News
USDA-Rural Development Programs Showcase Scheduled
In partnership with USDA-Rural Development, the CSPDC will be hosting a USDA-RD Programs Showcase presentation on Wednesday, April 19 from 9am-12:30pm at the Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County. At the event, USDA-RD will provide an informative overview of their programs, including loans and grants, that help to improve economic prosperity for the families and businesses in the Central Shenandoah Region. USDA-RD will provide presentations and one-on-one networking with specialty experts in the fields of rural business, community facilities, water and environmental programs, single family housing, and telecommunications. Dupont Community Credit Union and the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund will also give brief presentations to share the economic development services they provide to the region. This event is made possible through the support of event sponsors Dupont Community Credit Union and BARC Electric Cooperative.
Local officials, planners, economic development staff, administrators, housing professionals, community service providers, farm market managers, lending professionals, and small/rural business owners are encouraged to attend this free event. Registration is required by April 14th, and can be found here. Light breakfast, coffee and tea, and mid-morning snacks will be provided. Don’t miss this chance to talk to USDA-RD program specialist and learn how these programs can benefit your locality or organization! To view the agenda, click here.
GO Virginia Region 8 Wants to Hear from You
GO Virginia Region 8 will be hosting three project development sessions during April, two in the CSPDC region. The sessions will explore the GO Virginia grant process and upcoming funding opportunities while brainstorming regional needs and potential projects. Registration information will be posted on the GO Virginia Region 8 website soon.
GO Virginia is a statewide business-led economic development initiative with funding to invest in collaborative projects that lead to high-paying jobs. The mission of GO Virginia is to encourage collaboration among business, education, and government. GO Virginia Region 8, one of nine regions in Virginia, includes the CSPDC’s ten cities and counties plus another 6 localities to the north.
CDBG How to Apply Workshop
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will hold a How-to-Apply workshop for the 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:30 am. The virtual webinar will provide information on applying for 2023 CDBG funding, important deadlines, and best practices for developing CDBG projects. The workshop is free, but you must register by March 17th.
The goal of the CDBG program is to eliminate blight and to benefit low- and moderate- income families. To that end, CDBG can fund a wide variety of projects including housing rehabilitation, water and sewer, economic development, entrepreneurship, and downtown revitalization. Planning grants are also available to lay the groundwork for successful projects.
To register for the How-to-Apply Workshop, please click here.
More information on the CBDG program can be found here.
Farm2Fork Affair Returns March 14
Farm2Fork Affair is a one-day connector event between Shenandoah Valley farmers, producers and commercial buyers throughout Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The event provides Shenandoah Valley producers an opportunity to directly promote their products, network, and increase sales. Producers, farmers, makers, wineries and distilleries take time to talk with buyers, offer samples, and educate buyers about their products. Through this event, buyers can taste the flavor of the Shenandoah Valley, experience the region firsthand, create new supplier partnerships, and discover its significant impact on local food systems.
Farm2Fork is a collaborative effort of economic development agencies, tourism departments, business development organizations, and local food initiatives. The event has been held since 2015 and in 2019 expanded to draw on the Shenandoah Valley’s reputation as a farm-to-table hub. Buyers at the event include restaurants, universities, hospitals, retailers, grocers, distribution centers, and full-service hotels and B&B’s. This year’s Farm2Fork Affair will be held on March 14 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.
Shenandoah Rail Trail Update
The Shenandoah Rail Trail Partnership continues to expand support and secure funding to acquire, design and construct the 48.5-mile trail between the Town of Broadway in Rockingham County and the Town of Front Royal in Warren County. The Partnership recently secured a $3 million congressional earmark for partial design and engineering of the Trail.
In late 2022, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) also allocated $1 million to VDOT to finalize the full scope, schedule and cost estimate to design, engineer, and construct the Trail as the Commonwealth evaluates how it may acquire the out-of-service rail corridor. The Partnership continues to keep local governments and community organizations along the corridor informed about successes and next steps.
For more information on the Rail Trail Partnership’s activities and updates on the Trail progress, visit www.shenandoahrailtrail.