Category Archives: News

Philippe Bone Selected for Virginia Rural Leadership Institute

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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

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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

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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.

 

Weigh In on the Future of the Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail Corridor — Survey Open Through May 13

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VDOT is now in Phase 3 of the Shenandoah Valley Rail with Trail Assessment — the final phase — and is gathering public input through a survey open through May 13. Respondents are asked to weigh in on whether the existing corridor should be converted to a trail (Rail-to-Trail), or should take a Rail-With-Trail approach.  We encourage everyone across the region to participate.

CSPDC and our member jurisdictions along the corridor support a trail for the Shenandoah Valley’s 49-mile corridor. As members of the Shenandoah Rail Trail Exploratory Partnership, we see a dedicated trail as an economic driver and lasting public investment for the communities along the corridor — one that supports economic development, transportation, tourism and outdoor recreation for the long term.

VDOT is holding three in-person public meetings along the corridor to present findings and take feedback:

  • Woodstock — Thursday, April 16, 5–7 p.m., Peter Muhlenberg Middle School
  • Front Royal — Thursday, April 23, 5–7 p.m., Warren County Government Center
  • Timberville — Tuesday, April 28, 5–7 p.m., Plains District Community Center

Take the survey at publicinput.com/svwt, or visit VDOT’s project page for full details.

Town of Goshen Awarded DOE Power CORE Grant for Solar-Powered Backup Generators

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The Town of Goshen was awarded a grant through the Virginia Department of Energy’s Community-Oriented Resilient Energy (CORE) program to purchase and install two mobile solar-powered backup generators at its critical public facilities. The CSPDC assisted the Town in preparing and submitting the winning application.

Like many rural communities, Goshen is susceptible to extended power outages caused by severe weather, and until now, none of its essential public facilities had a backup power source.

The $122,430 CORE grant will fund the purchase and installation of two mobile solar-powered generator trailers — each equipped with solar panel arrays and lithium battery storage capable of providing grid-independent power. The units will be housed at the Goshen Town Hall and Volunteer Fire Department, but they can be deployed wherever they are needed most during an emergency.

This project represents a significant leap forward for a community that has had limited emergency backup power capacity. Beyond keeping the lights on during outages, the solar generators will also give the Town access to FEMA and Virginia Department of Emergency Management funding streams that were previously unavailable because Goshen lacked a certified emergency shelter. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The CORE grant is part of a broader revitalization effort in Goshen that has brought more than $2.35 million in investment into the heart of downtown.

 

Finding Funding for the Future: May Workshop Tackles Aviation and Affordable Housing

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The funding landscape for local governments has never been more complex—or more consequential. On May 13th, VAPDC is bringing together local government staff, economic developers, state agency partners, and EDA/IDA board members in Staunton for the first installment of Finding Funding for the Future, a workshop series built around one practical goal: helping regional partners compete more successfully for the resources that move communities forward.

This session features two deep dives that couldn’t feel more timely.

Cleared for Takeoff will examine innovative funding mechanisms for aviation infrastructure, drawing on real-world case studies that show how communities have secured—and used—resources to modernize and expand regional air capacity. Whether you’re new to aviation finance or already working on a project, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of what’s possible and how to pursue it.

Unlocking the Capital Stack turns to one of the region’s most pressing needs: affordable housing. Who actually funds housing development? How do federal, state, local, and private sources layer together—and where do competitive proposals typically fall short? This session breaks down the capital stack and highlights what approaches are working on the ground.

The event takes place at Hotel 24 South in Staunton. CSPDC encourages our member jurisdictions and regional partners to attend—registration is open now at this link.

Hot Off the Press: New Socio-Economic Data Profiles

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CSPDC supports regional economic development as a comprehensive resource for data about the region and our localities. Every other year, we publish easy-to-read data profiles covering people, jobs, schools, and other unique attributes for every locality and sub-region in the Central Shenandoah region. The profiles highlight the defining characteristics of a locality or sub-region, offering a quick but meaningful picture of what makes that area distinctive.

