News
Logo for Rockbridge Outdoors
As part of their strategic plan update, Rockbridge Outdoors (previously Rockbridge Area Outdoor Partnership) has launched a new brand and logo featuring a compass and the area’s iconic House Mountain. The mission of Rockbridge Outdoors, a partnership of 44 organizations, is to collaboratively advance, create, and promote outdoor recreational opportunities in the Rockbridge Area. This new logo will help promote the Partnership’s efforts and will be used on trail signage and marketing materials. The strategic plan update will be finalized this summer and will outline the Rockbridge Outdoors’s priorities for the next five years. The CSPDC provides grant and administrative support to this organization and its efforts.
VAPDC Summer Series
The statewide Planning District Commission organization (VAPDC) is offering a four-part online Summer Series on June 8, June 29, July 27 and August 24. Topics include Housing Opportunities, 2021 Election Analysis, Federal Partnerships and Broadband Solutions. Registration is now open. Cost is $10 per session or $35 for all four in the series.
Senator Kaine Visits Shenandoah Rail Trail
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine stopped in the Town of Broadway on May 6 during his recent tour of the Shenandoah Valley. He met members of the Shenandoah Rail Trail Exploratory Partnership to learn about their work to build a 50-mile rail trail from Broadway to Front Royal along an out-of-service Norfolk Southern rail line. The Partnership hopes that Senator Kaine’s support will help to move the Partnership and the region closer to building the State’s newest rail trail, which would pass through two Planning Districts, three counties, and connect nine towns in the northern Shenandoah Valley.
CSPDC is a member of Shenandoah Rail Trail Partnership, which just launched a public input survey to assess support for the Rail Trail. We encourage everyone to participate in the survey.
Afton Express Receives Bus
The first bus that will be used in the Afton Express transit service connecting Staunton, Fishersville and Waynesboro to Charlottesville has arrived to the BRITE Transit Facility. Two additional buses will be delivered and branded with the distinctive Afton Express logo prior to initiation of service on September 1, 2021. Marketing and promotional planning is underway and includes an advertising campaign to begin in July.
Ag. Center Feasibility Study Update
The completed Agricultural Enterprise Center Feasibility Study was presented to 56 stakeholders and local government representatives on May 18. A recording of the presentation, an Executive Summary, and the final report can be viewed on the project website.
Since the study began in July, 2020 the CSPDC in partnership with a ten-member study team and consultants New Venture Advisors (NVA), set out to determine the feasibility of a shared-use agriculturally-focused facility that if brought to fruition would support business diversification and growth in the Shenandoah Valley through value-added products and the delivery of agricultural goods and products to new markets. The conducted research resulted in a recommended “Shenandoah Specialty Meat & Produce Hub” operating model that includes a commercial kitchen and meat and produce storage, processing and aggregation facilities. The project’s recommended next steps include conducting an operator and anchor tenant search, strengthening third-party partnerships, performing site search and selection, beginning facility design, refining the business plan, and commencing fundraising. The Study has been funded by a USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant and a GO Virginia Enhanced Capacity Building grant.