News from the CSPDC Region
August 2022
Senator Warner Visits Region
Senator Mark Warner visited the region Friday, July 15, and made a stop at the BRITE Transit Facility in Fishersville. The Shenandoah Valley Infrastructure discussion event highlighted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the positive impacts of the subsequent five-year funding for transportation through the new law. Additionally, Senator Warner applauded the work and effort of BRITE for providing an essential service to the community. 
Central Shenandoah Pandemic Plan Unveiled
In July 2020, the Central Shenandoah Region was awarded funding from the Economic Development Administration to complete a Pandemic Recovery and Resiliency Plan. The purpose of the plan is to help guide the localities in the region in their economic recovery from the current COVID-19 pandemic and provide them with strategies to become more resilient to future shocks.
HRMPO Launches Long Range Plan Survey on Proposed Projects 
The Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (HRMPO) is in the process of developing the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and is currently gathering feedback on a list of proposed regional transportation projects, known as the draft Universe of Projects. Information is available in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
 
We will use input on the draft Universe of Projects to identify which projects will be included in the final Plan, guiding transportation investments over the next 25 years to support the needs of the region and its future growth.  Visit hrvampo.org/lrtpto learn more and get involved. 
Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Breaks Ground on New Hangars
The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport recently broke ground on a long-envisioned hangar project in its Aviation Technology Park. Two 14,000 square foot corporate aircraft hangars will be constructed with office and aviation flex space. The groundbreaking event on July 27 celebrated the start of the project and recognized the project’s partners including two federal agencies involved in its funding, USDA Rural Development and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission was awarded a $2 million grant from EDA for the project.

CSPDC Staff Helps “Stuff The Bus”

On Fridays, for a small charitable donation, CSPDC employees are allowed to wear jeans to work. Throughout the year, “jeans money” is used to help those in need in our region and beyond. 

Every August, staff use some of this money to buy school supplies to help the United Way “Stuff The Bus.” This year the CSPDC dropped off their school supply donation at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport, a new collection point this year. CSPDC staff enjoy seeing their “Casual Fridays” help children start the school year off with everything they need.


CSPDC Forms Housing Study Leadership Group 
With the Regional Housing Study well underway, CSPDC staff alongside the Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR) have partnered with stakeholders around the region to form a Leadership Team that will guide the housing study process. The Leadership Team will meet every two to three months throughout the study period, which ends Spring 2024. The group will serve as an advisory board for the study process, review report drafts and data findings, and guide the study’s eventual strategies and recommendations. 
Smart Scale Applications Submitted for the Region
On August 1, applicants in our region submitted 18 SMART SCALE applications for multimodal transportation projects. The CSPDC, HRMPO and SAWMPO, the cities of Harrisonburg and Waynesboro, and Augusta and Rockingham Counties submitted projects ranging from new sidewalk construction to interstate interchange improvements. VDOT will announce application awards in early 2023.


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