Tag Archives: Go Virginia

NADO Films CSPDC for Nationwide “EDDs in Action” Video Series

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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.

 

GO Virginia Region 8 Hosts Project Pipeline Brainstorming Sessions

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GO Virginia Region 8 recently wrapped up a series of four Project Pipeline Brainstorming Sessions. Community members, employers, chamber representatives, economic developers, industry leaders, and other regional stakeholders came together to identify local needs, propose project ideas, and collaborate on solutions within GO Virginia’s key focus areas: startup ecosystems, cluster scale-up, workforce development, and site/infrastructure development. The sessions, held at Laurel Ridge Community College, the Shentel Center, the VA Innovation Accelerator, and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership office explored the GO Virginia grant process and upcoming funding opportunities while brainstorming potential projects that may be eligible for GO Virginia funding.

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.