Tag Archives: Goshen

Goshen Honors CSPDC Planning Director with Keys to the Town

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There’s no higher local honor than the keys to a town — and this month, Goshen Mayor Tom McCraw and Vice Mayor Steve Bickley made the trip to our offices to deliver theirs in person. During what Jeremy Crute expected to be a routine Monday morning staff meeting, the two officials presented our Director of Planning with the keys to Goshen and a Certificate of Appreciation, recognizing his sustained work in support of the town’s growth and resilience.

Jeremy came to CSPDC after six years at Florida State University’s Barnebey Planning & Development Lab, drawn in part by deep family roots in the Shenandoah Valley. He quickly became a go-to resource for localities seeking planning assistance and competitive grant support — and Goshen became one of the clearest examples of what that partnership can produce. Working closely with town leadership, Jeremy helped secure multiple rounds of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, making possible a new Community Services Center that will expand access to food pantry services and health and wellness programming for residents across the town and Rockbridge County.

More recently, he secured a Community-Oriented Resilient Energy (CORE) grant from the Virginia Department of Energy, bringing Goshen its first backup power system for critical public facilities during emergencies.

The recognition reflects something we see in Jeremy’s work every day: technical skill paired with genuine investment in the communities he serves. For a small town with limited resources, that combination can be transformative — and Goshen’s story is becoming proof of it.

Town of Goshen Awarded DOE Power CORE Grant for Solar-Powered Backup Generators

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The Town of Goshen was awarded a grant through the Virginia Department of Energy’s Community-Oriented Resilient Energy (CORE) program to purchase and install two mobile solar-powered backup generators at its critical public facilities. The CSPDC assisted the Town in preparing and submitting the winning application.

Like many rural communities, Goshen is susceptible to extended power outages caused by severe weather, and until now, none of its essential public facilities had a backup power source.

The $122,430 CORE grant will fund the purchase and installation of two mobile solar-powered generator trailers — each equipped with solar panel arrays and lithium battery storage capable of providing grid-independent power. The units will be housed at the Goshen Town Hall and Volunteer Fire Department, but they can be deployed wherever they are needed most during an emergency.

This project represents a significant leap forward for a community that has had limited emergency backup power capacity. Beyond keeping the lights on during outages, the solar generators will also give the Town access to FEMA and Virginia Department of Emergency Management funding streams that were previously unavailable because Goshen lacked a certified emergency shelter. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The CORE grant is part of a broader revitalization effort in Goshen that has brought more than $2.35 million in investment into the heart of downtown.

 

National Park Service Partners with Goshen to Transform Unused Land into Community Park

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For over two decades, residents of the Town of Goshen have watched 42 acres of donated land sit empty, waiting for its promised purpose. Now, that wait is finally over.

In 2025, the NPS selected Goshen to receive technical assistance to support the planning and development of a new community park. The proposed park site is Town-owned, features scenic views of the surrounding Alleghany Mountains, and has direct access to the Calfpasture River.

The proposed new park offers benefits not only to Goshen residents, but also to neighboring communities. Mayor Thomas McCraw says that many Town and surrounding Rockbridge County residents must travel between 8 and 20 miles to reach the nearest community park. The new park would provide convenient, local access to outdoor recreation opportunities for seniors, families, and individuals in the area.

Preliminary concepts for the park include a large public green space, a music venue, and a network of walking trails and boardwalks. With guidance from the NPS, the Town will develop a clear framework to ensure the final design reflects the community’s highest priorities and most desired amenities.

Ann Cundy, Executive Director of the CSPDC states “The CSPDC is proud to support Goshen and the National Park Service on this transformative project. Recently, we helped the Town and County secure access to the Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) for the revitalization of the Stillwater Facility as well as secure Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for a new community center in Goshen. I am inspired by the Town’s vision, persistence, and commitment. They have so much to be proud of.”

Nathan L. Hilbert from the NPS says “We are excited to dig into the project with Goshen to make the community park a reality. The NPS-RTCA program will assist in gathering community input and developing conceptual designs that will lead to future funding. I was really inspired by the history of Goshen, the dynamic park committee, and the goals laid out over the next year. The park is a unique opportunity for the community to create a space that builds connection, wellness, and just plain fun.”