A well-known Richmond chef is trying his hand at something new: a desk job in city government.
Jason Alley, longtime chef at local favorites like Comfort, Pasture, and Bingo Beer Co., has taken a temporary gig helping Richmond and small businesses navigate the coronavirus pandemic.
The city is using some of its flexible CARES Act funding to hire Alley through the end of the year. His job is to help the city better collaborate and support restaurants and small businesses.
Alley, who has spent his life in restaurants and has contacts all over the city, says he understands the needs and concerns of small business owners. In an interview earlier this week, he added that city officials want to help support businesses and likened his new job to serving as a translator.
“I’m really pleased to be able to help with that and I think it’s great that they’ve brought somebody in from the private sector who can help identify how to do that, what that help is” Alley said.
Under the official title of “provisional policy advisory” Alley has been working at City Hall for about three weeks now. Current funding will last through the end of December.
Announcing the hire in a press release, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said, “I’m glad the city can draw on [Alley’s] knowledge, and I look forward to enabling his vision for small business support.”
As COVID numbers continue to rise, Alley says there’s a lot of understandable fear and anxiety. And business owners have questions -- on everything from how zoning now pertains to outdoor dining, to seeking clarity in COVID-19 restrictions.
Alley will be the first to admit he doesn’t have all the answers.
“But I’m actually in an office now where I have a better shot at getting those answers,” Alley said. “And I think that’s been really good for a lot of people I’ve talked to. They feel like they’re heard.”
With a direct line to the Mayor’s Office, Department of Public Works and the Economic Development Authority, Alley is hopeful that having someone on the inside who can get answers quickly will help provide a small measure of relief to restaurant and business owners.
It’s unclear if the position will continue into the new year. When asked whether other localities should consider doing something similar Alley says he thinks there’s a lot of value in the position.
“I would like for people to feel like it was beneficial,” Alley said. “That’s my goal, to do enough good for enough people that overall it feels like it was a job that was worth it.”