Author Archive: Paula Melester

A New Chapter for Buena Vista: Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Virginia Innovation Accelerator

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The City of Buena Vista officially welcomed a powerful new engine for economic growth on December 3rd, marking the culmination of years of collaborative effort. The Virginia Innovation Accelerator (VIA), housed in a revitalized former cigarette paper printing factory, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by The Advancement Foundation (TAF).

Since 2022, staff from the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) have worked closely with TAF to adapt and reuse this historic industrial building. The result is an inspired business hub poised to become a central force for agriculture value-added product development, small-scale manufacturing, and community revitalization.

The atmosphere at the event was lively, filled with the many individuals and organizations who helped bring the project to life. It was a powerful demonstration of how community partners, coming together, can turn visions into tangible realities. Mayor Tyson Coper of Buena Vista echoed this sentiment.

A key speaker at the event was Senator Chris Head, who highlighted the crucial importance of business hubs in fostering regional prosperity and shared successful examples he has witnessed.

Following the ribbon cutting, attendees gathered in the event space for a panel of entrepreneurs already utilizing the VIA. Testimonials showcased the hub’s diverse potential—from representatives of an agriculture tech company and a hobby mushroom grower who successfully transitioned to a mushroom farmer, to a talented baker. The collective energy of innovation and aspiration was evident.

The future looks bright and truly innovative for Buena Vista and the surrounding region, thanks to the VIA. The Virginia Innovation Accelerator is more than just a building; it is a collaborative platform designed to launch new businesses, support local food systems, and revitalize the community fabric.

Exciting news was shared during the celebration: Phase 3 of the project will include the development of 16 loft apartments, integrating residential living directly into this dynamic center of innovation.

We encourage everyone to visit the new location and witness this inspiring, innovative work firsthand!

Afton Express Begins Enhanced Commuter Schedule

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The Afton Express introduced a revised weekday schedule on December 1 to better support regional workers traveling between the Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville. The updated schedule is designed to align with major employer shift times, provide additional service during peak periods, and offer more consistency across trips throughout the morning and evening.

These changes follow ongoing analysis of ridership trends and feedback from commuters since the service launched in 2021. The improved schedule aims to enhance flexibility and coverage for employees across the corridor while supporting continued growth in commuter transit use along I-64.

As the Afton Express continues to see strong ridership, growing 25% since last year, the new schedule is expected to further strengthen access to employment opportunities and improve regional connectivity. Updated schedule information is available on the BRITE Bus website.

Regional Leaders Gather to Share Legislative Priorities Ahead of 2026 General Assembly Session

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Left to Right: Delegate Terry Austin, Jeremy Holmes, Ann Cundy, and Senator Chris Head

On Monday, December 1st, local government administrators from Bath and Rockbridge Counties and the Roanoke Valley gathered at the historic Masonic Theater in Clifton Forge for a legislative lunch hosted by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission and the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission.

Delegate Terry Austin and Senator Chris Head joined the roundtable discussion, listening as local leaders shared their perspectives on issues affecting their jurisdictions. The format allowed for candid conversation and meaningful dialogue between local governments and those who craft legislation in Richmond.

Attendees discussed a variety of municipal challenges, and common themes included housing, adequate funding for fire and rescue personnel and equipment, and maintaining local autonomy in land use decisions.

As the 2026 General Assembly Session approaches, the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission remains committed to facilitating these important regional dialogues and strengthening the connection between our member jurisdictions and their state representatives.

CSPDC Begins Regional Flood and Stormwater Resilience Plan

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The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) awarded the CSPDC a $270,000 grant through the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) program to fund a Regional Flood and Stormwater Resilience Plan. The Plan includes 18 of the 21 localities in the CSPDC region and will allow localities to identify flooding/stormwater needs, identify priority projects such as conventional stormwater and green infrastructure improvements, and make localities eligible for DCR CFPF construction funding, which requires a locality to have an existing Resilience Plan.

The CSPDC is working with the Berkley Group to develop the plan, and the CSPDC held a plan kick-off meeting on October 24 to provide an overview of the plan and next steps. The plan process includes a public outreach phase and individual, in-person meetings with staff from each locality to identify flood and stormwater issues and projects.

The CSPDC is providing funding for the 10% grant match through the CSPDC Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) Program, and no match is required from localities. The plan will be complete in fall 2026.

