News
Region Celebrates Bike Month
May is National Bike Month – an annual celebration to increase awareness and participation in bicycling, and showcase its many health and environmental benefits. Bike to Work Week 2023 will take place May 15-21, 2023, and Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 19!
The Bike the Valley and RideShare programs, administered by the CSPDC, will highlight the many bicycling opportunties on social media throughout #BikeMonth. Learn more HERE.
GO Virginia Region 8 Council Meeting Held in Buena Vista
The Advancement Foundation (TAF) hosted the April GO Virginia Region 8 Council meeting at its facility in Buena Vista. The Region 8 Council toured the space, now home of the Virginia Innovation Accelerator (VIA). TAF has received several grants, including a GO Virginia grant, to convert the former Mundet building into space for small-scale manufacturing, commercial kitchen use, business acceleration, and product development. The space also will promote training, outdoor recreation, tourism, and community events.
At the meeting, the Region 8 Council approved an application from the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF) for the Capacitor Incubator Program for continued entrepreneurial ecosystem development in the Shenandoah Valley. Expanding on SCCF’s prior GO Virginia funded project, Startup Shenandoah Valley, the Capacitor Incubator Program will help entrepreneurs create their first proof of concept, identify target markets, and build the systems and financing to successfully launch their business. Augusta County and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro are locality partners on SCCF’s application. The State GO Virginia Board will consider the Capacitor Incubator Program application at its June 13 meeting. Also, a refreshed GO Virginia Region 8 website was announced during the Council meeting. Other news and information about GO Virginia Region 8 is available at https://govirginiaregion8.org/.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Grant Due on May 30
The US DOT’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Community grant is the first electric vehicle (EV) charging station grant available for all localities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The CFI program, which will fund EV infrastructure until 2026, promotes EV charging station installation on publicly available sites, and is focusing on stations in rural areas.
The CSPDC developed a survey to evaluate the level-of-interest of localities for installing EV charging stations, and for applying for CFI funding through a region-wide CSPDC application by the May 30, 2023 deadline. The CSPDC is assisting interested localities with the application process. Please contact Senior Planner Zach Beard at zach@cspdc.org to learn more.
US Forest Service: Urban Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grants
Up to $1 billion in funding for projects that increase equitable access to urban tree canopy, broaden community engagement in local urban forest planning, and improve the community and urban forest resilience to climate change, pests, and storm events. Minimum funding is $100,000; maximum $50 million; all agreements are for 5 years.
More at: Urban Forests | US Forest Service (usda.gov). Applications due June 1st.
CSPDC Hosts Successful USDA-RD Programs Showcase at Virginia Horse Center
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.