It has been three full years of monthly employment data since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. March 2020 was the last month of “pre-pandemic” employment data and labor force levels in the region have nearly returned to normal and total jobs have been closing in on pre-pandemic levels, so this month we analyzed the employment recoveries of various industries in Hampton Roads and the United States.

The 2023 Great American Cleanup, hosted by askHRgreen.org and Keep Virginia Beautiful, was held on March 24 and 25 in Hampton Roads. The map of the month visualizes the impact of this event. It shows the locations of the individual clean up locations and indicates how many volunteers participated at each site.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed saw a net decline of over 25,000 acres of tree canopy between 2013 and 2017 based on the new land cover data produced by the Chesapeake Conservancy and the Chesapeake Bay Program. Staff outlines a few resources to identify the importance of tree canopy and funding opportunities to help increase it.

The Nike Park Road Extension project in Isle of Wight County is a new one-mile, two lane road that will connect Reynolds Drive to a new intersection on US Route 17 (Carrollton Boulevard). 

It was another tremendous year for the Hampton Roads Great American Cleanup. The two-day cleanup initiative has grown every year and askHRgreen.org is so pleased to announce another record-breaking year. An estimated 47 tons of trash found and removed from public spaces, including the area behind the HRPDC/HRTPO offices.

To celebrate Juneteenth this year, the HRPDC invites organizations and groups within the Hampton Roads region who are planning Juneteenth events to share their information with us here.

The HRPDC welcomed “new” Principal Planner, Eric Walberg, on May 1^st. While he may be a recent hire, he is quite familiar with Hampton Roads and a returning HRPDC employee.

Progress Continues On Virginia Capital Trail Extension (Peninsula Chronicle, May 11, 2023)

Advocates push to extend low-income housing water assistance program (WVEC April 20, 2023)

Hampton Roads leadership organizations merge with goal of regional growth (Virginian-Pilot, April 13, 2023)

Hampton Roads organizations merge to form new roundtable (Virginia Business, April 12, 2023)

Roundtable brings focus to region’s mental health concerns (Suffolk News Herald, March 31, 2023)

Local officials to host violence prevention roundtable (WAVY, March 30, 2023)

Hampton Roads mayors discuss mental health staffing shortage across the region (WVEC, March 30, 2023)

Violence prevention roundtable cites unaddressed trauma, need for mental health resources (WAVY, March 30, 2023)

Trauma often triggers violent crime: Mental health professionals, Hampton Roads mayors hold roundtable (WTKR, March 30, 2023)

Norfolk Iraq War Army vet reflects on his times on the frontline (WTKR, March 20, 2023)

Medical and First Aid Supplies - EM‐MMRS‐RFP‐2023‐01 (Proposals Due 2pm May 30, 2023.)

PUBLIC NOTICE: Extending the Elizabeth River Trail- Cost Model and Cost Estimates (accepting comments through May 17, 2023)

PUBLIC NOTICE: HRTPO FY 2021-2024 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - Proposed Amendments May 2023 Set II (accepting comments through May 17, 2023)

PUBLIC NOTICE: Draft Regional Conformity Assessment for the Hampton Roads Amended 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and FY 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) (accepting comments through May 16, 2023)

PUBLIC NOTICE: Draft HRPDC FY 2024 Work Program (accepting comments through May 16, 2023)

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The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) and Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) fully comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, and related nondiscrimination statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. HRPDC's website, www.hrpdcva.gov, and HRTPO's website, www.hrtpo.org, may be translated into multiple languages. Publications and other public documents can be made available in alternative languages and formats, if requested. HRPDC public meetings are always held in ADA-accessible facilities and in transit-accessible locations when possible. Auxiliary services can be provided to individuals who submit a request at least seven days prior to a meeting. Requests made within seven days will be accommodated to the greatest extent possible. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice by HRPDC under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint may be in writing and filed with the HRPDC and/or the appropriate state or federal agency within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. For more information on HRPDC's Title VI program, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, please call (757) 420-8300 or email: qmclaurin@hrpdcva.gov