The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) has awarded State Senator David Marsden its eighth annual Legislator of the Year Award. The award was created to honor legislators who serve as ambassadors for the advancement of regional planning and cooperation for economic and community development in Virginia. Senator Marsden represents the 37th Senatorial District, which includes part of Fairfax County.

“PDCs and local governments across the Commonwealth benefited from Senator Marsden’s leadership this year in helping secure additional state funding for PDCs," said VAPDC President Kim Callis. "While the approved funding was ultimately not available this year due to COVID-19 budget challenges, we greatly appreciate and thank him for his efforts to help our PDCs and localities.”

The VAPDC initiated a funding request for the 2020 General Assembly session to increase the state contribution to all planning district commissions/regional councils by $14,000 per year. “As chairman of the Economic Development subcommittee of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, Senator Marsden worked to successfully steer the VAPDC request through the legislative process. He met with us several times during the General Assembly session to discuss the proposal and has offered his ongoing assistance since adjournment of the regular legislative session,” said Robert Lazaro, Executive Director at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.

“I appreciate being honored with the 2020 Legislator of the Year award from the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions,” said Senator Marsden. “During the ongoing public health emergency, it is even more critical that these collaborations are taking place.”

Senator Marsden is also chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, which is an important committee for numerous regions and localities in the state and is a past member of the Senate Local Government Committee.

VAPDC's leadership created the Legislator of the Year Award to recognize public officials who not only support regional collaboration, but who are actively engaged in public policy efforts that advance economic prosperity in the Commonwealth.

The first planning district commissions (PDCs) were established in 1969 following enactment the prior year of the Virginia Area Development Act by the General Assembly. There are 21 PDCs and regional commissions in Virginia made up of elected officials and citizens appointed by local governments. The purpose of the PDCs is to encourage and facilitate regional solutions to problems of area-wide significance, 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 advance regionalism across the commonwealth. For more information about VAPDC, visit the website at www.vapdc.org.

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CLICK HERE to see Senator Marsden's Twitter Announcement