The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) has announced Ms. Deborah B. Gosney as the winner of its 2025 Gordon N. Dixon Award. The award was presented at the October 30 Annual Meeting of the Southside Planning District Commission. The Dixon Award recognizes an executive director, VAPDC commissioner, or PDC commissioner who has provided leadership and made outstanding contributions to promote the concept of regionalism in Virginia.

Ms. Gosney recently retired after 38 years of service with the Southside Planning District Commission, including the last six as Executive Director. During her time as Executive Director, the SPDC received a $69 million Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) grant for the EMPOWER Broadband Project and served as the grant administrator for this $154 million project. She also championed new approaches to long-standing regional challenges and successfully brought together stakeholders to facilitate collaboration, particularly in the housing area.

Pictured (L – R): Tom Tanner, VAPDC Board Member and Southside PDC Chair; Deborah Gosney, Outgoing Southside PDC Executive Director; David Blount, VAPDC Executive Director

Ms. Gosney received two nominations for the award. One from Bryan David, UVA Weldon Cooper Center/GO Virginia Region 3 Program Director, who cited her for leading work at SPDC as the support organization for GO Virginia Region 3, which encompasses 15 cities and counties, as well as several community colleges and higher education institutions across three planning districts. “She has worked tirelessly to facilitate projects and initiatives that would have lasting impacts and spur economic prosperity, not only for the SPDC’s three counties but for the broader region as well,” said Mr. David. She also was nominated by SPDC staff. “Her commitment to the organization and its mission is evident in everything she does. She is always willing to support the planning team in identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities,” said Leslie Kubasek of the SPDC staff.

For 16 years, Gordon N. Dixon was an outstanding example of a regional leader while serving as Executive Director for two planning district commissions--the New River Valley and the Fifth Planning District Commission. He sincerely believed in regional planning and community development. Following his death, the VAPDC established the Dixon Award to recognize executive directors and commissioners who display exceptional dedication to the regional planning vision for Virginia.

Planning District Commissions were enabled by state legislation in 1968 and most were established the following year. There are 21 PDCs and Regional Commissions in Virginia made up of elected officials and citizens appointed by local governments. The purpose of Planning District Commissions is to encourage and facilitate regional solutions to problems of area-wide significance. This is done by promoting the efficient development of the physical, social, and economic policies of all districts by assisting local governments to plan for the future. The PDCs of Virginia joined together to create the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions in 1987 to share best practices and further regionalism

across the Commonwealth.

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