Category Archives: News

CSPDC Supports HC4FD with Assistance to Firefighters Grant Application

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The CSPDC recently aided Hose Company #4 Fire Department (HC4FD) leadership with their submission for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The HC4FD applied for $1.5M in funding to purchase a new rescue engine and equipment. The HC4FD has been serving the citizens of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County since 1890. Their first due area consists of 140 square miles which includes the communities of Belmont, Cross Keys, Keezletown, Lacy Springs, Lakewood, Linville, Massanetta Springs, McGaheysville, and Shen Lake along with 12 miles of Interstate 81. The HC4FD second due area includes three colleges (Blue Ridge Community College, Eastern Mennonite University, and James Madison University), the City of Harrisonburg, and the towns of Bridgewater, Grottoes, and Mount Crawford. They have over 70 members, with 50 active Firefighters or EMTs. The HC4FD is currently averaging 4,000 volunteer hours a month in Fire/EMS services via 12-hour shifts, seven days a week.

The primary goal of the AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, the AFG program has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. The FY 2023 AFG notice of funding opportunity states the anticipated award date begins around April 30th and continues until all program grant awards are issued (no later than September 30th).

Use this link to learn about the FEMA AFG program: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters. In addition, interested organizations will find further information on the FY 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and FY 2023 Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) programs.

DHCD IRF Program Application Timeline Open Through May 31

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The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) opened their FY 2025 Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) grant application timeframe on April 1, 2024. The IRF program aims to transform vacant, non-residential buildings from a physically and economically blighted state to structures that drive commercial success, community revitalization, and job creation. Qualifying facilities include ones previously used for manufacturing, logistics, power production, and mining. Additionally, large-scale buildings like shopping centers, schools, mixed-use (as long as 30% of the project is commercial), department stores, hotels, and theaters are eligible properties. Local governments, including economic/industrial development authorities, are eligible to submit applications for the IRF program.

Units of local  government can apply for IRF funding to use on publicly owned property or on behalf of a for-profit or non-profit entity for privately owned property. The IRF grants or loans provide up to $1M in funding. To exhibit project viability and the applicant’s commitment, local governments must provide a 100 percent (1:1) match from private or public sources. The IRF funding priorities include: a) relationship to a local or regional economic development strategy; b) high degree of blight and deterioration to be addressed; c) project readiness; d) project with a clear end use; e) end use has clear and significant community economic impact; and f) high economic distress in project locality.

IRF grant applications are due in CAMS (Centralized Application and Management System) on May 31, 2024 with the grant award announcement expected in the summer of 2024. For more information on the IRF program, visit this DHCD webpage: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/irf. For additional assistance, please contact the CSPDC at (540) 558-5174.

 

Virginia Recreational Trails Program Grant Applications Accepted Through May 7

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The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting applications for the 2024 Virginia Recreational Trails (RTP) grant now through May 7, 2024, with approximately $1.9 million in RTP funding available.

The Recreational Trails Program is an 80-20 matching reimbursement program for building and rehabilitating trails and trail-related facilities. Funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the program mandates allocations in non-motorized, diversified and motorized trail categories. City, county, town, tribal or other government entities may apply. Registered nonprofit groups partnered with a government body are also eligible.

For more information visit https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational-planning/trailfnd. Direct questions to Recreation Grants staff at recreationgrants@dcr.virginia.gov, or call Recreation Grants Coordinator Kellie Seaton at 804-786-1119. For additional assistance, you can also contact the CSPDC at (540) 558-5174.

PDC Housing Development Program Update

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The CSPDC’s PDC Housing Development Grant, which awarded a total of $1.66 million in gap funding for seven affordable housing developments in the region, has made significant process in recent months. As of April 2024, 27 of the 58 planned affordable housing units have been completed and are either occupied or prepared for occupancy, with the remaining 31 under construction or in pre-development.

Notable program updates for this quarter include:

  • Construction was completed for 8 of the 19 affordable units planned for the Suter Street Development, a collaborative project between Central Valley Habitat for Humanity and PDY, LLC in Harrisonburg. The 8 completed affordable units are part of a total 10 units that were built on Suter Street by PDY, LLC, with the remaining two units being sold at a ‘below market’ rate. The 11 units being built by Central Valley Habitat are all under construction and will be completed over the next year.
  • The Pump Street Apartments project, which provides 6 units of permanent supportive housing to extremely low-income individuals experiencing substance use disorder or chronic homelessness, was completed in this quarter. The project is fully leased.
  • Project financing was completed for the Fairfax Hall renovation in Waynesboro, and construction is set to begin in late-April 2024.
  • The Greenhouse Village Project, which will bring 8 affordable homeownership units to Rockbridge County, is well-underway, with several units either complete or in final construction phases.

All units will be completed no later than June 30, 2025.

