On January 28 the GO Virginia Region 8 Council moved forward three projects to the State GO Virginia Board for final funding approval. Among the three, was the Agricultural Enterprise Center Feasibility Study submitted by the CSPDC. GO Virginia funding will match a USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant awarded to the CSPDC in December to analyze opportunities for an agricultural facility offering access to a commercial testing kitchen, packaging, and distribution facilities. This project has the potential to assist small to mid-size farms expand their product lines and market reach.
The other two projects approved by the GO Virginia Region 8 Council included an Economic Gardening project submitted by the Shenandoah Valley Partnership and an Industrial Hemp research project submitted by James Madison University. The GO Virginia Region 8 Council’s next meeting is scheduled for May 5 at Shenandoah University in Winchester.
GO Virginia supports programs to create more high-paying jobs through incentivized collaboration between business, education, and government to diversify and strengthen the economy in every region of the Commonwealth. The program is administered through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The CSPDC is one of the support organizations for GO Virginia Region 8.