in this issue
message from the president
get to know PDCs
in the news
upcoming events/calendar
about vapdc
vapdc has a new address!
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message from the president
The new year got off to a fast start, as VAPDC opened 2023 by kicking off a three-session series of educational offerings and convening in Richmond for Local Government Day. The Winter Series began in early January with a preview of the General Assembly session, and we are looking forward to a session the end of this week on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. A third offering is in the works for early March, when we will have a second Cybersecurity session.
Speaking of the General Assembly, this 46-day legislative session is meeting usual expectations of being a very busy and challenging time. Several of our PDCs requested introduction of legislation or budget amendments. We were glad to again join our friends at the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League the first week of the session for Local Government Day legislative briefings and a reception. The Board and Executive Directors stayed in town and held a planning session the next day, working with an outside facilitator to discuss VAPDC’s purposes and steps to be taken to keep the organization strong. It was a very productive session.
PHOTO: (L-R) VACo President Jason Bellows; VAPDC President Lou Ann Wallace; VML President-Elect Chickie Reid.
I continue to be impressed by all the great work happening in regions around the state. One common effort among PDCs is in the area of affordable housing. We are thankful for our continuing partnership with Virginia Housing on the PDC Housing Development Program. See below for more information about the results of this partnership.
Thank you for your support of and interest in the work of our 21 Planning District Commissions/Regional Councils/Regional Commissions (PDCs/RCs) and their efforts to serve their communities. Stay safe during the remaining weeks of winter as we look forward to the arrival of spring.
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Lou Ann Wallace
VAPDC President
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get to know...
PlanRVA and the George Washington Regional Commission
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PlanRVA (formerly the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission) serves the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan; the Town of Ashland and the City of Richmond. Chartered in August 1969, PlanRVA (Planning District 15) is comprised of elected officials and citizens who address mutual challenges and develop solutions for the region.
PlanRVA provides a variety of services to its member local governments, such as grants and project management, planning, research, public engagement and facilitation in program areas including transportation, emergency management, environment and community development. PlanRVA supports these programs by conducting studies on issues and problem of regional significance, identifying opportunities for local cost savings and staffing efficiencies and providing technical assistant to the state and member localities.
PlanRVA serves as a resource and provides staff support for the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, which was created in 2020 to provide new funding opportunities for priority transportation investments across the region. PlanRVA also supports the Richmond Regional Transportation Organization, Emergency Management Alliance of Central Virginia, Lower Chickahominy Watershed Collective and Don’t Trash Central Virginia.
The PlanRVA region is home to 1.1 million people (Weldon Cooper Center estimate, July 1, 2022). The PlanRVA Chair is Sean Davis (Hanover County) and the Executive Director is Martha Shickle.
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The George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) is composed of five local governments, which includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford, and the City of Fredericksburg. Tracing its origins to 1961, the GWRC (Planning District 16) was established in 1970 and is the fourth-largest and one of the fastest-growing of the Commonwealth’s 21 planning districts.
GWRC’s main functions focus on economic development, environmental services, human services (including homeless services support), affordable housing, transportation demand management, and rural and urban transportation planning. Environmental services provides direct assistance in areas of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed protection and Coastal Zone Management. In the area of economic development, GWRC serves as the support organization and fiscal agent for GOVirginia Region 6. The GWRC also serves as the host agency for the Fredericksburg Regional Continuum of Care for regional homeless prevention and as host for the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) for transportation planning in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford. GWRC’s nationally-recognized GWRideConnect program works to promote, plan and establish transportation alternatives to single-occupant vehicles through operating rideshare, vanpooling and vanpool insurance programs for those commuting to and from the Washington DC and Richmond regions.
The GWRC area has a population of 387,068 (Weldon Cooper Center estimate, July 1, 2021). The Chair of the GWRC Board is Jason Graham (City of Fredericksburg) and the Executive Director is Chip Boyles.
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New River Valley Regional Commission (NRVRC) Executive Director Kevin Byrd was presented with the President’s Award at the National Association of Development Organization’s (NADO) Annual Training Conference in Pittsburgh this past Fall. In presenting the award, NADO President Misty Crosby extolled Byrd’s “significant contribution to our organization and all regional development organizations across the nation.” She called him “a national voice in support of regional development organizations; a true believer in collaboration; unwavering in the pursuit of excellence; a trusted partner; and a darn good person.” She cited his support of NADO and its staff, noting that he dedicated his own President’s Award to the NADO staff in recognition of their exceptional efforts during the pandemic. Byrd served as NADO President from 2019-2021. He has been the Executive Director of the NRVRC since October 2009 and is the VAPDC Secretary/Treasurer.
The VAPDC continues to work in partnership with Virginia Housing, which established a $40 million grant program to Virginia’s 21 PDCs to stimulate regional affordable housing initiatives. The support and funding from Virginia Housing, coupled with PDC efforts, have resulted in over 250 apartments and single-family homes to communities in Virginia, with more on the way. VAPDC is collaborating with Virginia Housing on a news release about the program that is expected to be forthcoming within the next few days.
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February 3, 2023
February 6, 2023
March 3, 2023
March 12-15, 2023
April 12, 2023
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VAPDC Winter Series: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
VAPDC Program Committee meeting
VAPDC Winter Series: Cyber Security
NADO Washington Policy Conference
VAPDC Board of Directors meeting
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Would you like to see your PDC newsletter or job listings on the VAPDC website?
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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 2022 - 2023 |
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Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions | Website
869 Lynnhaven Parkway, Suite 113 #244
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452
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