Rockbridge County Secures Two VATI Program Awards for Broadband

In the CSPDC January 2024 newsletter, we reported that Rockbridge County submitted three grant applications in December 2023 for the 2024 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) program. During this latest VATI application cycle, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) received 25 submissions seeking over $170M in funding. We are pleased to share that on July 24, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that Rockbridge County received two awards totaling $2,173,185. The two projects include collaborative efforts involving BARC Connects and Brightspeed. The CSPDC will provide grant administrative services for each project.

Elkton Downtown Marketplace Grand Opening

The Town of Elkton celebrated the grand opening of its new Downtown Marketplace on August 26, marking a significant milestone in the community's history. The project, which transforms a historic site known as "Lawn Party Hill," revives a century-old tradition of social gatherings and activities in the heart of town. This Marketplace includes a pavilion, performance stage, and various outdoor amenities. The Marketplace's completion is the result of nearly 30 years of planning, strong community support, and collaborative efforts between local officials.

CSPDC Receives $3 Million Allocation for First-time Homebuyers’ Program

In July 2024, the CSPDC secured its second allocation of funding from Virginia Housing's Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) Program. With over $3 million in SPARC funds now available for eligible first-time homebuyers, the CSPDC can help more individuals achieve homeownership in the Central Shenandoah region.

Through SPARC, Virginia Housing’s approved lenders can offer a 1% mortgage interest rate reduction to eligible first-time homebuyers, enhancing their purchasing power and potentially saving them thousands over the life of the loan.

HRMPO Dinkel Avenue Small Area Study Completed

The Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (HRMPO) has successfully concluded its FY24 Dinkel Avenue-Friedens Church Road Study. Led by consultants Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB), in collaboration with VDOT and local authorities, this comprehensive analysis evaluated the 3.28-mile corridor stretching from I-81 Exit 240 in Rockingham County to Main Street (Route 42) in the Town of Bridgewater. HRMPO goals for this study were to align the future projected land uses of this corridor with the transportation infrastructure by balancing multimodal needs with existing freight traffic and other demands.

Goshen Town Hall Grand Opening

The Town of Goshen celebrated the grand opening of its new Town Hall on July 9. The newly renovated structure was the Town’s first school building constructed in 1870, but it later functioned as a private residence until the Town acquired it in 2022. The acquisition and renovation of the new Town Hall was funded through a $255,000 Congressionally Directed Spending allocation through Senator Warner and Senator Kaine’s Office, as well as local donations.

Share Your Vision for the Future of Transportation

How do you want to get around the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro region in 2050? The Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) wants to hear from residents about their community priorities to help shape the future of the region’s transportation network. 

The SAWMPO, which is staffed by CSPDC, is providing several ways for residents to get involved and provide input that will guide the development of the region’s 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). 

Rockingham County Updates Comp Plan; Creates New Urban Development Plan for Stone Spring Area

Rockingham County has recently adopted its updated Comprehensive Plan, which seeks to be a forward-looking document that will guide the County's development over the next 20 years. Approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors on July 10, 2024, the plan addresses key areas such as land use, housing, transportation, and the protection of rural and agricultural lands through 2045. 

Staunton and Rockingham Receive Virginia Business Ready Sites Program Grants

The City of Staunton and Rockingham County have been awarded a total of $13.5 million in Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP) development grants. The grants will be used for the Staunton Crossing and Innovation Village at Rockingham projects.

The Staunton Crossing development is a publicly owned 275-acre site located in the I-81 corridor providing opportunities for businesses in light manufacturing, medical, food processing, office operations, data centers, and logistics.



Innovation Village at Rockingham is a mixed-use development situated on 354 acres offering retail, office, medical, commercial and residential components.

Rockbridge County Awarded $1 Million in Industrial Revitalization Funds for Stillwater Building in Goshen

Governor Glenn Youngkin recently announced that Rockbridge County will receive $1 million in Industrial Revitalization Funds (IRF) for the Stillwater Revitalization Project. The funding will support job creation and community revitalization through the renovation of the former Stillwater Worsted Mills textile plant building in Goshen. The project will convert the structure to a museum, a preservation workshop, and a forest-to-finish wood manufacturing factory focused on the construction of log cabin tiny homes.

Patterson Graduates from Appalachian Leadership Institute

The CSPDC previously announced in October 2023 that The Advancement Foundation (TAF) President Annette Patterson was selected as 1 of 40 Fellows for the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), their fifth annual class. Last month, Ms. Patterson graduated from the ALI after completing the 10-month program that included six skill-building seminars, conducting field visits across Appalachia, and a capstone event in Washington, D.C. The Class of 2023-24 meets again in September for an opportunity to work together at an ALI alumni network session in North Carolina.

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