Category Archives: News

Survey Sheds Light on Transportation Priorities

Posted on by
In December 2019, the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) conducted a survey to determine transportation needs and priorities in the SAW region. Over 200 responses collected will help inform the SAWMPO’s 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), which prioritizes transportation projects for funding over the next 25 years. The public will have an opportunity to view and provide comment on the draft LRTP before it is completed by the end of 2020.
View the transportation survey summary on the SAWMPO website.

Infrastructure Completed for Phase II of Greenhouse Village

Posted on by

Since 2012, Rockbridge County has partnered with Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity in the development of affordable housing in the Greenhouse Village neighborhood, a mixed-income community of single-family homes located near Lexington. The project has been completed in multiple phases, and in September 2017 Rockbridge County was awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for $476,693 in funds for Phase II. The CDBG grant was matched with $1,978,100 in additional funds from other sources. The CDBG funding was used for the development of water, sewer, and street infrastructure which will allow for the construction of 12 new single-family homes bringing the total to 20 new homes built by Habitat in Greenhouse Village. The construction of the infrastructure was completed in fall 2019. Construction on the homes will be completed by Habitat in January 2022.

CSPDC provided grant administration services, and the CDBG program is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

USDA Funds Agricultural Enterprise Center Feasibility Study

Posted on by
The CSPDC has been selected to receive an $85,000 grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through their Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).  This grant was one of 42 out of 215 LFPP grants awarded and the only one funded in Virginia. Grant funds will be used to fund a feasibility study to determine the viability of a certified, commercial, shared-use Agricultural Enterprise Center located in the central Shenandoah Valley. The study also will identify what components will be the most successful and beneficial to local farmers such as a commercial kitchen, food lab/testing kitchen, flash freeze facility, training space for smart-ag classes and seminars, packaging and distribution operations, and business planning resources. The study will explore physical locations for a facility and structure a comprehensive business plan.
A study team composed of potential users and representatives from businesses and organizations who support local food production will convene in February to begin the study process that is anticipated to last approximately 18 months.

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Planning Continues in 2020

Posted on by
Additional funding has been granted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to the CSPDC and 14 other Bay PDCs to continue the Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan efforts in 2020. The CSPDC will continue to provide technical and administrative assistance to local governments and stakeholders as they discuss and determine how to implement watershed best management practices to help ensure pollution control measures needed to fully restore the Bay are in place no later than 2025. The DEQ and CSPDC have worked together to develop a scope of work to guide the initiative’s efforts through 2020.

All Hazard Mitigation Plan Completed

Posted on by
CSPDC staff recently completed the 2020 update of the Central Shenandoah Hazard Mitigation Plan. This is the second update of the original 2005 Plan. Local jurisdictions are legally required to have a current Hazard Mitigation Plan in place in order to be eligible to receive certain federal mitigation funds. The purpose of the Plan is to identify natural hazards and other vulnerabilities that affect the Region and offer mitigation strategies that will lessen the negative impacts of these hazards on people, homes, businesses, and communities.
The next steps are review of the Plan by Virginia Department of Emergency Management staff and then approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once the Plan has been approved by FEMA, it will be adopted by the 21 jurisdictions in the Planning District. It is hoped that the local adoptions will be completed in the Spring of 2020.

New CSPDC Finance Director Hired  

Posted on by
Lee Bell has been hired as CSPDC’s new Finance Director and started work in October. Lee is a native of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Most recently Lee worked as a financial consultant at Ryzing Technologies in Staunton. Before that he was with several investment firms in Nashville including Ironside Investments which he founded. Lee earned a BA degree from Furman University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Lee and his wife Anne and their two sons, Gus and Gray, live in Staunton.

Project Impact Calendars Available

Posted on by
The 2020 Shenandoah Valley Project Impact Preparedness Calendar will be available for pick-up in December at local government buildings and libraries across the region. This year, the calendar celebrates the 20th year of Shenandoah Valley Project Impact which began in 2000. The publication contains preparedness tips and mitigation strategies for dealing with severe weather, emergencies and disasters as well as historic photographs and fun holidays for each day of the year. Contact the CSPDC to obtain your copy.

Farmers Market Conference Held 

Posted on by
The Virginia Farmers Market Association hosted their 7th annual Farmers Market Conference in Staunton at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel on November 13-15. This three-day event featured workshops, presentations, and social networking events including tours of Fields of Gold member farms – Project Grows, Overlook Farm and Bluestone Winery. This year’s theme focused on agritourism, a popular path for connecting customers to farmers and farmers markets. CSPDC Agritourism Coordinator, Rachel Salatin, presented on the Fields of Gold Farm Trail and participated as a vendor. In attendance were over 150 market managers, vendors, farmers, and agricultural leaders.

GO Virginia’s RAAMP Project Completed 

Posted on by
Byers Technical Institute (BTI), a technical training center in Rockbridge County, partnered with the City of Buena Vista and the Rockbridge County Economic Development Authority to address the high demand for skilled welders throughout the Shenandoah Valley. In 2018, the Rockbridge Area Advanced Manufacturing Program (RAAMP) was awarded $100,000 in GO Virginia funds that were matched by the two localities and BTI with an additional $100,000. Funds were used to support instructors, purchase equipment and machinery, and modify and upgrade the building to expand BTI’s ability to enroll and train welders. As of September, 34 students have completed BTI’s welding program and are now employed by 13 different companies with an average annual starting salary at $46,179. BTI has had 100% job placement of their students. All grant activities are completed, but BTI will continue to track and report on jobs and salaries that result from this investment. Over the next 5-years this program is expected to graduate 72 welders.
The next project application deadline for GO Virginia Region 8 is December 13, 2019. Proposals submitted by this deadline will be presented to the Region 8 Council in January 2020. The CSPDC serves as a support organization for the GO Virginia Region 8 Council and provides grant administration for GO Virginia projects funded within the CSPDC.

Census Complete Count Committee Forms

Posted on by
The 2020 Census is right around the corner and local governments and communities across the U.S. are working to educate their citizens about the importance of completing the Census by forming Complete Count Committees (CCCs). CCCs are comprised of government and community leaders from education, business, healthcare, faith-based groups and other community organizations. The CSPDC is currently working with Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County to form the SAW CCC that will collaboratively use existing resources to teach citizens how to take the Census and why an accurate count helps to secure financial resources to provide essential services and crucial programs within the region.
A workshop to train organizations on how to “help folks take the Census,” will be held on December 4th at the BRITE Transit facility in Fishersville. For more information and to sign up for the training, contact Rebecca Joyce at the CSPDC.