VDF celebrates a conservation win!

Virginia Department of Forestry used by permission from VDF Communication Specialist Cory Swift-Turner

The Virginia Department of Forestry is celebrating a major conservation effort near Shenandoah National Park.

Through the Shenandoah Borderlands Project, more than 5,000 acres of forestland in Albemarle and Nelson counties are being permanently protected.

The project is a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Piedmont Environmental Council, and landowners.

This project is also supported by more than eight million dollars in federal funding through the Forest Legacy Program.

The newly protected land creates a buffer between I-64 and Shenandoah National Park, preserving scenic views, clean water, and critical wildlife habitat.

Officials say the project helps protect the region’s forests for future generations.

Senators Warner/Kaine announce federal funding for Hurricane Helene

U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $46,670,000 in federal funding to support disaster recovery efforts in Virginia following Hurricane Helene.

The funding was part of the disaster relief package that passed to fund the government.

The funding is allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Disaster Recovery program, which provides flexible funding to support long-term recovery efforts in impacted communities, including restoration of public infrastructure, homes, and businesses, and funding for job training, workforce development, and loans and grants to support economic revitalization and local businesses.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Governor Youngkin announces funding to small buisnesses

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that more than $500k will be awarded to small businesses across the Commonwealth as part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation Program.

This funding program is designed to leverage local marketing dollars with matching state funds to increase visitation and traveler spending in the off-season.

This funding cycle, local partners will commit more than $700,168 in private-public sector funds to match the VTC funding, providing new marketing activity focused on increasing off-season visitation to Virginia’s small tourism-oriented businesses and events.

Of the total grant funding, $170k is being awarded to areas of Southwest Virginia that were impacted by Hurricane Helene.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Major changes coming to region’s airports

Some major changes are coming to the region’s airports including Hagerstown, Dulles, and Richmond.

An announcement from Virginia’s senators yesterday included $40 million in federal funding for improvements to Washington Dulles International Airport.

The funds will support the construction of a new 14-gate, 400,000 sq. ft. terminal building with direct connections to the Aerotrain and an indirect connection to the Metro.

Richmond International Airport also received $2.25 million to design a consolidated Passenger Screening Checkpoint to improve passenger flow.

Hagerstown Regional Airport announced the introduction of a new parking fee for 2025.

The new fee will be $5 per day with the first hour free.

HGR announced the fee to support the airport’s growth including the construction of expanded parking facilities.

Revenue from the fees will also support law enforcement and emergency personnel support for each flight, staffing, terminal maintenance, and future commercial service improvements.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Sen. Warner and Kaine and WFD continue Helene recovery efforts

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced the addition of  $2 million in support for Hurricane Helene recovery effort in Southwest Virginia.

The federal funding was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Meanwhile, the Woodstock Fire Department (WFD) announced  that they are a drop off point for additional Hurricane Helene relief supplies.

The WFD effort is to collect clean up items, buckets, liquid dish and laundry soap, scrub brushes, work gloves and other supplies listed here.

The collection is only for certain items and no cash donations can be accepted by WFD.

The best and most effective way to help monetarily can be found here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

FEMA is approved to assist Virginia in Helene recovery

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been approved by President Biden to assist Virginia in recovery from Helene.

This means that federal funding has become available to the state and certain nonprofits organizations on a cost sharing basis for emergency in the hardest hit areas.

Direct assistance is available for Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wyth Counties and the City of Galax.

Governor Youngkin visited Damascus in Southwest Virginia September 29 to assess the storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene and emphasized the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting the affected communities in their recovery efforts.

Over 50 swift water crews were deployed with helicopter air support and able to help stranded people in Washington County in the city of Damascus where substantial flooding was recorded particularly at Radford University.

A Virginia State Police helicopter was dispatched to assist at least 50 people on the roof of a hospital in Tennessee.

In Virginia one fatality occurred in Craig County when a tree fell causing a building collapse.

Five counties including Augusta were under voluntary evacuation recommendations during the brunt of the storm.

Governor Youngkin said the recovery from this storm is going to take some time.

He also commended the efforts of all first responders in answering the call.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Warner and Kaine announce funding for solar energy

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced over $156 million in federal funding to help low-income and disadvantaged communities in Virginia more easily access solar energy.

The funding was awarded to the Virginia Department of Energy and will be used to eliminate barriers to solar development like:

  • reducing upfront costs
  • broaden access to leasing and power purchase agreements
  • additional access to financing

This will help lower energy costs for families while creating jobs and tackling the effects of climate change.

The funds are part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All program through the Inflation Reduction Act which supports solar projects like this as well as investments in home energy repairs and lowering the cost of energy efficient appliances.

The Commonwealth has taken recent strides in expanding clean energy including the groundbreaking of the largest clean energy project at a U.S. airport in August which will support 37,000 homes and businesses in Northern Virginia.

To view the full announcement, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

VA Senators announce $1.4 million in funding for mental health

Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner announced an additional $1.4 million in federal funding to expand access to mental health care in Virginia.

The funds were awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through a grant program to provide comprehensive, community based mental health services to adults and children with significant mental health conditions.

The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant program has provided over $25 million to the commonwealth during the 2023 Fiscal Year.

The Senators stated, “Every Virginian deserves access to high-quality, affordable mental health care. The last few years have underscored the importance of access to mental health services, and we’re glad this funding will help more Virginians reach the care they need.”

To view the press release from the Senators, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Luray Caverns Airport receives funding for terminal

light up luray

U.S. Senators for Virginia Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced the allocation of $1.2 million to the Commonwealth’s airports including $476,000 to the Luray Caverns Airport.

The funds coming from the U.S Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration will be used to construct a 4,600 sq foot terminal and an airport parking lot.

$750,000 will also go to a study reevaluating Virginia’s air transportation needs for the first time since 2010.

Earlier this year, Senators Warner and Kaine announced $29 million in federal funding to three other Virginia airports.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Virginia receives funding to replace lead pipes

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $46.3 million in federal funds are coming to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water.

The funds will be used to replace lead service pipes throughout the state to help protect public health.

Both senators pointed towards the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi as a driving force to improve Virginia’s water infrastructure.

The funding is through the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which was negotiated by Senator Warren with support from Senator Kaine.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.