In October, Summit Design and Engineering Services, the consulting firm hired by the City of Lexington, conducted a survey of the city’s housing to assess local needs. Summit’s team performed a city-wide windshield survey, driving through every neighborhood to evaluate the condition of buildings using a standardized methodology.

The survey results are one piece of a forthcoming report that will document the current state of the City’s housing stock, assess both present and future needs, and propose potential recommendations and strategies for improvement. The report will also incorporate data from existing plans and studies, interviews with local stakeholders, and spatially-mapped Census data.

The windshield survey follows the award of a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning Grant by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to the City of Lexington. The grant, awarded last year, supports the completion of a comprehensive housing and infrastructure survey as well as a needs assessment. It aims to provide critical data for the City, build on the CSPDC’s Regional Housing Study, and assist local partners like the Threshold Housing Commission in developing and implementing effective housing strategies.

In late October, BARC Connects received a $4.4 million grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Community Connect Program to install a fiber-to-the-premises system in Rockbridge County. The project will provide high-speed internet access to 816 residents and four businesses, focusing on the Collierstown/Effinger area.

Subscribers will enjoy symmetrical internet speeds of up to 1000 Mbps. Additionally, two public computer workstations will be installed at the Lake Robertson recreation area, offering free internet access to the community for at least two years.

According to the USDA, the Community Connect Program “helps bring high-speed internet service to areas where it is least likely to be commercially available but can make a tremendous difference in quality of life. The projects funded by these grants help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the internet for individual and community development.”

This funding builds on $2 million in grants awarded in July through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) to Rockbridge County. The VATI projects include collaborative efforts involving BARC Connects and Brightspeed. The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission will serve as the grant administrator for both projects.

These investments highlight ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide in rural areas, ensuring residents and businesses in Rockbridge County have access to reliable, high-speed internet.