its small business federal contracting goal, awarding 27.2% percent or $154.2 billion in federal contracts to small businesses in FY21. WOSBs received more than $26 billion in federal contracts. Following the passage of President Biden’s bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, women-owned small manufacturers stand to benefit from direct federal investment, helping grow our domestic manufacturing footprint and lower costs for Americans by bringing supply chains home. 

ChallengeHer events provide matchmaking opportunities between women-owned businesses and government contractors and networking opportunities. It also provides world-class programming and training, facilitated by subject matter experts, for entering into and navigating the public-sector supply chain. Sessions are offered in-person and online.

To learn more about ChallengeHer and to register for upcoming events, visit www.ChallengeHER.us.

Gavin Moseley of Emporia completed the Southside Virginia Community College Power Line Worker Training Program on August 17, 2022. He is a graduate of Greensville County High School.