News from the CSPDC Region
April 2022
CSPDC Awarded Community Impact Grant
On April 1st, the CSPDC was awarded a $200,000 Community Impact Grant from Virginia Housing to complete a regional housing study. The study process will begin immediately, concluding in spring 2024. The first year of the study will focus on data gathering and analysis and stakeholder engagement, and will result in an interim data report. In year two, the CSPDC will work to develop regional, partner-based, locality-specific recommendations and strategies.
Public Input Requested on Transportation Projects
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is conducting a spring meeting to allow the public to comment on transportation projects recommended for funding in the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP). Our region’s in-person meeting will be on Monday, May 2nd at 4:00 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College’s Plecker Center.

Re-Discover Your Ride Campaign
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit (DRPT) has launched a campaign called Re-Discover Your Ride to celebrate the return to public transit after two challenging years during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign highlights the safety measures public transit agencies are taking to ensure rider health and safety. 


CSPDC Awarded $1.2 Million for Transit Hub Rehabilitation
The Federal Transit Administration awarded CSPDC a $1.2 million Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Grant to rehabilitate the BRITE Transit Hub at 240 North Lewis Street in downtown Staunton. The federal grant is matched with state and local transit funds, and will rebuild the surface parking lot with a concrete bus lane, defined parking, ADA sidewalks and a passenger boarding area with shelters and safety lighting.
Grant Opportunities
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Small Watershed Grants 4/21/2022
USDA Rural Development Value Added Producer Grants 4/25/2022
U.S. Transportation Department Federal Land Access Program 5/2/2022
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Farmers Market Promotion Program 5/16/2022
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Local Food Promotion Program 5/16/2022
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Regional Food System Partnerships 5/16/2022
VA Department of Conservation and Recreation Virginia Recreational Trails Program  5/26/2022
VAMPO Hosts Environmental Justice Webinar April 29 
VAMPO will host a free 90-minute virtual training on Friday, April 29th that will explore recent developments surrounding equity, and discuss best practices that planning professionals can incorporate into their work to reflect rapidly evolving policies and legal requirements. The training will be led by Fred R. Wagner, Esq. with Venable LLP. Registration is required. The training is eligible for 1.5 AICP Certification Maintenance Credits, including 1 Equity CM credit.
Region 8 Council Meets to Consider Four Proposals
During their April 26 meeting at Blue Ridge Community College, the GO Virginia Region 8 Council will consider funding requests for four projects. Two projects are proposed to address impacts from the pandemic, one proposes to provide early-stage engineering and product design services to accelerate innovation, and one is aimed at addressing the skills gap in the manufacturing sector. 

 May is Bike Month
Since 1956, May has been recognized as National Bike Month. The League of American Bicyclists has sponsored this celebration of cycling for decades as a means of advancing a bicycle friendly America for everyone.

Bike Month is a great opportunity to promote environmentally-friendly transit options to commuters and increase awareness of the many fantastic bike programs in the region.
ODW Grants Available
The Virginia General Assembly allocated the Office of Drinking Water (ODW) $100 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to improve drinking water infrastructure over the next four years. Applications are now being accepted and are due by May 6, 2022.

Types of projects can include, but are not limited to: water treatment, storage, transmission/distribution lines, and water source needs.
CSPDC Resources: