BRITE Bus Transit and the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) hereby releases for public comment the BRITE Title VI Plan. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensures that no one shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance due to their race, color, or national origin.

The draft Title VI Plan can be reviewed online: Title VI Plan (DRAFT)

Digital or hard copies may be requested by calling the Title VI Coordinator at 540-885-5174. Copies for public review are available at the following locations:

• Augusta County Government Center, 18 Government Center Lane, Verona
• Staunton City Manager’s Office, 116 W Beverley Street, Staunton
• Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building, 503 W Main Street, Waynesboro
• BRITE Transit Facility, 51 Ivy Ridge Lane, Fishersville

Written comments may be submitted to BRITE Bus, 112 MacTanly Place, Staunton, VA 24401 or via email to devon@cspdc.org by 5:00PM on June 20, 2023. An official public hearing will be provided if requested prior to the end of the comment period. To request a public hearing, contact BRITE Bus no later than seven working days prior to the meeting.

BRITE Bus Transit and the CSPDC ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you have questions or concerns about your civil rights in regards to this program or require special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, please contact the Title VI Coordinator at 540-885-5174. Sign language or non-English language interpreters and accessible formats for the visually impaired will be provided if needed and requested from the CSPDC no later than seven working days prior to the meeting.

On April 19, the CSPDC hosted a USDA-Rural Development Programs Showcase at the Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County. The event was a great success with over 60 registrants, and presenters from USDA-Rural Development, Dupont Community Credit Union, BARC Electric, the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, the Horse Center, and the Office of Congressman Ben Cline.

The event featured a comprehensive overview of the many grants and loans that USDA-Rural Development has to offer our region. Topics covered rural business, community facilities, water and environmental programs, housing, telecommunications, and electric programs. Dupont Community Credit Union and BARC Electric, both sponsors of the event, shared how USDA-RD funds have positively impacted their organizations and made regional improvements possible in the fields of housing and telecommunications.

The event was attended by local staff and elected officials, housing professionals, community service providers, farm market managers, lending professionals, and rural businesses around the region and served as a unique opportunity for organizations to discuss project ideas and funding resources with USDA-RD representatives.

Virginia Public Media (VPM) recently released a documentary series called Life in the Heart Land. The series takes a deep dive into the unique challenges facing Virginia’s rural communities, and the innovative solutions that are being implemented on the local, regional, and state level to solve them. The series spans across eight episodes covering food insecurity, justice reform, recycling and plastics, farming, housing, the Monacan Nation, agricultural workers, and broadband.

CSPDC Housing Program Manager, Olivia Raines, was featured in the Housing episode, and discussed some of the challenges surrounding the advancement of affordable housing as well as efforts to better understand our region’s specific housing challenges through the ongoing Central Shenandoah Regional Housing Study. The episode also emphasizes the lived experience of those experiencing housing insecurity, providing an in-depth look at the housing challenges that many families face daily. The docu-series features many other organizations that are working to promote rural prosperity in the Central Shenandoah region, including Jones Gardens, Allegheny Mountain Institute, Valley Community Services Board, Eastern Mennonite University, Blue Ridge Legal Services, BARC Electric Cooperative, and many more. If you are interested in viewing the series on the big screen, Visulite Cinemas in Staunton will be featuring two episodes for free each Sunday in May followed by a panel.

The Shenandoah Rail Trail Partnership continues to expand support and secure funding to acquire, design and construct the 48.5-mile trail between the Town of Broadway in Rockingham County and the Town of Front Royal in Warren County. The Partnership recently secured a $3 million congressional earmark for partial design and engineering of the Trail.

In late 2022, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) also allocated $1 million to VDOT to finalize the full scope, schedule and cost estimate to design, engineer, and construct the Trail as the Commonwealth evaluates how it may acquire the out-of-service rail corridor. The Partnership continues to keep  local governments and community organizations along the corridor informed about successes and next steps.

For more information on the Rail Trail Partnership’s activities and updates on the Trail progress, visit www.shenandoahrailtrail.org.

In September, the CSPDC and Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR) concluded several months of focus groups and interviews with realtors, lenders, service providers, developers, universities, and employers for the Regional Housing Study. The focus groups were held in Buena Vista, Fishersville, Monterey, and through several virtual sessions. On October 26th, the CSPDC and VCHR convened the Regional Housing Study’s Leadership Team for their second meeting to discuss the findings of the focus groups and determine next steps for data analysis. The housing study scope allows for more detailed data analysis of up to five subtopics, to be selected by the CSPDC in partnership with the leadership team. At the meeting, the group worked collaboratively to select the five subtopics based on the focus group and interview feedback.

The five subtopics for additional data analysis will be:

• Impact of universities and student population
• Seniors
• Vulnerable populations (homelessness, substance use disorder, etc.)
• Naturally occurring affordable housing
• Living arrangements (overcrowding, multigenerational housing, etc.)

Over the next several months, VCHR and the CSPDC will continue data analysis – the most recent American Community Survey data is expected to be released in December, and all data will be refreshed to reflect the most recent demographic trends. Additionally, the study team will begin drafting local data profiles for the Interim Data Report, which is expected to be completed in Spring 2023.

The Highland County Recreation Commission (HCRC) received a technical assistance grant through the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program to develop an outdoor recreation strategic plan for Highland County and the HCRC. The Strategic Plan will identify how the HCRC and its partners can enhance outdoor recreation facilities, develop new recreation opportunities, improve community health, and cultivate a community culture that values physical activity and the environment in Highland County.

The year-long strategic planning process kicked off on October 24th as National Park Service Staff met with stakeholders and visited recreation sites around Highland County. The resulting deliverable will be a 5-year plan the HCRC, the County, and partner organizations can follow to successfully 1) expand outdoor rec facilities in the Town of Monterey, 2) develop outdoor recreation opportunities in the surrounding county, and 3) grow outdoor recreation programs and events that promote community wellness and ecotourism. The CSPDC is providing grant writing services and grant administrative support.