News
BRITE Title VI Plan – Open for Public Comment
BRITE Bus Transit and the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) hereby releases for public comment the BRITE Title VI Plan. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensures that no one shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance due to their race, color, or national origin.
The draft Title VI Plan can be reviewed online: Title VI Plan (DRAFT)
Digital or hard copies may be requested by calling the Title VI Coordinator at 540-885-5174. Copies for public review are available at the following locations:
- Augusta County Government Center, 18 Government Center Lane, Verona
- Staunton City Manager’s Office, 116 W Beverley Street, Staunton
- Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building, 503 W Main Street, Waynesboro
- BRITE Transit Facility, 51 Ivy Ridge Lane, Fishersville
Written comments may be submitted to BRITE Bus, 112 MacTanly Place, Staunton, VA 24401 or via email to devon@cspdc.org by 5:00PM on June 20, 2023. An official public hearing will be provided if requested prior to the end of the comment period. To request a public hearing, contact BRITE Bus no later than seven working days prior to the meeting.
BRITE Bus Transit and the CSPDC ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you have questions or concerns about your civil rights in regards to this program or require special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, please contact the Title VI Coordinator at 540-885-5174. Sign language or non-English language interpreters and accessible formats for the visually impaired will be provided if needed and requested from the CSPDC no later than seven working days prior to the meeting.
VAPDC Goes to Washington
The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) hosted a luncheon briefing with representatives of Virginia’s Congressional offices in mid-March. This was done in conjunction with the 2023 National Association of Development Organization’s Washington Conference. Staff from Senator Kaine’s office and five of our Congressional offices attended. We engaged in good discussion about regional projects, federal funding opportunities and other topics. VAPDC was represented by a good cohort of Board members, PDC Commissioners, Executive Directors, and staff. Bonnie Riedesel, CSPDC Executive Director attended the briefing and highlighted a number of the federally funded projects and programs in the CSPDC region.
Region Celebrates Bike Month
May is National Bike Month – an annual celebration to increase awareness and participation in bicycling, and showcase its many health and environmental benefits. Bike to Work Week 2023 will take place May 15-21, 2023, and Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 19!
The Bike the Valley and RideShare programs, administered by the CSPDC, will highlight the many bicycling opportunties on social media throughout #BikeMonth. Learn more HERE.
GO Virginia Region 8 Council Meeting Held in Buena Vista
The Advancement Foundation (TAF) hosted the April GO Virginia Region 8 Council meeting at its facility in Buena Vista. The Region 8 Council toured the space, now home of the Virginia Innovation Accelerator (VIA). TAF has received several grants, including a GO Virginia grant, to convert the former Mundet building into space for small-scale manufacturing, commercial kitchen use, business acceleration, and product development. The space also will promote training, outdoor recreation, tourism, and community events.
At the meeting, the Region 8 Council approved an application from the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF) for the Capacitor Incubator Program for continued entrepreneurial ecosystem development in the Shenandoah Valley. Expanding on SCCF’s prior GO Virginia funded project, Startup Shenandoah Valley, the Capacitor Incubator Program will help entrepreneurs create their first proof of concept, identify target markets, and build the systems and financing to successfully launch their business. Augusta County and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro are locality partners on SCCF’s application. The State GO Virginia Board will consider the Capacitor Incubator Program application at its June 13 meeting. Also, a refreshed GO Virginia Region 8 website was announced during the Council meeting. Other news and information about GO Virginia Region 8 is available at https://govirginiaregion8.org/.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Grant Due on May 30
The US DOT’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Community grant is the first electric vehicle (EV) charging station grant available for all localities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The CFI program, which will fund EV infrastructure until 2026, promotes EV charging station installation on publicly available sites, and is focusing on stations in rural areas.
The CSPDC developed a survey to evaluate the level-of-interest of localities for installing EV charging stations, and for applying for CFI funding through a region-wide CSPDC application by the May 30, 2023 deadline. The CSPDC is assisting interested localities with the application process. Please contact Senior Planner Zach Beard at zach@cspdc.org to learn more.