in this issue
message from the president
get to know PDCs
upcoming events/calendar
in the news
about vapdc
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message from the president
VAPDC Board members and PDC executive directors met earlier this month in Lynchburg for a leadership retreat. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the gathering was long overdue on several fronts. One, it was our first in-person meeting in over 18 months, so it was nice to have time to talk informally with colleagues outside of the meeting. Perhaps more significantly, it was the first leadership planning session we’ve been able to hold since Spring of 2019. Our time together was both productive and full of fellowship. We appreciate the assistance of Doug Jackson with the Department of Housing and Community Development for facilitating part of our work, which in the end, produced several key “action items” designed to cast the PDC net wider and to provide meaningful assistance and support to PDCs and their staff members. We are following up the retreat with a meeting of the Board of Directors in late October to further discuss the retreat outcomes, to receive reports and begin planning for 2022 programming.
Looking ahead, we are hopeful that we all can be together in Richmond in early February of 2022, to renew our partnership with VML, VACo and the Rural Center of Virginia for Local Government Day and some additional programming specifically for PDC folks.
Thank you for what you continue to do in your communities, whether you are in the public or private sector, during these challenging times. I wish you an enjoyable Fall and a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. We look forward to seeing everyone in the new year.
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Kim Callis
VAPDC President
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get to know...
The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission and the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
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The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (RVARC) serves the Counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke; the Cities of Covington, Roanoke and Salem; and the Towns of Clifton Forge, Rocky Mount and Vinton. The RVARC (Planning District 5) can trace its roots to a merger, along with the old Jackson River Regional Planning Commission, with the Fifth Planning District Commission. In 1999, the Fifth Planning District Commission changed its name to the current Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission.
The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission is always looking to work with localities on projects that benefit the region. Current projects include a Regional Study on Transportation Project Prioritization for Economic Development and Growth in the Roanoke Valley; Alleghany Highlands Economic Impact of the Arts; the Roanoke Valley Transportation Plan and the Rural Long-Range Transportation Plan; a neighborhood walk project and pedestrian safety campaign for the City of Roanoke; downtown revitalization planning grant assistance for the City of Covington; promotion and access improvements for the Roanoke River Blueway; a mobility design challenge for Botetourt County; and working with City of Roanoke and the Roanoke Valley Collective Response to address the regional opioid epidemic.
The RVARC region is composed of about 2,325 square miles and is home to 335,035 people (Weldon Cooper Center estimate, July 1, 2020). The RVARC Chair is Phil North (Roanoke County) and the Executive Director is Jeremy Holmes.
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The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) is composed of 21 local governments, which includes Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge and Rockingham counties; the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro; and 11 towns in an area of nearly 3,440 square miles. The CSPDC (Planning District 6) prides itself on work to provide planning services and technical assistance to its member jurisdictions, including comprehensive and land use planning, transportation, water and waste water utilities, natural resource management, solid waste management, affordable housing, economic and community development, disaster mitigation and preparedness education, and human services.
Cooperative solutions to problems are addressed by CSPDC through regional efforts and partnerships with local jurisdictions and other stakeholders. For example, CSPDC has been administering and managing the BRITE Bus program for about eight years. BRITE Bus is a small, urban transit system that operates in the Staunton/Augusta/Waynesboro area, providing public transportation to local citizens. Most recently, CSPDC launched Afton Express, a commuter bus system that connects Staunton, Augusta County, Waynesboro and Charlottesville. CSPDC also spearheaded development of the Fields of Gold, a regional agritourism program designed to collectively market and promote agritourism sites, showcasing the ways visitors can enjoy farm adventures in the Shenandoah Valley.
The CSPDC area has a population of 303,916 (Weldon Cooper Center estimate, July 1, 2020). The Chair of the CSPDC Board of Commissioners is Frank Friedman (Mayor of Lexington) and the Executive Director is Bonnie Riedesel.
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October 27, 2021 - VAPDC Board of Directors meeting
November 9-11, 2021 - Governor’s Housing Conference
November 19, 2021 - VAPDC Executive Directors Committee meeting
January 5, 2022 - VAPDC Board of Directors meeting
January 14, 2022 - VAPDC Executive Directors Committee meeting
February 3-4, 2022 - VACo/VML/VAPDC Local Government Day
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The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) FY22 grant application round closed in mid-September, with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) receiving 57 applications representing 84 localities. More than half (12) of the 21 PDCs are the lead applicants for VATI grants (14 out of 57 grants, or nearly 25%, submitted by PDCs), asking for about $640 million of the total of $943 million in requests. These PDC applications would leverage over $840 million more and proposed nearly 230,000 passings. About $750 million in federal and state funding is expected to be available for funding projects in this grant round. Awards are expected to be announced around year’s end.
PDC Executive Directors and staff are participating in monthly discussion groups with Virginia Housing as part of the PDC Housing Development Program established by Virginia Housing. The main idea behind the information sessions is to provide a forum for PDCs to float ideas, ask questions, raise concerns and share information and resources about their grant work. PDCs have been divided into two tracks relative to their prior experience in developing housing. Each track has met twice and the next gathering is being planned for during the Governor’s Housing Conference next month. Virginia Housing will be distributing a total of $40 million to Virginia’s PDCs for the creation of new affordable housing solutions over the next three years.
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about vapdc
The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) is an organization comprised of the 21 Planning District Commissions/Regional Councils in Virginia. The PDCs joined together to create the VAPDC to share best practices and further regionalism across the State. VAPDC works to bring diverse resources together at the regional level in partnership with local, state, and federal entities to strengthen regions and the Commonwealth.
The purpose of the Association is to promote coordination and cooperation among the Commonwealth's Planning District Commissions/Regional Councils to heighten their effectiveness and efficiency; provide mutual assistance and the exchange of ideas; and otherwise promote understanding for how PDCs/RCs can help save their regions and the Commonwealth time and money.
association contacts
David Blount, VAPDC Executive Director
434-422-4820
Connie Long, VAPDC Administrator
757-412-2664
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thank you to our Virginia Partners for 2021 - 2022 |
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Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions | Website
VAPDC | 1340 North Great Neck Rd., #1272-133, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
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