County Manager John Vithoulkas began Henrico’s annual State of the County address by highlighting a recent honor for the county: being ranked as one of Virginia’s best employers by Forbes.
“When you do things well with empathy, then we find ourselves — our Board of Supervisors — can work towards the really, really hard work of government that few venture to because it is difficult,” Vithoulkas said.
Speaking at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Glen Allen on Thursday, Vithoulkas thanked Henrico employees for maintaining the county’s “forward-thinking vision” and outlined priorities for the coming year.
Education
Henrico County Public Schools opened its first Center for Innovation at John Rolfe Middle School this school year to give students hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.
A second Center for Innovation is set to open at Quioccasin Middle School in 2027. The county is committed to spending $86 million on facility improvements and new construction after issuing $121 million in bonds in March.
“I am incredibly proud to work alongside our school board, in partnership with the county manager and the Board of Supervisors to create and deliver next level learning opportunities during and outside of the school day for the next generation of learners, workers and citizens of Henrico County,” Superintendent Amy Cashwell said.
Safety and mental health
There are weapons scanners at Henrico’s elementary, middle and high schools, along with 85 school security officers, according to Cashwell — one of several public safety improvements county officials pointed to Thursday.
Henrico has implemented the Marcus Alert system to enhance responses to local mental health emergencies — although the Henrico NAACP questioned the county’s initial Marcus Alert data after the death of Irvo Otieno in March 2023.
Overall crime in the county fell by 11%, with violent crime down 22%, according to statistics presented by Vithoulkas’ chief of staff, Cari Tretina. Henrico went from 30 recorded homicides in 2022 to 24 in 2023.
In December, the county’s police division is looking to open a new station on Airport Drive that it says will enhance response times. Construction on a new fire station off Nine Mile Road is also expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Business development
County officials highlighted large companies expanding their operations in Henrico, including Coca-Cola. The beverage company invested $50 million in growing its Sandston facility, adding more 40 jobs.
Tourism remains a major economic driver for Henrico. Visitors to the county spent nearly $1.9 billion in 2023 — the largest amount of any locality in Central Virginia and the fifth-highest in the state, according to the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
Henrico tourism supported more than 10,000 jobs and generated over $81 million in tax revenue for the county and $45 million for the state last year.
Building a sustainable future
Henrico officials touted the county’s sustainability efforts — both environmental and financial.
The county recently took control of the Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek, which Board of Supervisors Chair Tyrone Nelson said at the announcement ceremony would help Henrico meet its water needs for decades.
Henrico also spent $17.25 million on the purchase of Varina Farm, its largest land preservation purchase to date.
And the county is using $60 million in tax revenue generated by the growing data center industry to seed its Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
