News & Event Announcements
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.
Weigh In on the Future of the Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail Corridor — Survey Open Through May 13
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
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.