News
GO Virginia Region 8
On May 18, the GO Virginia Region 8 Executive Committee approved two projects, Startup Shenandoah Valley and Back to Work. The two projects have been forwarded to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for further review and consideration by the State GO Virginia Board during its June 23 meeting.
Startup Shenandoah Valley is focused on growing and supporting entrepreneurs within the Shenandoah Valley. Led by the Staunton Creative Community Fund (SCCF), the program aims to provide customized virtual accelerator training to entrepreneurs, build out workspaces throughout the region, and provide key personnel to support the network and programming. SCCF is partnering with the City of Staunton, City of Waynesboro, and Warren County EDA on this program.
The second project, Back to Work, is an initiative proposed by Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) and supported by the localities within LFCC’s service area. The program intends to offer workers, particularly those recently unemployed, training in higher-demand and higher-paying jobs than they previously held. This includes IT, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and construction sectors which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
GO Virginia supports programs to create high-paying jobs through incentivized collaboration between business, education, and government to diversify and strengthen the economy in every region of the Commonwealth. The program is administered through DHCD. The CSPDC serves as one of the support organizations for the GO Virginia Region 8 Council.
EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance
Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) was allocated $1.5 billion to assist communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. EDA’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance is designed to provide a wide-range of financial assistance to communities and regions as they respond to, and recover from, the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Examples of projects include economic recovery planning and preparing technical assistance strategies to address economic dislocations caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and constructing public works and facilities that will support economic recovery, including the deployment of broadband for purposes such as telehealth and distance learning.
EDA is accepting applications on a rolling basis through its Economic Adjustment Assistance program. CSPDC staff is available to assist localities in identifying eligible projects for this program. The Notice of Funding Opportunity and application package are available through Grants.gov.
Free WiFi Hotspots Available
With the help of local officials, schools, and libraries across Virginia, the Commonwealth Connect team and Virginia Tech have developed an interactive map of free, publicly available WiFi hotspots that Virginians can access from a vehicle.
FY21 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has announced its plan to award $19 million through their Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) in Fiscal Year 2021. VATI provides last-mile broadband services to unserved areas across the Commonwealth. DHCD is accepting public comments for the Draft FY2021 VATI Program Guidelines and Criteria through May 18, 2020. Written comments can be submitted to vati@dhcd.virginia.gov.
A How-to-Apply webinar with important eligibility information and criteria will be hosted on June 9, 2020. Application are due August 17, 2020.