City of Norfolk, VA

🚢 Big news: starting in 2027, Norfolk will welcome weekly visits from the Norwegian Pearl! This expanded schedule means 49,000 more cruise passengers exploring and enjoying the Mermaid City each year—and that’s a win for Norfolk and the region! 🌊⚓

The Urban Institute is supporting the City of Norfolk, VA with technical assistance to help strengthen partnerships, fill capacity gaps, and support local organizations to increase collaboration between resilience stakeholders. Planned work includes stakeholder interviews, technical memos, public meetings, and programmatic tools. Together, we’re building on the important work of local nonprofits, neighborhood groups, and community organizations by developing strategies and tools that strengthen their role in vital resilience projects—such as flood mitigation, urban agriculture, environmental clean-up, and neighborhood improvement. Read more about the effort here: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ev639kzK

For more than 50 years, Tony's Diner was a beloved fixture along Tidewater Drive, serving up classic comfort food until it closed in 2022. Chances are, you or someone you know has a cherished memory in that silver staple. Now, three first-generation Yemeni-American brothers from New York have revitalized the Norfolk favorite as "Tony's Deli." The menu features eclectic dishes full of heart and story -- there's something for everyone. Although things have changed, the past set the table for the future: Tony's still bears its trademark first name thus preserving decades of nostalgia. "This location at 3200 Tidewater Drive represents more than just a business - it's a symbol of our devotion to community, culture, and contribution. We see this as a meaningful opportunity to showcase the positive impact of Yemini-American entrepreneurship, while serving the people of Norfolk with the same heart and flavor that defined our roots in Brooklyn." - Mohammed Alsaidi Please join us, the City of Norfolk, VA, Councilwoman Mamie B. Johnson, and Councilman Carlos J. Clanton in celebrating the grand opening of Tony's Deli! #FuelingNorfolk

If you’ve ever attended a training or event at the Virginia Zoo, chances are you’ve met an animal ambassador specialist. 🦥 These keepers help educate and connect the public to wildlife by bringing animals to events on and off Zoo grounds. 🦉 Get to know Josh Aguilar, one of the Zoo’s animal ambassador specialists, in this #NationalZookeepersWeek feature.

🚨 GRANT OPPORTUNITY ALERT: Norfolk’s Program for Improving Capacity and Capability (PICC) is now accepting Tier 2 – Year 3 applications! 📣 Nonprofits with annual expenditures between $50,000–$249,000 are encouraged to apply for this competitive grant opportunity to expand direct services for Norfolk’s at-risk populations including children, families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, and residents living in poverty. Want to know more? Come to the Information Session! 📅 Monday, July 28 ⏰ 5 p.m. 📍 Norfolk Dept. of Human Services (741 Monticello Ave.) 📌 Application Deadline: Friday, August 15, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. 🔗 Get the RFP, application, and full details at: www.norfolk.gov/PICC

New space, new city, same mission: advancing transportation solutions in communities. We're excited to welcome premier traffic engineering and planning firm GOROVE SLADE to Main Street Tower in downtown Norfolk! For nearly 50 years, Gorove Slade has contributed to numerous public and private sector land-use projects and transformed the way people and businesses move. Now, they've decided to #ChooseNorfolk and bring their talents to Hampton Roads. The expansion is a vote of confidence in our region's limitless potential for economic development and will lead to innovative, community-minded infrastructure solutions that fuel our future, and keep Norfolk on the map for years to come. Interested in Class A office space? Contact Paul Bayer (paul.bayer@norfolk.gov) with the City of Norfolk Department of Economic Development Real Estate team for more information. #FuelingNorfolk

It’s National Zookeepers Week! Step into the world of Mack Sharpe, a herpetology keeper at The Virginia Zoo. 🦎 From providing specialized diets to creating fun enrichment activities, Mack keeps the Zoo’s reptiles and amphibians happy and active. He also loves using his art and design skills to build habitats that bring the wild to Norfolk. Want to check out his work? Get your tickets here: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eEY9Hsxp

The City of Norfolk’s Office of Resilience is hosting an Industry Day on Aug. 21 for its Coastal Storm Risk Management Project’s Nonstructural Program. If you're a contractor that supports home elevation, basement fill and commercial floodproofing, come learn about the program, scope of work and details about the upcoming solicitations. Learn more and register at http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/4lICtkk

We're accepting applications for the Food Business Training Cohort! 🥗🍛 Learn best practices, bookkeeping, how to build beyond your brand and more—all while building a community of thriving small business owners! Ready to take your business to the next level? Sign up by visiting https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ee2RJGaR. Application closes Aug. 18.

Big wins, bright futures, dazzling fireworks and FREE Downtown parking! 🤩🎇🆓🅿️ Here’s a look at what’s been happening recently in the Mermaid City—and what’s coming next.