News
Carrie Sensabaugh Joins CSPDC Staff
Carrie Sensabaugh, Administrative Assistant
Carrie Sensabaugh joined the CSPDC as Administrative Assistant in November 2024. Carrie brings extensive public and private sector administrative experience, working closely with Office & HR Manager Kimberly Miller to support the planners and finance team and ensure smooth office operations. A native of Augusta County, she balances her professional life with personal passions—enjoying beach getaways and spending time with her young golden retriever, Bella, and her cat, Lily. She looks forward to contributing to the PDC in her new role.
Rachel Kinzer Earns Chesapeake Urban Stormwater Professional Certification
Rachel Kinzer, Regional Planner
Regional Planner Rachel Kinzer recently earned a Chesapeake Urban Stormwater Professionals (CUSP) certificate from the Chesapeake Stormwater Network funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The certificate program covered essential topics in stormwater management and urban watershed restoration, from stormwater runoff impacts, implementing mitigation strategies, and improving local watershed management practices. Her training included hands-on learning through interactive engagements, live webinars, and study of municipal stormwater program operations. Rachel looks forward to applying key concepts from the program through her work with the CSPDC’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) program and the regional Hazard Mitigation Plan update.
Bath-Highland Network Authority Public Notice of a Meeting
On February 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM, the Bath-Highland Network Authority will hold an all-virtual meeting via Zoom in accordance with their Electronic Participation Resolution #2021-01 (amended July 10, 2023).
For more information about the meeting, please contact Rachel Kinzer at 540-885-5174 or rachel@cspdc.org.
Virginia Innovation Accelerator in Buena Vista Receives Additional IRF Funding
The Advancement Foundation received an additional $110,000 through the Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) program to support the ongoing renovation of the Virginia Innovation Accelerator (VIA). The funding will be used install an eight-inch interior sewer line and an exterior sewer main. This funding will supplement a $985,000 IRF grant and a $700,000 ARC grant The Advancement Foundation received earlier this year to convert the former Mundet building in downtown Buena Vista into space for small-scale manufacturing, commercial kitchen use, business acceleration, and product development. CSPDC staff are providing grant administration assistance for the project.
Lexington Conducts City-Wide Windshield Survey to Assess Housing
In October, Summit Design and Engineering Services, the consulting firm hired by the City of Lexington, conducted a survey of the city’s housing to assess local needs. Summit’s team performed a city-wide windshield survey, driving through every neighborhood to evaluate the condition of buildings using a standardized methodology.
The survey results are one piece of a forthcoming report that will document the current state of the City’s housing stock, assess both present and future needs, and propose potential recommendations and strategies for improvement. The report will also incorporate data from existing plans and studies, interviews with local stakeholders, and spatially-mapped Census data.
The windshield survey follows the award of a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning Grant by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to the City of Lexington. The grant, awarded last year, supports the completion of a comprehensive housing and infrastructure survey as well as a needs assessment. It aims to provide critical data for the City, build on the CSPDC’s Regional Housing Study, and assist local partners like the Threshold Housing Commission in developing and implementing effective housing strategies.