Roanoke
-
Virginia Association of Planning District
Commissions (VAPDC) President, Robert K. Coiner honor
ed Kevin Byrd with the President's Award, at the Association's annual Summer Conference in Roanoke last month.
Byrd serves as executive director for the New River Valley Regional Commission. He began work there as a regional planner and was appointed executive director following three years of service to the organization. Byrd also has community development experience in the public sector at the town, county and regional levels of government as well as private sector
experience.
Byrd serves in leadership roles as Second Vice President of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), Secretary/Treasurer of the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions, and Past President of 'Round the Mountain, Southwest Virginia's Artisan Network.
"Kevin has made outstanding contributions to VAPDC,"
said VAPDC president Robert K. Coiner. "He has kept VAPDC in strong financial shape since 2011. Most recently, Kevin led the Association through a strategic assessment with NADO and the hiring of VAPDC's first executive director. "
The VAPDC President's Award is intended to recognize an individual who has been involved directly in planning district commission activities and who has contributed significantly to promoting regional plannin
g and VAPDC activities in Virginia.
Planning District Commissions were established by the General Assembly in 1969. There are 21 PDCs and Regional Commissions in Virginia made up of elected officials and citizens appointed by local government. The purpose of the 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 have joined together to create the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions to share best practices, and further regionalism across the commonwealth. For information about VAPDC visit the website at www.vapdc.org.
