Welcome to the CSPDC

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) represents and serves the local governments of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge, and Rockingham counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro as well as the 11 towns within the Central Shenandoah region.

The CSPDC works with its member jurisdictions, communities and agencies to provide high-quality planning, technical assistance, and facilitation of services that address local, regional and state needs in an innovative, timely and cooperative manner. Covering everything from land use planning, transportation, water and waste-water utilities, natural resource management, affordable housing, economic and community development, disaster mitigation and preparedness, agritourism to human services, the CSPDC is an invaluable asset to the quality of life in the Shenandoah Valley. For more information about the CSPDC, click here.

$1 Million Investment Brings Affordable Housing Solutions to Central Shenandoah Region

Posted on July 10, 2025July 14, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) has received $1.2 million from Virginia Housing’s Regional Housing Development Program (RHDP) to support the development of new affordable housing units in Waynesboro and Harrisonburg.

The grant award builds on Virginia Housing’s successful 2022 Planning District Commission Housing Development Program. The RHDP creates replicable models of affordable and workforce housing to meet growing demand across the Commonwealth.

The CSPDC’s recent Regional Housing Study identified a shortage of affordable rental options in the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro and Harrisonburg Metropolitan Statistical Areas. In response, the CSPDC is supporting two projects that will bring 176 affordable rental units to the region. These homes will serve residents earning between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with a focus on supporting workers in service and support roles.

The projects include the 1030 Alston Court development in Waynesboro, led by Enterprise Community Development, Inc., a nonprofit and one of the largest affordable housing developers in the Mid-Atlantic region. The second project is BJS Harrisonburg Family I in Harrisonburg, developed by the Beverly J. Searles Foundation, Inc., a Georgia-based nonprofit that has built more than 800 affordable housing units nationwide. Both projects will receive $560,000 in Regional Housing Development Funds.

These developments represent a significant step forward in addressing the region’s affordable housing shortage and will provide much-needed rental options for working families in the Central Shenandoah region.

Federal Grant Strengthens Regional Flood Preparedness Efforts

Posted on July 10, 2025July 14, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

The CSPDC has received a $270,000 grant from Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) program to develop a Regional Flood Resilience Plan. The CFPF program funds planning and implementation projects that reduce the impact of flooding throughout the State. The Resilience Plan will align with the strategies identified in the CSPDC’s on-going Hazard Mitigation Plan update, which identifies flooding as the region’s top natural disaster vulnerability.

The CSPDC Regional Flood Resilience Plan will identify each community’s flooding and stormwater needs, and develop a list of prioritized implementation projects with cost estimates. Additionally, upon completion of the Resilience Plan, localities will be able to apply for DCR CFPF implementation funding to construct flood mitigation projects. Currently, there are no localities in the CSPDC region that maintain a Resilience Plan, which is a prerequisite for DCR CFPF implementation funding eligibility.

The CSPDC is finalizing a contract with a consultant to guide the planning process, and staff will provide localities with the next steps after the contract is finalized. Contact Zach Beard, Program Manager, at zach@cspdc.org, or Rachel Kinzer, Regional Planner, at rachel@cspdc.org with questions. Staff anticipate the planning process to begin in August 2025.

JMU Graduate Student Joins CSPDC Team for Summer Planning Experience

Posted on July 10, 2025July 10, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

Kayla Dixon, Graduate Assistant – Transit

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission is pleased to announce that Kayla Dixon, a Master of Public Administration student at James Madison University, has joined our team as a summer intern. This partnership with JMU’s Public Administration program brings fresh perspectives and academic expertise to support our ongoing regional planning initiatives.

Kayla previously served as an intern in the City of Harrisonburg’s City Manager’s Office, where she collaborated with diverse community stakeholders and helped develop equitable engagement strategies for local government officials.

During her CSPDC summer internship, Kayla will focus on an engagement project with CSPDC’s transit team, applying her strong background in community relations and stakeholder engagement.

Looking ahead to fall 2025, Kayla will transition to a graduate assistantship role, expanding her work beyond transit to include projects with CSPDC’s community development and transportation teams. This extended partnership will allow her to contribute to a broader range of regional planning initiatives while gaining hands-on experience in public administration.

“Kayla’s academic background, combined with her practical experience in local government and community engagement, makes her an ideal addition to our team,” noted Paula Melester, Director of Transportation. “We look forward to the fresh insights she’ll bring to our transit and community development work.”

The internship and graduate assistantship represent CSPDC’s ongoing commitment to fostering the next generation of public administration professionals while enhancing our capacity to serve the Central Shenandoah region.