The 2025 Facts & Figures brochures are now available on the CSPDC website. Whether you’re researching workforce demographics, educational attainment, employment trends, or community assets, these updated profiles are your starting point for understanding the Central Shenandoah region. Visit the CSPDC website to download the latest edition for your locality.

Virginia Breeze Launches Tidewater Current, Connecting the Valley to the Coast

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Getting from the Shenandoah Valley to Virginia Beach is about to get a lot easier. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is launching the Tidewater Current, a new Virginia Breeze intercity bus route that will begin service on April 20. This is the first east-west transit service in the Virginia Breeze network, linking Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads with Richmond, Charlottesville, Staunton, and Harrisonburg along the I-64 corridor.

For Valley residents already familiar with the Virginia Breeze’s Valley Flyer, which connects Blacksburg to Washington, D.C., the Tidewater Current provides even more opportunities for connections in an entirely new direction. The route makes ten stops across the state:

  • Virginia Beach Convention Center
  • Norforlk – Military Highway Park & Ride
  • Newport News – Newport News Transportation Center
  • Williamsburg – Williamsburg Transportation Center
  • New Kent – Colonial Downs/Rosie’s Gaming Emporium
  • Richmond International Airport
  • Richmond Main Street Station
  • Charlottesville – Scott Stadium
  • Staunton – Crossing Way Park & Ride
  • Harrisonburg – Godwin Transit Center

“Expanding the Virginia Breeze intercity bus network is part of our commitment to providing more transportation choices for all Virginians,” said Mariia Zimmerman, director of DRPT. “The Tidewater Current creates an important east-west connection across the Commonwealth, helping people travel safely, affordably, and conveniently while supporting tourism and economic opportunity.”

Ticket pricing is destination based, and buses include roomy seating, a restroom, free Wi-Fi, and in-seat power outlets. All vehicles are wheelchair accessible and include luggage storage.

Tickets are available at virginiabreeze.drpt.virginia.gov.

CSPDC Title VI Plan Released for Public Comment

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The CSPDC has released a Draft Title VI Plan for a 14-day public comment period, open through April 15, 2026.

The Title VI Plan describes how the CSPDC, and all it’s programs, ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in their planning processes, public participation activities, consultant contracting, and distribution of federal funds, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

You can review the draft CSPDC Title VI Plan here.

Previously, each MPO and BRITE Transit each maintained their own Title VI Plans. This 2026 update creates one plan for all CSPDC programs receiving federal funding with the exception of BRITE Transit. Due to the complexity of the Public Transit program, BRITE will continue to maintain its own plan which can be accessed on the BRITE website at www.britebus.org

Comments may be submitted via email to CSPDC@cspdc.org or via phone call to 540-885-5174. The plan will be considered for final adoption at the April 20, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting.

CSPDC Joins Virginia PDCs on Capitol Hill

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Earlier this month, CSPDC participated in the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Policy Conference, held March 8–11 in Washington, DC. The conference brought together development district professionals from across the country to engage with federal policymakers on issues critical to regional communities.

As part of the conference, Virginia’s PDC community turned out in force for a luncheon meeting with Congressional staff from both Senate offices and three House representatives’ offices. The conversation centered on three priorities directly relevant to the work of regional planning districts and the communities we serve.

First, increased funding for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) — a cornerstone federal partner for economic resilience and regional development investment. Second, support for the BASICS Act, the current vehicle for surface transportation reauthorization, which shapes the framework for how federal transportation dollars flow to states and regions. Third, the Road to Housing Act, which addresses the national housing affordability and supply challenges that are equally pressing here in the Shenandoah Valley.

We also recently shared our Senators’ call for congressionally directed spending requests, and encourage our member jurisdictions to communicate your project ideas to their staff, and call on the PDC for assistance with your requests.