Governor Terry McAuliffe announced $196,000 in funding for five collaborative efforts in Virginia through the Building Collaborative Communities (BCC) program.
The program promotes regional economic collaboration in economically distressed areas that stimulate job creation and economic development and provide a significant return on state investment. The five selected projects focus on the specific needs of their regions by facilitating significant involvement from the private sector, economic development agencies, community organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, local leaders, and governmental officials.
“Today’s grant announcement and the collaborative efforts behind these projects are examples of the economic momentum that continues to build across the Commonwealth,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Regional, community-based strategies offer meaningful opportunities for success and long-term sustainability. I congratulate these communities and their leaders for their efforts to make strategic economic decisions that will provide tangible improvements for their regions and the Commonwealth.”
The five chosen projects focus on diverse initiatives that are a mixture of new projects and efforts that build upon existing projects. However, they all offer opportunities to expand economic opportunity in their regions and are leveraging significant partnerships by the grantees and their partner organizations to make a meaningful impact with limited state assistance.
“Regional collaboration can be a key component to maximizing successful economic and community development strategies,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore. “We look forward to partnering with these exciting local and regional efforts as they focus on promising efforts in site development, technical education, coastal resiliency, tourism development, and assistance to family farmers.”
Six applications totaling $221,000 in funding were received. The following projects were awarded funding through the Building Collaborative Communities program:
| Applicant and Localities Targeted |
Project Name | BCC Award |
| Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation
Alleghany County, City of Covington, Town of Clifton Forge and Town of Iron Gate |
City of Covington – Alleghany County Collaborative Industrial Site Analysis | $ 40,000 |
| Augusta County
Augusta County, Staunton City, Waynesboro City
|
Regional Strategic Plan for Career and Technical Education | $ 40,000 |
| Northern Neck Planning District Commission
Lancaster County and Northumberland County |
Virginia Coastal Community Resiliency | $ 49,325 |
| City of Norton
Wise County, Scott County and City of Norton |
Gateways to High Knob Master
Plan |
$40,000 |
| Virginia State University
Located in Chesterfield County with forty county project focus area expanding to statewide availability |
Small Farm Resource Center | $26,675 |
| TOTAL: | $ 196,000 | |
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