112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
phone: 540-885-5174
fax: 540-885-2687
View Our Regional Collaboration Video
Investments in the Region Report FY24
CSPDC Housing Study Report Released
Welcome to the CSPDC
The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) represents and serves the local governments of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge, and Rockingham counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro as well as the 11 towns within the Central Shenandoah region.
The CSPDC works with its member jurisdictions, communities and agencies to provide high-quality planning, technical assistance, and facilitation of services that address local, regional and state needs in an innovative, timely and cooperative manner. Covering everything from land use planning, transportation, water and waste-water utilities, natural resource management, affordable housing, economic and community development, disaster mitigation and preparedness, agritourism to human services, the CSPDC is an invaluable asset to the quality of life in the Shenandoah Valley. For more information about the CSPDC, click here.
CSPDC Staff Present at VTA Annual Conference & Bus Expo
Director of Transportation Paula Melester and JMU Graduate Assistant Kayla Dixon presented “Stories That Move People: Building Transit’s Case in the Community” at the Virginia Transit Association (VTA) Annual Conference on May 19–20. The session outlined BRITE Transit’s research-backed, story-centered outreach campaign built around three pillars — information, relevance, and compelling stories — and featured CSPDC’s Value of Transit video. CSPDC’s Value of Transit campaign uses the stories of riders, employers and local officials to demonstrate the return on investment in the BRITE system.
With a transit marketing grant through the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), in the coming fiscal year we will design and implement a multimedia campaign to promote BRITE Transit and expand the Value of Transit project. The campaign will include marketing toolkits for our regional partners tailored to their needs, television and radio ads, and digital content to meet BRITE’s goal of increasing access and growing ridership on the system.
NADO Films CSPDC for Nationwide “EDDs in Action” Video Series
The CSPDC welcomed a film crew from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) to the Shenandoah Valley on May 26–27. The visit was part of NADO’s EDDs in Action video series, which highlights the work of Economic Development Districts (EDDs) across the country. Over the two days, NADO’s team filmed on location and sat down with local partners to capture the stories behind three projects that illustrate the CSPDC’s role in connecting the region to federal and state resources.
At Shenandoah Valley Airport (SHD), cameras rolled on the Aviation Technology Park, where a $2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant helped construct two hangars now fully occupied by private companies. Blue Ridge Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program, which currently operates at the airport, was featured for training students directly alongside the companies that hire them.
In downtown Buena Vista, the crew visited The Advancement Foundation’s Virginia Innovation Accelerator, a former manufacturing facility converted into an entrepreneurship and innovation hub. With more than $2.35 million in grant assistance from CSPDC, the center now houses a diverse mix of startups, from agricultural drone production to indoor mushroom farming, and recently opened a storefront selling goods made by its entrepreneurs.
The final stop was the Shenandoah Valley Center for Advanced Learning (SVCAL), where the GO2Work program, supported by a GO Virginia grant, trained 589 students and awarded 550 professional credentials over two years. Students work on projects ranging from precision welding and machining to building a functioning airplane, providing the kind of hands-on experience that supports the region’s growing technical workforce pipeline.
Interviews featured project leads, business owners, and educators who spoke to what these investments mean for the community. The finished video will be shared through NADO’s national network, putting the Shenandoah Valley’s economic development work in front of audiences across the country. Stay tuned for the release! CSPDC will share the video through our channels once NADO releases it later this year.
Danielle Gannon Graduates from Virginia Transit Leadership Institute
We are proud to share that Danielle Gannon, Transit Planner at CSPDC, has graduated from the Virginia Transit Association’s (VTA) Virginia Transit Leadership Institute (VTLI). The graduation ceremony was held during the VTA Annual Conference and Expo in Fredericksburg on May 19–20, 2026.
In August 2025, Danielle was selected to participate in the third cohort of VTLI, a nine-month intensive program designed to develop the next generation of transit leaders. Over the course of the program, Danielle joined peers from across Virginia’s transit providers for five immersive full-day sessions covering a broad range of transit-related topics. From legislation to funding to leadership development, service planning, and community outreach, the program offered a comprehensive, statewide perspective on public transportation.
The knowledge, professional connections, and leadership skills Danielle has gained through VTLI will directly benefit BRITE Transit and Afton Express operations, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of her work in transit planning and commuter assistance in our region. Please join us in congratulating Danielle on this well-deserved milestone.
