Venture Richmond
Two Decades Championing a Vibrant Downtown
In 2006, four organizations merged to form Venture Richmond with one mission – to champion a vibrant, thriving downtown. Over the next 20 years, Venture Richmond has brought together business and community leaders to partner with the City of Richmond to strengthen downtown through economic development, marketing, advocacy, events, and public space management.
Venture Richmond manages the marketing and promotion of downtown and all it has to offer. They provide enhanced property management services for Downtown, Manchester, and the Riverfront, including the Clean & Safe program, which makes downtown more welcoming and economically vibrant. Venture Richmond also oversees beautification initiatives and maintenance for many of Richmond’s signature public spaces – Brown’s Island, Canal Walk, Tredegar Green, and the Belle Isle parking area. A redesigned Venture Richmond website makes it easier to discover downtown businesses, attractions, restaurants, and events by neighborhood or category.
Brown’s Island is undergoing a major improvement project that will transform the little island into a vibrant, more visitor-friendly space.
Venture Richmond Events produces Friday Cheers, the 2nd Street Festival, the Richmond Folk Festival, and Eerie Canal Cruises. Venture’s subsidiary Riverfront Canal Cruises offers historically narrated canal tours and private charters along the James River and Kanawha Canal.
One exciting Venture Richmond endeavor is the Brown’s Island Improvement Project. Located on the downtown riverfront along the James River, Brown’s Island is one of the most popular public park spaces in Richmond, featuring access to the Canal Walk, Manchester, and more.
“Brown’s Island may be small, but it holds a big place in the hearts of Richmonders and visitors alike. There were over a million visits to this tiny island last year—for concerts, festivals, scenic walks, work breaks, and school trips,” says Lisa Sims, Venture Richmond president and CEO.
“Despite its popularity, Brown’s Island lacks basic infrastructure—no water fountains, no flushing toilets—yet it continues to host major events and countless visitors. But as its appeal grows, so do its challenges,” Lisa adds.
Brown’s Island will be ready to welcome visitors to the riverfront park with completion expected in early 2027.
Brown’s Island is a six-acre riverfront park with views of the James River, offering access to outdoor concerts, walking and biking trails, educational monuments and sculptures, and plenty of urban green space for downtown visitors, residents, and employees to enjoy.
Originally part of the Haxall Canal in 1789, Brown’s Island is named after its first settler, Elijah Brown, who acquired the land in 1826. The island had a number of uses, including a laboratory where supplies were produced during the Civil War; a coal power plant, a hydroelectric plant, and a paper mill. In 1987, the Albemarle Paper Company gifted the land to the city of Richmond, which developed Brown’s Island into a public park to preserve it for all of Richmond to enjoy.
Venture Richmond is currently leading the Brown's Island Improvement Project, a transformational $30 million public-private partnership. The City of Richmond has committed $15 million toward the project, while Venture Richmond is raising the remaining $15 million through philanthropic support. With more than $12 million raised to date, the project will include:
- Critical infrastructure for events and recreation with bathrooms and water fountains
- A boardwalk, paths, and walkways that will be ADA accessible
- Increased support for education, ecotourism, history, and the arts
- Restoration of more than 16,500 square feet of riparian buffer along the James River
- Removal of invasive species along the river’s edge
- 200 trees and 11,700 plus native, pollinator-supportive plants
- A splash pad for kids of all ages and added shade structures
- A performing arts pavilion providing support areas for artists and crews
- A plaza space under the Manchester Bridge to provide shade
More than one million visitors to Brown’s Island will enjoy new amenities like a boardwalk, paths, and walkways, plus new bathrooms and water fountains.
“One of the things we are most excited about are the river terraces, on the southside of the island, along the James River. People will be able to come onto the island, see the river and enjoy the rapids,” Lisa says. “The Brown’s Island Improvement Project will transform the island into a world-class riverfront park available to all. It will truly make the little island the perfect place to get away to it all.” Brown’s Island is closed to public access during construction. The Island will reopen for the Richmond Folk Festival October 9-11, 2026, with full project completion anticipated in early 2027.
Since 2006, Venture Richmond has focused on creating an exciting downtown in Richmond through a variety of special events and public spaces.
Venture Richmond works with Missy Reynolds, vice president and branch manager of TowneBank’s Gateway office. TowneBank is honored to support Venture Richmond and the Brown’s Island Improvement Project with a foundation gift.
For more information, visit VentureRichmond.com.