A joint letter of intent to form a GO Virginia Regional Council in the Shenandoah Valley was submitted to the state in February. The letter was written on behalf of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission, and Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board. Referred to as GO Virginia Region 8, the proposed council represents a very large and diverse geographic area covering ten counties and six cities in the Shenandoah Valley, with a population of over 525,000. The Council will fully reflect a mix of large and small business, higher ed and K12 education, elected officials, local government, and economic and workforce development entities. The Regional Council will be responsible for completing an economic growth and diversification plan and vetting projects that help generate private sector growth and job opportunities in the Valley. GO Virginia is a state financed economic development initiative that provides a new framework for strengthening the economy in each of the nine regions of the Commonwealth through enhanced collaboration by business, education and local government. The Regional Council was certified by the State GO Virginia board at its meeting on March 14th.