News
Rockbridge County Applies for DHCD 2024 VATI Program Funding
Rockbridge County leadership submitted three grant applications for the 2024 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) program on December 19, 2023. The main focus of the VATI grants is to provide financial assistance towards service provider construction costs for projects that extend broadband to areas presently identified as unserved or underserved. These broadband expansion projects are done in partnership with local units of government.
To gain optimal value and economies of scale on their planned efforts, Rockbridge County teamed with BARC Connects (electric co-op), Brightspeed (broadband provider), and Verizon (broadband provider) to submit grant applications for the current round of VATI funding. This synchronized approach to effectively connect the region’s residents and businesses to broadband will provide for an efficient and cost-effective deployment of fiber-to-the-premises in remote and hard-to-reach areas in Rockbridge County. A concise summary of each project application is provided below.
The Rockbridge County and BARC Connects application consists of three projects providing high-speed internet to 404 premises located in remote areas with difficult topography in central and western portions of the county. The total estimated project budget is $2,988,568. Rockbridge County is requesting $1,255,199 (42%) in VATI funding with BARC and Rockbridge County providing $1,733,369 (58%)in matching funds.
The Rockbridge County and Brightspeed grant submission consists of one project providing high-speed internet to 1,734 premises located in isolated stretches with challenging geography in central, northwestern, and southeastern areas of the county. The anticipated project cost is $5,914,332. Rockbridge County is seeking $975,865 (17%) through the VATI program. Brightspeed and Rockbridge County plan to provide a combined $4,938,467 (83%) in matching funds.
The Rockbridge County and Verizon application consists of one project providing broadband to 85 locations/101 premises in a rural area of northeastern Rockbridge County with particularly difficult topography. The total estimated budget is $2,429,768. Rockbridge County is requesting $896,587 (37%) in grant funding. Verizon and Rockbridge County plan to provide $1,533,183 (63%) in matching funds.
The total combined 2024 VATI funding requested for the three projects equals $3,127,651. The CSPDC will provide grant administrative services for Rockbridge County should they garner funding awards on these VATI grant applications. Rockbridge County also plans to support applications for the upcoming Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program funds and Line Extension Customer Assistance Program (LECAP) opportunities in 2024 to achieve universal broadband coverage in the County.
VAPDC Winter Series: First Fridays in 2024
Don’t miss the next online sessions of the VAPDC Winter Series, February 9, 2024 & March 1, 2024. Each session will run from 12:00 – 1:00 PM.
FEBRUARY 9, 2024, 12:00-1:00 PM
Housing as an Economic Development Strategy
Virginia Housing recently released a study that explores linkages between housing and economic development. It identifies housing as an increasingly central factor in decisions that businesses make about relocation, expansion, and formation. Join us for an overview of the findings and recommendations for integrating housing and economic development strategies.
Presenter: Fabrizio Fasulo,
Director of Policy and Planning
Virginia Housing
March 1 topic to be announced.
PDC Housing Development Program Partners Continue Building in 2024
The CSPDC’s PDC Housing Development Grant is nearing its three-year mark in June 2024, and the seven partners that were awarded a total of $1.66 million in gap funding for their affordable housing developments have made significant progress over the past year. Given delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions, the deadline to complete all projects has been moved to June 2025. Upon completion, the grant will result in the development of 58 new units of affordable housing in the Central Shenandoah region.
CSPDC Assisting Waynesboro with South River Preserve Tree Planting
The CSPDC Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) program will be receiving nearly $300,000 through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to fund stormwater improvements for the City of Waynesboro’s South River Preserve Project. The funding will be used to replace five-acres of former industrial land and impervious surface along the South River with native tree and plant species to establish a floodplain forest and meadow.
Commonwealth Supply Chain and Logistics Survey Underway
The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics Systems (CCALS), in collaboration with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the State Chamber of Commerce, and the Port of Virginia, has launched a survey of the Commonwealth’s Supply Chain and Logistics ecosystem. The survey seeks input (opportunities/challenges) from BOTH providers of logistics (rail, truck, air, water, etc.) and those who rely on logistics (retailers, hospitals, manufacturers, energy, broadband, agriculture, etc.). Survey results will inform VEDP’s new logistics and supply chain programs/strategies, help guide policy initiatives, establish funding priorities, and advance projects along the way.
The initial survey is intended to be a high-level overview to inform and enhance logistics and supply chain conversations in Virginia. Follow-on analyses will likely be conducted to go deeper into regional results and industry-specific assessments, therefore statewide participation is strongly encouraged. The survey is being conducted by a multi-university team of five students – one from each of the CCALS’ member universities – VSU, VCU, ODU, UVA, and Longwood University.
More information and access to the survey can be found at: https://www.ccals.com/news/virginia-logistics-capabilities-survey/