112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
phone: 540-885-5174
fax: 540-885-2687
View Our Regional Collaboration Video
Investments in the Region Report FY24
CSPDC Housing Study Report Released
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.
Philippe Bone Selected for Virginia Rural Leadership Institute
We’re proud to share that Philippe Bone has been selected as a 2026 participant in the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) — a competitive statewide program that develops the next generation of leaders committed to strengthening rural communities across the Commonwealth.
Administered by the Center for Rural Virginia, VRLI brings together emerging leaders from across the state for four immersive sessions held in different regions of Virginia. Fellows gain firsthand exposure to the challenges and opportunities shaping rural communities, and build lasting relationships with peers, mentors, and local stakeholders along the way.
A hallmark of the VRLI experience is the Community Impact Project — a capstone each participant develops to create tangible benefit for their community and organization. Philippe’s project will focus on one of the most pressing needs facing rural Virginia: affordable housing. He will explore the feasibility of developing an innovative revolving loan fund that would support affordable housing development through tax increment financing. If realized, this fund could become a powerful resource for expanding housing access and affordability in our region.
Philippe’s selection reflects his dedication to CSPDC’s mission and commitment to innovative approaches to community development. We look forward to supporting him throughout the program and sharing updates as the capstone project takes shape.
We look forward to supporting Philippe throughout the program and sharing updates as his capstone takes shape. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved recognition.
Goshen Honors CSPDC Planning Director with Keys to the Town
There’s no higher local honor than the keys to a town — and this month, Goshen Mayor Tom McCraw and Vice Mayor Steve Bickley made the trip to our offices to deliver theirs in person. During what Jeremy Crute expected to be a routine Monday morning staff meeting, the two officials presented our Director of Planning with the keys to Goshen and a Certificate of Appreciation, recognizing his sustained work in support of the town’s growth and resilience.
Jeremy came to CSPDC after six years at Florida State University’s Barnebey Planning & Development Lab, drawn in part by deep family roots in the Shenandoah Valley. He quickly became a go-to resource for localities seeking planning assistance and competitive grant support — and Goshen became one of the clearest examples of what that partnership can produce. Working closely with town leadership, Jeremy helped secure multiple rounds of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, making possible a new Community Services Center that will expand access to food pantry services and health and wellness programming for residents across the town and Rockbridge County.
More recently, he secured a Community-Oriented Resilient Energy (CORE) grant from the Virginia Department of Energy, bringing Goshen its first backup power system for critical public facilities during emergencies.
The recognition reflects something we see in Jeremy’s work every day: technical skill paired with genuine investment in the communities he serves. For a small town with limited resources, that combination can be transformative — and Goshen’s story is becoming proof of it.
Afton Express Sees Ridership Surge
The Afton Express recorded a 38% increase in ridership this February compared to February 2025, a milestone for BRITE Transit’s commuter route connecting the Central Shenandoah Valley to Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
The increase follows a marketing campaign that launched in fall 2025 and runs through the end of June, 2026. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) provided grant funds for the campaign which includes television and streaming commercials, interviews, and digital display advertising. Staff also engaged a professional photographer and a graphic designer to develop polished, consistent promotional materials for the route.
Afton Express also implemented a new schedule on December 1, 2025 to better align departure and arrival times with employer schedules and rider requests — another driver of the ridership surge. For more information on Afton Express, see our 2025 Annual Report.
