What's New

CSPDC Moves Forward on Interactive Map of Agritourism Sites

As a part of a Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) awarded to the Shenandoah Valley Region, the CSPDC has inventoried agritourism sites throughout the region. A survey was launched in October 2011 and to date 150 surveys have been returned and catalogued. The survey solicited information about each agritourism business/site such as location and directions, products sold, services offered, other information about the farm or business. The goal is to map all of these sites and produce a web-based interactive map to promote farms and agritourism businesses in the Shenandoah Valley.  For more on the program click HERE.

 

Coming up this month from Fields of Gold:

Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization Forming In March of this year, the US Census Bureau released the list of new Urbanized Areas (UZAs) from the 2010 Census. Urbanized Areas are densely populated areas that exceed a combined population threshold of 50,000 people. UZAs are required to form a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to carry out the transportation planning process for the UZA and surrounding areas. This designation also opens up additional opportunities for funding transportation projects. The Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro area met this population threshold in the 2010 Census and has been added to the list of new UZAs. The Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) is currently being structured and staffed to meet his requirement. The first steps in the formalization of the SAWMPO consist of setting up a Policy Board and Technical Advisory Committ­ee made up of elected officials and professional staff from the county and cities. Additional activities include defining the boundary of the area, drafting the bylaws and other organizational documents defining the goals and policies of the MPO. These activities are being undertaken with the objective of having the SAWMPO fully operational and designated by the Governor by March 2013. Click HERE to view a map of the Urbanized Areas for the Staunton-Waynesboro area . For more information contact Bonnie Riedesel or Kevin McDermott

 

 

Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management Forum Scheduled

What: 2nd Annual Disaster Resistant Forum
When: Tuesday, September 18th, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Where: Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission Office, 112 MacTanly Place, Staunton We need you at the table to discuss topics in disaster preparedness and emergency management that affect everyone in the Central Shenandoah Valley Region.  Listen to a variety of speakers and provide essential input from your own experiences.  We also have some exciting news to share with everyone!

Topics Of The Forum Include:

• Evaluation of the June Derecho and the results of our community survey.
• The new "Whole Community" Emergency Management model we are embracing.
• Strides that are being made in animal preparedness in the Valley.
• An update from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
• An exciting new adventure for Shenandoah Valley Project Impact.
  

Celebrate National Preparedness Month by attending the forum.  It should be a lively meeting with beneficial information for everyone who attends.  We will also provide a delicious continental breakfast and some time to network.  We hope to see you there! 

For additional information or questions, contact Rebecca Joyce at the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission at 540.885.5174 or at rebecca@cspdc.org.

 

Fields of Gold Named Best Regional Collaboration by Virginia Association of Counties

The Fields of Gold agritourism initiative was recently awarded a “Best Regional Collaboration” Achievement Award by the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo).  Reacting to the VACo Achievement Award presented to Augusta County on behalf of the six county—five city collaboration, Tracy C. Pyles, Jr., Chairman of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors said, “Fields of Gold further emphasizes the important role of agriculture in our economy, and we look forward to continued success.”

The VACo Achievement Awards is a competitive program open to local government members of the association. For more information, visit VACo’s Achievement Awards website where you can view all 2012 entries.

For more information on the Fields of Gold program and upcoming events click HERE.

 

Are You Ready for Severe Weather and Emergencies?

Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) To Be Offered

The Cities of Staunton and Waynesboro and Augusta County will be offering Community Emergency Response Training (CERT).  The course will be held on Thursday evenings, September 13 – November 15 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission Office at 112 MacTanly Place in Staunton.

This ten-week course uses a standard 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 CERT course is designed to give the average person tools to prepare themselves and their family during severe weather or other emergencies when emergency personnel are overwhelmed and may not be able to respond immediately.  The course is open to anyone who either lives or works in Staunton, Waynesboro, or Augusta County.  The course is free and all materials are provided. Pre-registration no later than September 6, 2012 is required. To pre-register for the course contact Rebecca Joyce, CERT Coordinator by telephone at 540-885-5174 or by email at rebecca@cspdc.org.

 

New Service Offered by CSPDC

The CSPDC is establishing an on-call consultant program and offering this service to the localities in the region.  The intent of this program is to enhance the CSPDC’s capability in facilitating assistance to localities in a timely and cost effective manner.  The on-call services may include, but are not limited to:

• Transportation planning, design & engineering
• Master planning (i.e., downtown revitalization, greenways/blueways, community development, etc.)
• Stormwater compliance/TMDL development
• Environmental Services (i.e. energy conservation, Phase I assessment, etc.)
• Site plan/subdivision/commercial/residential development design or review
• Water and sewer preliminary engineering and design services
• Architectural design and building renovation.

Please contact the CSPDC for more information about this program.

Summer 2012 Quarterly Planner Newsletter

The Summer 2012 Quarterly Planner Newsletter of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission has been published. To review a copy, please click here.