 

CSPDC Staff Attend Statewide Training Conference

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Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission staff participated in the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) Training Conference on November 12-13 at the Virginia Housing Center in Glen Allen. The two-day conference brought together planning district commission professionals from across Virginia for professional development and peer networking.

CSPDC’s Director of Transportation Paula Melester served as a panelist for the closing session “Building a Better Budget,” joining David Blount, Executive Director of VAPDC and Deputy Director of Thomas Jefferson PDC, and Chip Boyles, Executive Director of George Washington Regional Commission. The panel shared practical approaches to budget development and management for regional planning organizations.

The conference covered timely topics relevant to CSPDC’s work across the region. Sessions included strategies for community engagement and stakeholder mobilization, presented by communications experts Stephanie Heinatz of Consociate Media and Susan Gaston of The Gaston Group. Jason Graham, Fredericksburg City Council member and CEO of Surava, led a practical discussion on artificial intelligence applications for local government operations.

The second day featured an in-depth session on Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act, with presentations from Maria Everett, former Executive Director of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, Stephen Clough, FOIA Officer for the Town of Warrenton, and attorney Max Hlavin from Sands Anderson. This session provided valuable guidance on transparency and public records management—critical responsibilities for regional planning agencies.

The conference provided CSPDC staff opportunities to learn from subject matter experts, exchange ideas with colleagues from other planning district commissions, and stay current on best practices in regional planning and administration. These professional development opportunities strengthen CSPDC’s capacity to serve its 21 member jurisdictions across the Central Shenandoah Valley.

 

Regional MPOs Hold Joint Policy Board Meeting

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Person at a podium giving a presentation

The Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAW-MPO) and Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (CA-MPO) came together on September 30, 2025, for their biennial Joint Policy Board Meeting at the North Fork Meeting Center in Charlottesville. This meeting represents a continuation of the collaborative partnership formalized through a 2017 Memorandum of Understanding, which established a framework for inter-regional transportation planning along the critical I-64 corridor.

The meeting featured presentations on several significant regional initiatives, including updates on the Afton Express transit service, which has seen steady ridership growth since its 2021 launch and serves stops from Staunton to Charlottesville. Other presentations topics included the newly founded Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority (CARTA), the Virginia Statewide Rail Plan, and the Three Notched Trail project. Representatives from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Culpeper and Staunton Districts also shared progress reports on corridor improvements, including the I-64 Afton Mountain Congestion Warning System, interchange upgrades, and the new Exit 107 Park and Ride Lot scheduled to begin construction in Spring 2026. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) provided an update on statewide transit initiatives of interest to the region, such as the Virginia Breeze expansion, the update to the Coordinated Human Service Mobility Plan update, and the ongoing review of the MERIT Capital and Operating funding formulas.

The joint meeting underscores the continued commitment of both MPOs to coordinate transportation planning across jurisdictional boundaries, addressing the needs of the 37-mile I-64 corridor that serves as a vital link for inter-regional and interstate commerce. Through these collaborative efforts, the organizations continue to advance projects and initiatives that benefit the entire region’s transportation network. The SAWMPO will host the next meeting in 2027.

Transit Staff Host Pop-Up Events to Engage Afton Express Riders

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CSPDC transit staff hosted two early morning pop-up events in late September at Afton Express stops to celebrate the commuter bus service’s fourth anniversary while engaging directly with riders and sharing information about service improvements and commuter resources.

The events took place at the Staunton Crossing Park and Ride on September 23 and the Waynesboro Park and Ride on September 29. Staff greeted riders with cookies, Afton Express swag, and provided an opportunity to discuss the commuter bus service and gather feedback on schedule revisions—all before 7:00 AM!

Staff also highlighted benefits of the Rideshare Commuter Assistance Program in recognition of September’s Try Transit Month, including the Ride Home Rewards program that provides emergency rides home for regular commuters, and the opportunity to earn rewards through the ConnectingVA platform.

The pop-up events were part of a broader outreach campaign to raise awareness about transit as a commuting option. During this initiative, the number of transit riders logging trips in the ConnectingVA platform increased by 27% from August to September.

These direct engagement efforts reflect CSPDC’s commitment to enhancing regional transportation options and connecting the communities of the region.

