The latest on the programs and projects of
the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission.
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Around the Region
November 2019
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Census Complete Count Committee Forms
The
2020 Census
is right around the corner and local governments and communities across the U.S. are working to educate their citizens about the importance of completing the Census by forming
Complete Count Committees (
CCCs). CCCs are comprised of government and community leaders from education, business, healthcare, faith-based groups and other community organizations. The CSPDC is currently working with Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County to form the SAW CCC that will collaboratively use existing resources to teach citizens how to take the Census and why an accurate count helps to secure financial resources to provide essential services and crucial programs within the region.
A workshop to train organizations on how to "help folks take the Census," will be held on December 4th at the BRITE Transit facility in Fishersville. For more information and to sign up for the training, contact Rebecca Joyce at the CSPDC.
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GO Virginia's
RAAMP Project Completed
Byers Technical Institute
(BTI), a technical training center in Rockbridge County, partnered with the City of Buena Vista and the Rockbridge County Economic Development Authority to address the high demand for skilled welders throughout the Shenandoah Valley. In 2018, the Rockbridge Area Advanced Manufacturing Program (RAAMP) was awarded $100,000 i
n
GO Virginia
funds that were matched by
t
he two localities and BTI
with an additional $100,000. Funds were used to support instructors, purchase equipment and machinery, and modify and upgrade the building to expand BTI's ability to enroll and train welders. As of September, 34 students have completed BTI’s welding program and are now employed by 13 different companies with an average annual starting salary at $46,179. BTI has had 100% job placement of their students. All grant activities are completed, but BTI will continue to track and report on jobs and salaries that result from this investment. Over the next 5-years this program is expected to graduate 72 welders.
The next project application deadline for GO Virginia Region 8 is December 13, 2019. Proposals submitted by this deadline will be presented to the Region 8 Council in January 2020. The CSPDC serves as a support organization for the GO Virginia Region 8 Council and provides grant administration for GO Virginia projects funded within the CSPDC.
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BARC Receives ARC Power Grant
for Town of Goshen
BARC Electric Cooperative
was awarded $1M in grant funding from the
Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) 2019 POWER Initiative.
The
funding will reduce the upfront capital costs of a broadband fiber build to the Town of Goshen, located in Rockbridge County. Through this project businesses, schools, public services, first responders, residents and government agencies will all have access to high-speed Internet that currently does not exist in this area. The CSPDC is providing grant assistance and administrative support for the project scheduled to begin in 2020.
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Farmers Market Conference Held
The
Virginia Farmers Market Association
hosted their 7th annual Farmers Market Conference in Staunton at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel on November 13-15. This three-day event featured workshops, presentations, and social networking events including tours of Fields of Gold member farms -
Project Grows
,
Overlook Farm
and
Bluestone Winery
.
This year's theme focused on agritourism, a popular path for connecting customers to farmers and farmers markets. CSPDC Agritourism Coordinator, Rachel Salatin, presented on the
Fields of Gold Farm Trail
and participated as a vendor. In attendance were over 150 market managers, vendors, farmers, and agricultural leaders.
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Harrisonburg Walk-Bike
Summit Held
Nearly 90
people representing a wide array of interests, agencies, and localities gathered in Harrisonburg on November 1st for the 8th Annual Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bike Walk Summit. This year’s theme was “Harnessing New Mobility to Build Better Communities,” with a keynote talk by Colin Hughes, Director of Policy and Programming for
JUMP Bikes
. T
he Summit focused on how communities can use all types of mobility options - walking, cycling, electric scooters and bikes, transit, ride-hailing, and driving, in order to achieve its goals for residents to move safely and easily around a community.
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Project Impact
Calendars Available
The 2020
Shenandoah Valley Project Impact
Preparedness Calendar will be available for pick-up in December at local government buildings and libraries across the region. This year, the calendar celebrates the 20th year of Shenandoah Valley Project Impact which began in 2000. The publication contains preparedness tips and mitigation strategies for dealing with severe weather, emergencies and disasters as well as historic photographs and fun holidays for each day of the year. Contact the CSPDC to obtain your copy
.
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New CSPDC Finance Director Hired
Lee Bell has been hired as CSPDC’s new Finance Director and started work in October. Lee is a native of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Most recently Lee worked as a financial consultant a
t Ryzing Technologies
in Staunton. Before that he was with several investment firms in Nashville including Ironside Investments which he founded. Lee earned a BA degree from Furman University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Lee and his wife Anne and their two sons, Gus and Gray, live in Staunton.
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Wandering Virginia Waterways
In October the
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
, in conjunction with the Virginia delegation of the Local Government Advisory Committee, hosted a tour for local elected officials from the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia to meet with their counterparts from the Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula regions. The intention of the tour was to bring these two groups together to share their local priorities as they relate to Virginia’s waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.
Tour participants explored first-hand how living shorelines aid in combating erosion, stabilizing sediment run-off and creating safe wildlife habitats; and learned about the economic impact of Virginia’s fisheries – particularly regarding oysters.
Nine elected officials from the CSPDC region participated.
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Crozet Tunnel Foundation Auctions P. Buckley Moss Print
The
Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Foundation
is working to raise funds to restore and open the historic Blue Ridge Tunnel for hikers, walkers, bicyclists, and visitors. The Tunnel Foundation envisions this project linking to existing Blue Ridge trail systems and connecting the historic communities of Crozet and Waynesboro located on both sides of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A limited edition P. Buckley Moss print of the tunnel entrance is being sold to help raise funds for this restoration project. Prints are still available and can be be purchased by
visiting or calling the
P. Buckley Moss
Gallery
in downtown Waynesboro.
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