Last Chance to Review Draft 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan

The review period for the Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (HRMPO) draft 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) closes Thursday, May 18.You can review the draft plan online and submit feedback directly on a digital version of the document.

Physical copies of the draft 2045 LRTP are also available for review at the Harrisonburg City Hall, the Rockingham County Administration Center, Town of Dayton City Hall, Mt. Crawford Town Municipal Building, Bridgewater Community Center, and the Massanutten Regional Library.

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Process Kicks Off

In April 2023, the CSPDC launched its update of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). As the region’s 5-year plan for economic development, the CEDS provides a vision and a blueprint for greater economic prosperity and growth. This region-wide planning effort offers a platform for various stakeholders including local governments, institutions of learning, and private industry to engage in a meaningful conversation about capacity building efforts that would best foster economic development in the region.

Partner Spotlight: Community Housing Partners Weatherization Program

CHP Energy Solutions is a 501c3 non-profit providing zero cost home and energy improvements for qualifying renters AND homeowners in Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro, Highland, Harrisonburg, and Rockingham. Improvements can include installation of LED lighting, repair or replacement of heating and cooling systems, adding insulation, select home repairs, health & safety improvements, and more.

Staff Attends Microtransit Meeting

On May 8, Regional Planner & Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Coordinator Paula Melester and Transit Planner Devon Thompson traveled to Warsaw, Virginia to meet with fellow TDM professionals to learn how microtransit is being implemented in rural Virginia. The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)’s Chesapeake Chapter organized the event. The Chesapeake Chapter is hosting a series of in-person meetings this year to discuss topics of interest in the Transit and TDM industries. Microtransit is a hot topic right now, as agencies are considering how it might supplement or replace fixed transit routes in their communities.

CSPDC Staff, Regional Leaders Featured in VPM Life in the Heart Land Series

Virginia Public Media (VPM) recently released a documentary series called Life in the Heart Land. The series takes a deep dive into the unique challenges facing Virginia’s rural communities, and the innovative solutions that are being implemented on the local, regional, and state level to solve them. The series spans across eight episodes covering food insecurity, justice reform, recycling and plastics, farming, housing, the Monacan Nation, agricultural workers, and broadband. CSPDC Housing Program Manager, Olivia Raines, was featured in the Housing episode, and discussed some of the challenges surrounding the advancement of affordable housing as well as efforts to better understand our region’s specific housing challenges through the ongoing Central Shenandoah Regional Housing Study. 

CSPDC Hosts Successful USDA-RD Programs Showcase 

On April 19, the CSPDC hosted a USDA-Rural Development Programs Showcase at the Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County. The event was a great success with over 60 registrants, and presenters from USDA-Rural Development, Dupont Community Credit Union, BARC Electric, the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, the Horse Center, and the Office of Congressman Ben Cline.

The event featured a comprehensive overview of the many grants and loans that USDA-Rural Development has to offer our region. Topics covered rural business, community facilities, water and environmental programs, housing, telecommunications, and electric programs.  

GO Virginia Region 8 Council Meeting Held in Buena Vista

The Advancement Foundation (TAF) hosted the April GO Virginia Region 8 Council meeting at its facility in Buena Vista. The Region 8 Council toured the space, now home of the Virginia Innovation Accelerator (VIA). TAF has received several grants, including a GO Virginia grant, to convert the former Mundet building into space for small-scale manufacturing, commercial kitchen use, business acceleration, and product development. The space also will promote training, outdoor recreation, tourism, and community events.

Electric Vehicle Charging Station Grant Due on May 30

The US DOT’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Community grant is the first electric vehicle (EV) charging station grant available for all localities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The CFI program, which will fund EV infrastructure until 2026, promotes EV charging station installation on publicly available sites, and is focusing on stations in rural areas.

VAPDC Goes to Washington

The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) hosted a luncheon briefing with representatives of Virginia’s Congressional offices in mid-March. This was done in conjunction with the 2023 National Association of Development Organization’s Washington Conference. Staff from Senator Kaine’s office and five of our Congressional offices attended. We engaged in good discussion about regional projects, federal funding opportunities and other topics. VAPDC was represented by a good cohort of Board members, PDC Commissioners, Executive Directors, and staff. Bonnie Riedesel, CSPDC Executive Director attended the briefing and highlighted a number of the federally funded projects and programs in the CSPDC region.

US Forest Service: Urban Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants

Up to $1 billion in funding is available for projects that increase equitable access to urban tree canopy, broaden community engagement in local urban forest planning, and improve the community and urban forest resilience to climate change, pests, and storm events. Minimum funding is $100,000; maximum $50 million; all agreements are for 5 years.

More at: Urban Forests | US Forest Service (usda.gov). Applications due June 1st.

Region Celebrates Bike Month 

May is National Bike Month – an annual celebration to increase awareness and participation in bicycling, and showcase its many health and environmental benefits. Bike to Work Week 2023 will take place May 15-21, 2023, and Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 19!

The Bike the Valley and RideShare programs, administered by the CSPDC, will highlight the many bicycling opportunties on social media throughout #BikeMonth.