CSPDC - Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission

Welcome to the Central Shenandoah
Planning District Commission

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) represents and serves the local governments of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge, and Rockingham counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro as well as the 11 towns within the Central Shenandoah region.

The CSPDC works with its member jurisdictions, communities and agencies to provide high quality planning, technical assistance and facilitation of services that address local, regional and state needs in an innovative, timely and cooperative manner. Covering everything from land use planning, transportation, water and waste water utilities, natural resource management, affordable housing, economic and community development, disaster mitigation and preparedness, agritourism to human services, the CSPDC is an invaluable asset to the quality of life in the Shenandoah Valley. For more information about the CSPDC, click here.

NEWS & EVENTS

CSPDC Hosts USDA Rural Development Roundtable

The CSPDC is hosting a Rural Development Roundtable on March 15 at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton. Staff from Virginia's USDA Rural Development office will offer information about funding available through USDA-Rural Development's programs. This is an opportunity for local governments, community leaders, not-for-profits, and other organizations to learn how they might partner with USDA-Rural Development on community projects such as sewer and water improvements; homeownership and essential housing improvements; community facility projects including health care clinics, police and fire stations, community centers, schools and child care centers; broadband projects; and rural business initiatives. Additional details about the workshop will be forthcoming or contact Elizabeth McCarty at elizabeth@cspdc.org.

Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management Info Session Scheduled

An Information Session on the Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management program will be held March 15, 2016, 2 – 3pm,Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission,112 MacTanly Place Staunton. For more information, please contact Stephanie Davis, Program Director 804.980.5549 or sddavis@vt.edu

Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Course Set

The Spring 2016 CERT training course will be held on Thursday evenings, March 17 - May 12, 6:30 – 9 pm at the Plecker Center on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College.

This free nine-week course uses a curriculum designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and teaches basic skills in disaster preparedness, fire safety, first aid, terrorism awareness, disaster psychology, and search & rescue. The course is open to anyone who either lives or works in Staunton, Waynesboro, or Augusta County. To register, go on-line to https://brcc.augusoft.net. Click on the “View All Classes” button. CERT is listed under the “Industry” heading in the “Safety/Regulation Compliance” section. If you need help to register for the training or would like additional information, please contact Rebecca Joyce, at the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission at 540-885-5174 or at rebecca@cspdc.org.

CSPDC Population Grows by 3.8 Percent

On January 27, the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service released the 2015 population estimates for Virginia and its counties and cities. The Weldon Cooper Center's population estimates, prepared annually, are the official figures for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The estimates are based on changes since 2010 in housing stock, school enrollment, births, deaths and drivers' license issuances.

According to the Weldon Cooper Center, Virginia's population grew by 4.8 percent since the 2010 Census, outpacing the national growth rate of 4.1 percent. Virginia remains the nation's 12th-largest state. Virginia's growth rate, however, has moderated. The slowing growth rate is caused by a combination of factors including a decrease in the number of people moving into Virginia, an increase in the number of deaths and a declining birth rate.

The population of the CSPDC grew by 3.8 percent. Reflecting a trend across Virginia, all cities within the CSPDC experienced an increase in population since the 2010 Census. Population data (1900-2015) is available for CSPDC localities on the CSPDC's Regional Data Center.

HB2 Application Scores Announced

Scores and state rankings for transportation projects submitted for funding under the Commonwealth's new prioritization process known as House Bill 2 (HB2) were released at the January Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) meeting. Of 287 eligible statewide project applications scored, 17 were from the CSPDC district, 13 of which were recommended for funding. Several projects from the CSPDC region scored among the highest in the state in categories like economic development and safety.

This is the first time the new process for scoring projects has been used. Based on identified needs and potential outcomes related to the five factors of congestion mitigation, safety, accessibility, environment and economic development, projects are scored on a variety of measures under each factor to derive a total project benefit score. This benefit score is then divided by the project cost for a final score comparing the two. Projects are then ranked statewide and by construction district.

Fields of Gold Insider

Enjoy the Insider Newsletter! Stay in the know regarding what is happening on the Fields of Gold Farm Trail. Please click HERE for the newsletter.

Around the Region CSPDC Newsletter, February 2016

Around the Region, the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission's monthly newsletter is available HERE .