PETERSBURG, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Although there is a lot of partisanship in both Virginia and national politics, Thursday morning in Petersburg was a joint celebration of the collaborative efforts of both Republicans and Democrats to revitalize a city that Mayor Sam Parham said, “had been forgotten.”
It’s no secret that the city to the southeast of the state capitol has struggled for decades to achieve economic development, sustain a water and environmental infrastructure, have better educational outcomes and reduce crime. In 2022, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin was contacted by the city’s Democratic mayor, Sam Parham, along with other local and state officials in the hope that the state would begin to invest in the challenges facing Petersburg.
The Governor and the First Lady toured the city and were shown firsthand the tremendous number of obstacles facing the citizens of Petersburg. At that point, the Governor decided to launch an initiative that involved his administration and cabinet members working with the leaders of the city to pursue improvements in economic development, infrastructure, education and public safety. The initiative was called “The Partnership for Petersburg” and now, three years later, Mayor Parham and Governor Youngkin stood together on Thursday morning at the Petersburg Public Library to celebrate the accomplishments of this bipartisan effort.
There are many who believe that despite political ideological differences, when leaders put the needs of the people first, “together” they can accomplish a lot. That was the overarching theme of the event on Thursday as several leaders lauded what had been accomplished, from the mayor to the Superintendent of Schools to the Lieutenant Governor to health officials and others.
“Petersburg today is safer and healthier, financially stronger, serving students better and providing greater opportunities for people,” said Governor Youngkin. “Three years ago, we came together in this room to forge a covenant between state, local, private, and non-profit partners to work together to lift up the spirit of a beautiful Virginia city. Today is a celebration of the progress made together and a recommitment to continue this Partnership.”
Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham articulated a similar sentiment.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin,” Parham said. “Governor, from the first time you visited Petersburg, you didn’t just see our challenges- you saw our potential. You listened, you acted, and you’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with us. Your dedication and the commitment from the Partnership for Petersburg team have been truly extraordinary. On behalf of the citizens of Petersburg, I thank you.”
During the event the Governor also announced a new $3 million dollar partnership with non-profit pharmaceutical company Civica to provide affordable insulin to Petersburg residents. The overall partnership featured six pillars, and the event highlighted advancements in student achievement, including SOL scores that went from 0 to a 94% pass rate, a 50% reduction in homicides and economic development projects and progress in the city’s water infrastructure, which all communities including Charlottesville are concerned about considering the Richmond water crisis earlier this year. You can see the full release on the accomplishments of the initiative in the release from the Governor’s office here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2025/august/name-1054705-en.html