Pictured Above: Completed Pump Street Apartments project in Staunton. This development was an adaptive-reuse project, converting a former local glass company into 6 affordable units and an office for local non-profit, Valley Supportive Housing. The six new units add to the existing six units already in place on the top floor of the building.

Attend the Spring 2024 Staunton District CTB SYIP Meeting

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The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will conduct a public meeting in the VDOT Staunton Construction District to give citizens the opportunity to provide comments on projects and programs to be included in the Fiscal Year 2025-2030 Six-Year Improvement Program (FY2025-2030 SYIP), including highway, rail and public transportation initiatives.  These projects and programs represent important improvements to address safety, congestion and preservation of Virginia’s transportation network.

The Staunton District Spring Six Year Public meeting will start at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Laurel Ridge Community College, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645. Formal public comment on projects proposed to be included in the SYIP will be accepted at the meeting. Written comments may also be submitted during the meeting, or they may be mailed or e-mailed afterwards and accepted until May 20, 2024.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can submit your comments online, in writing to Infrastructure Investment Director at 1401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, or e-mail to Six-YearProgram@vdot.virginia.gov. For transit and public transportation, send your comments to DRPTPR@drpt.virginia.gov, Public Information Office, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 600 East Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond VA, 23219.

For more information, please visit https://www.ctb.virginia.gov/planning/springmeetings2024/default.asp.

Bonnie Recognized for Service in the Region

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On March 1, Bonnie was recognized for her 29 years of service to the region.  Frank Friedman, Mayor of Lexington and vice-chair of the CSPDC, presented Bonnie with a Commendation from Delegate Ellen Campbell of the Virginia House of Delegates for her service to the Commonwealth and the region.  Bonnie has retired as Executive Director of the CSPDC having worked with the CSPDC since 1994.  Bonnie will stay on part-time until her replacement is hired.

2023 Afton Express Annual Report Now Available

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The CSPDC is pleased to present the 2023 Annual Report for the Afton Express Commuter Bus Service. The Afton Express launched in September 2021 and has grown each year since. With just over two years of operations under our belt, the Afton Express has become a fixture in the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro community – connecting commuters from their homes in the Valley to jobs, healthcare, shopping, and other opportunities in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

In 2023, the Afton Express provided 16,482 passenger trips between the Shenandoah Valley and the Charlottesville Metropolitan region – a nearly 60% increase from 2022. The report provides a look at some of the highlights of the year, such as the expanded schedule implemented in February 2023. Performance metrics, such as ridership by month, stops, and individual trips are also included.

A new feature in this year’s report looks at the impact of the Afton Express. Using data collected through our RideShare Commuter Assistance Program, we can quantify the impact of the service by looking at the reduction of single-occupancy vehicle trips, the amount of money saved by commuters, and emissions prevented. Of course, this analysis uses data collected from just a portion of our riders, so the actual impact is potentially even more significant.

When measuring our performance for the past year, the most important metric is how well are we meeting the needs of our riders. By surveying riders, we gain important insight into the passenger experience. Feedback from passengers plays an important role in the planning of future service enhancements. Responses to a rider survey helped us create a passenger profile. This information and more can be found in the report.

The Annual Report may be viewed online HERE.

The CSPDC would like to thank our partners, without whom the Afton Express would not be possible.

 

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bike Walk Summit Returns!

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After a COVID-19 pandemic hiatus, the Harrisonburg Rockingham Bike Walk Summit returns on April 12, 2024. The Bike Summit will highlight the potential for economic development when transportation and recreation meet, and will feature Ryan Hale, CEO of Laneshift, as a keynote speaker. Ryan has extensive experience in helping to plan and develop the successful trail system in rural Northwest Arkansas. The Bike Summit will be held 8 am – 4 pm at The Loft at Liberty St. in Harrisonburg and will provide local leaders and community members to gather and learn ways to implement bike and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in the region.

The 2024 Harrisonburg Rockingham Bike Walk Summit is free, but registration is encouraged. Click here to register.

2024 Watershed Wellness Mini-Grant – Application Cycle Now Open

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The CSPDC Watershed Wellness Mini-Grant is a reimbursement grant that provides up to $3,500 in non-match funding for constructing practical, cost-effective, and ready-to-go best management practice (BMP) projects that improve water quality and reduce runoff in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funding is available for localities and non-profits within the five-county CSPDC region. Funding is provided through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) program.

The application is available from Wednesday, February 28 and closes on Friday, March 29, 2024. Projects must be constructed by December 20, 2024.

The program’s main goal is establish a simple, streamlined BMP grant application that leads to the construction of BMPs and supports the state’s Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction goals. The 2024 Watershed Wellness Mini-Grant Guide details the grant goals, requirements, eligible activities, and timeline.

Download the 2024 Watershed Wellness Application, and submit the application and requested attachments to CSPDC WIP Coordinator Zach Beard at zach@cspdc.org.