The Office of Economic Development's January 2015 retail vacancy study has been completed, finding an impressive overall retail vacancy rate of 3.91%. Since the last report in July 2014, the overall vacancy rate has slightly increased, and vacancy rates at each retail location have remained stable. Charlottesville's retail vacancy rate is well below the national average of 9.60%. These indicators, along with the overall observation that empty storefronts generally do not stay vacant for long periods of time, suggest that the retail situation in Charlottesville is stable and strong.

On February 6, 2015, the Charlottesville Downtown Job Center hosted the UVA Jobs Information Session at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. This event connected recruiters from the University of Virginia Health System, the University of Virginia, and the University of Virginia Temporary Search Group with local job seekers. Seventy-eight job seekers attended the event and listened to recruiters talk about employment opportunities within their organizations, how to apply for those jobs, and best practices when applying. This event was a great opportunity for job seekers to learn about the jobs that are available, have their questions answered by the people who screen applications, and network with the same recruiters who interview candidates for employment with these organizations.

The event also served as the recruitment kickoff for the GO Office training program. GO Office is a six week training program, free to eligible participants, that will prepare City residents for a career in office administration. The curriculum of this program was designed in part by the same recruiters who spoke at the UVA Jobs Information Session. Recruitment is currently underway for the GO Office training program and training will begin in mid-March. Upon graduation, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and training needed to make them more competitive when applying for positions with UVA Health System.

This event provided a great opportunity for recruiters and job seekers to connect and network. Job seekers who attended the event were able to see what employment opportunities exist at the University of Virginia Health System and University of Virginia and get advice that will help them navigate the application and interview process. The event was declared a success by the recruiters and job seekers alike and, as a result, University of Virginia recruiters will be coming to the Downtown Job Center two days each month to meet with job seekers on a one-on-one basis.

The City of Charlottesville recently announced that the Insurance Services Office (ISO) has issued its top Fire Protection Rating to the City of Charlottesville. The ISO Fire Protection Rating is based on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the very best). Prior to this new rating, the ISO rating was an ISO Class "2." The rating places the City's Fire Department as one of only 60 fire departments in the country to receive an ISO 1 and only one of two in Virginia.  The only other fire department with an ISO 1 rating in Virginia is Fairfax County. In addition to being an ISO Class 1, Charlottesville was also recognized as one of the highest scoring ISO Class 1 fire departments in the country.

From a community perspective, the rating reflects the City's overall fire protection effectiveness. The rating is used by insurance companies to determine residential and commercial insurance rates. The City's ISO 1 rating translates to the lowest possible insurance premiums for City residents and businesses. These savings help keep the overall cost of doing business reasonable and prove that a City location continues to be a smart choice for starting and growing a business.