CSPDC Earns $100K ARC READY LDD Grant

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced the $100,000 grant award to the CSPDC on June 15. The ARC READY LDD (Local Development District) program seeks to expand district staffing and capacity in order to grow support for eligible communities to identify, access, and implement monies available at the federal level. Funding sources include, but are not limited to, the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The CSPDC serves as the LDD for the following localities: Bath County, Highland County, Rockbridge County, City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington, and the towns of Glasgow, Goshen, and Monterey.

CSPDC Receives Housing Grants 

In July, the CSPDC received notice of two grant awards from Virginia Housing. Collectively, these grants bring $1,725,000 in housing funds to the region. The CSPDC received an allocation of $1.7 million in funds through Virginia Housing’s Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) Program, a special allocation of reduced rate funding which provides a 1% adjustment to interest rates below Virginia Housing’s prevailing home loan rates. These funds will be used to complement the CSPDC’s existing First Time Homebuyer Program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to income-qualified homebuyers at 80% AMI or below.

Engineering and Design for the Lewis Street Transit Hub

Engineering and design activities are underway for the Lewis Street Transit Hub Rehabilitation Project. The Hub, pictured here, is getting a much-needed facelift. When complete, the site will feature new pavement, sidewalks, and a dedicated bus lane. The site will also feature safety improvements, such as improved lighting, and ADA-accessible walkways.

CSPDC staff are working with engineering consultants from Kimley-Horn and Associates to finalize the design and construction plans for the Hub. 

Afton Express Featured on Virginia Public Radio

This past spring, Virginia Public Radio reached out to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the CSPDC to develop a feature story on the Afton Express as part of a series about how CARES funds have been used across the Commonwealth.

RadioIQ reporter Mallory Noe-Payne traveled to Fishersville in April to ride the Afton Express, talk to staff, and interview passengers. Paula Melester, a Regional Planner for the CSPDC, joined Mallory on her round-trip ride over the mountain. Along the ride, several passengers shared their personal experiences with the Afton Express and how this service has contributed to the quality of their commute.

Southeast Crescent Regional Commission Established

Established as a federal-state partnership by the 2008 Farm Bill, Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) was authorized to begin operating with the confirmation of a Federal Co-Chair in December 2021. The purpose of the SCRC is to build sustainable communities and promote economic growth across a seven- state region – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

GO Virginia Region 8 Council Approves Projects

At its meeting on July 25 at the Shihadeh Innovation Center in Winchester, the Region 8 Council approved two applications for funding. The Shenandoah Valley Center for Advanced Learning (SVCAL) requested $884,500 in GO Virginia funding to address skill and employment gaps in the manufacturing and transportation sectors in the region. Funds will be used to make significant updates to replace outdated training equipment and to support the addition of new programs specifically aviation technology, industrial maintenance, and heavy equipment. 

Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Housing Summit Set

In partnership with the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, Augusta Health, Valley Community Services Board, and Valley Homeless Connection, the CSPDC is pleased to announce the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro (SAW) Housing Summit. The event will be held on October 11 & 12 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Staunton. 

The SAW Housing Summit is a result of collaborative work across numerous organizations in the SAW region since March 2020. This coalition of organizations joined together to disburse critical funding and resources to underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those experiencing housing insecurity. 

Our Community Place Completes Two Affordable Housing Units

On June 23, the CSPDC joined Harrisonburg-based non-profit Our Community Place (OCP) to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting of Block House Apartments. The project is one of seven projects across the region to complete construction using funds from the PDC Housing Development Program, a grant program that provides gap funds to private and nonprofit housing developers.

OCP received $118,106 in grant funds through the PDC's housing program, and used those funds along with local low-interest loans, donations, and in-kind and volunteer support to complete the project. The development provides two units of permanent supportive housing for Harrisonburg residents that have faced chronic housing insecurity. 

Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation recently kicked off a new initiative, the Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan. The initiative views the Blue Ridge Parkway as a catalyst for promoting regional tourism and economic vitality, and aims to strengthen cross-jurisdictional relationships, foster economic development within the Blue Ridge Parkway gateway communities, and establish a unified regional voice. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through both Augusta County and Rockbridge County in the CSPDC region.

Karst Workshop Scheduled for September

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will hold a Karst Workshop on September 7th & 8th. 

What: Karst Workshop

When: September 7th & 8th, 9AM-4PM

Where: The Sharon Community Center (4017 Nicelytown Rd, Clifton Forge, VA 24422) 

Who: Planners, resource managers, administrators, elected officials, and citizens are encouraged to attend.

Harrisonburg Awarded RAISE Grant

The US Department of Transportation awarded the City of Harrisonburg a $14,368,180 RAISE Grant to convert one driving lane of US-11 (Liberty Street and Noll Drive) to a two-way separated bicycle facility between the intersections of Main Street and Noll Drive, and Grattan Street and Liberty Street. The grant will also construct a shared-use path along Main Street between Grattan Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

The new bicycle and pedestrian facilities are anticipated to increase bicycling and walking in the City, supporting Harrisonburg’s environmental sustainability, mobility, community connectivity, and economic development goals.

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