News
CSPDC Staff Attend SERDI Leadership Conference
The Southeast Regional Directors Institute (SERDI) is a voluntary professional development association for regional council executive directors in the southeastern United States. SERDI provides technical assistance and training designed and tailored specifically for regional planning agencies.
CSPDC staff attended the SERDI’s 2nd Leadership Development Training Conference held on February 19-21, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. The Training was designed for council’s deputy directors, and department heads and it focused on six areas important to leadership in regional councils: (1) Basic Understanding of Leadership (2) Key Things that are Needed to Understand the Finances of a Regional Council (3) Basic Human Resources (4) Board of Directors and Your Local Government Logistics and Working Relationships (5) The Various Programs of Regional Councils Across the SERDI Footprint, and (6) Technology/AI.
CSPDC Localities Awarded $1.4 Million in CDBG Funding
On February 6, Governor Youngkin announced more than $23.6 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 33 projects across the Commonwealth. Three of these projects were located in the CSPDC.
Goshen Community Service Facility – CDBG Community Improvement Grant
Total: $1,250,000
The Town of Goshen was awarded a $1.25 million CDBG Community Improvement Grant to build a multi-purpose community service facility. The facility will improve quality of life for town residents and the surrounding area by creatively providing an array of essential services under one roof. The proposed facility would provide health care, a food pantry, senior services, and many needed community services under one roof in an area that currently lack easy access to these basic amenities.
Briery Branch Community Center – CDBG Planning Grant
Total: $100,000
Rockingham County received a $100,000 Planning Grant to support the renovation of the Briery Branch Community Center and address the growing demand for accessible childcare services in the area. The center, which has served local communities since 1958, faces critical building and equipment needs. The planned renovation will ensure the center continues to serve the Briery Branch area for years to come while expanding access to childcare providers.
Fountainhead Subdivision Bridgewater – CDBG Planning Grant
Total: $60,000
The Town of Bridgewater was awarded a $60,000 Planning Grant to address infrastructure issues in the Fountainhead Subdivision, where aging water, sewer, and stormwater systems have caused frequent service problems. The grant would fund the development of preliminary engineering and design plans to upgrade the subdivision’s infrastructure, which will then be used to bid and implement necessary improvements.
Over $19 Million Awarded for Affordable and Special Needs Housing in Waynesboro and Harrisonburg
On February 26, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced $139 million in Affordable and Special Needs Housing (ASNH) loans for 41 projects across the state, including five within the CSPDC’s region. Of this total, more than $19 million has been allocated to affordable housing projects in Waynesboro and Harrisonburg.
The funding aims to create and preserve housing units for low-income and extremely low-income households. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the ASNH program, with funding drawn from multiple sources, including the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency (HIEE), and the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF).
Among the local recipients:
- The Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority secured over $9 million for two developments as part of the Bluestone Town Center.
- The Beverly J. Searles Foundation received a $5 million loan for its Harrisonburg Family I project.
- Enterprise Community Development received $4 million for its 1030 Alston Court project in Waynesboro.
- Woda Cooper Development was awarded $1 million for the Rosenwald Pointe project in Waynesboro.
Highland Inn Receives Virginia 250 Grant
Governor Youngkin announced last week that the Virginia Department of Historic Resources awarded the Blue Grass Resource Center a $1.75 Million Virginia 250 Preservation Fund grant to support the renovation and reopening of the historic Highland Inn. The inn was one of 35 preservation projects in Virginia awarded in preparation for the 2026 anniversary of the America Revolution and the Declaration of Independence.
Located on Main Street in Monterey, the Highland Inn is listed on the Virginia and national historic register. In 2021, Phase 1 of the revitalization effort successfully stabilized and restored the Inn’s exterior. Phase II will restore the Inn’s interior, completing the final step necessary to reopen the hotel and restaurant.
Regional Housing Webinar Set for February 26
Join the CSPDC on February 26, 2025, at 11 AM for an insightful webinar on the newly released Regional Housing Study. Featuring expert speakers from Virginia Housing, the Virginia Center for Housing Research, and HousingForward Virginia, this session will explore key findings and proposed solutions to address housing challenges in our localities.