GO Virginia Region 8 Charts Course for Economic Growth with Updated Strategic Plan

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The CSPDC recently updated Region 8’s Economic Growth and Diversification Plan. The Plan provides a blueprint to guide Region 8’s grant funding decisions, establishing a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the Shenandoah Valley’s economy through targeted investments in workforce development, entrepreneurship, industrial clusters, and site readiness.

The 34-locality region, spanning the CSPDC’s and the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission’s footprint, demonstrated strong economic momentum, with employment growing 4.4% over the past five years and average wages increasing 8.3% to reach $53,347. The region now supports over 253,000 workers across a diverse economic landscape.

The Plan identifies five targeted industries that are driving regional growth, collectively representing 56,158 jobs and accounting for more than one-third of recent employment gains:

  • Agriculture & Value-Added Food
  • Transportation & Logistics
  • Manufacturing
  • Life Sciences
  • Information Technology & Emerging Technology

To support long-term growth of the targeted sectors, the Plan then develops economic strategies through GO Virginia’s Four Strategic Investment Priorities.

Talent Pipeline initiatives will increase skills availability, align career pathways with employer needs, strengthen regional talent retention, and attract workers to high-paying regional jobs.

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem strategies focus on filling early-stage funding gaps, supporting student entrepreneurship, and encouraging technology, innovation, and startup hubs throughout the valley.

Cluster Scale-Up efforts will build business-to-business connections, support expanding R&D capabilities, encourage sector partnerships, and increase access to capital for business growth.

Site Development investments will enhance the readiness of the region’s 75 business-ready sites, identify necessary infrastructure improvements, and explore opportunities for mega-site development through regional collaboration.

The GO Virginia Region 8 Regional Council will vote to adopt the Plan at their next meeting on October 28th. Once adopted, the Growth and Diversification Plan will be available at the GO Virginia Region 8 website.

GO Virginia is a statewide initiative that fosters private-sector growth and job creation through incentives for regional collaboration by business, education, and government. Region 8 encompasses 34 localities across the Shenandoah Valley, including the Central Shenandoah Planning District and Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission.

 

BRITE Bus Demonstrates the Value of Transit

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BRITE Transit has debuted a promotional campaign highlighting the vital role that public transit plays in strengthening communities across the Central Shenandoah region. Through a variety of outreach efforts including social media and videography content, this initiative spotlights the ways public transit contributes to economic growth, social connection, and community resilience in our region.

The campaign began with a series of educational posts across its social media platforms with a clear message: investing in transit is investing in the health, strength, and future of our region.

This campaign is a celebration of the value of public transportation and reinforces the message that transit is an essential service. We hope you all will stay tuned as we share stories and BRITE Faces interviews with our riders, drivers, and partners who help make BRITE and Afton Express the vital services that they are for our community.

To follow along and share in the campaign, find BRITE on social media @britebus

Rocks to Roofs: A Housing Symposium for Tomorrow

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Logo with Mountains

Community leaders, developers, policymakers, and housing advocates will soon convene on Tuesday, October 21, from 8:30a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, to explore the area’s most pressing housing challenges. Through presentations from Virginia Housing, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and other partners, attendees will explore ways to advance housing opportunities across the Rockbridge area.

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) will also share its findings and housing solutions from its Regional Housing Study. In February, the CSPDC released its Regional Housing Study, funded by Virginia Housing and developed in partnership with Virginia Tech’s Center for Housing Research and HousingForward Virginia. The study offers an in-depth analysis of housing markets across the Central Shenandoah region and presents locally tailored strategies to address housing needs.

Rockbridge-area solutions featured in the study include:

  • Empowering Economic Development Authorities to support housing development
  • Expanding incentives for residential construction and rehabilitation
  • Laying the groundwork for high-quality mixed-use development

Rocks to Roofs: A Housing Symposium for Tomorrow is a collaboration between Virginia Housing, Rockbridge County, Cities of Buena Vista and Lexington, Rockbridge Highlands Realtors Association, Central Shenandoah Planning District, and The Chamber of Commerce, Serving Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County. The official speaker lineup will be announced soon.

To learn more or register:
🔗 Rocks to Roofs: A Housing Symposium for Tomorrow

To explore additional materials related to the Regional Housing Study, visit our CSPDC Connects page.