VAPDC Connections

Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions - July 2010

In This Issue
~ President's Message ~
 
From the President
 
     
    July brings the 'new year' for VAPDC. We will come together at the end of this month to celebrate the past year's accomplishments, and look forward to 2010-2011 and the many opportunities we have to see our organization and our PDCs grow and prosper.
     Along with the 'new year' comes a change in leadership for VAPDC. After two years as your president, it's time for Marty Nohe (Northern Virginia Regional Commission) to take the helm. I will continue to serve on the Board as immediate past president and look forward to Marty's energy and enthusiasm as he leads VAPDC to new heights.
     Read more...
 
Coleman Speece
President, VAPDC
 
Upcoming Meetings
 
 Annual Summer Conference,
July 29-31, 2010
The Cavalier Hotel,
Virginia Beach Oceanfront
 
Board of Directors Meetings 2010:
August 11
September 8
October 13
November 10
December 8
(All board meetings at 9:00 am.)
 
  • Lenowisco PDC
  • Cumberland Plateau PDC
  • Mount Rogers PDC
  • New River Valley PDC
  • Roanoke Valley-Alleghany RC 
  • Central Shenandoah PDC
  • Northern Shenandoah Valley PDC
  • Northern Virginia RC
  • Rappahannock-Rapidan RC
  • Thomas Jefferson PDC
  • Region 2000 LGC
  • West Piedmont PDC
  • Southside PDC
  • Richmond Regional PDC
  • George Washington RC
  • Northern Neck PDC
  • Crater PDC
  • Accomack-Northampton PDC
  • Hampton Roads PDC
 
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by the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions.
 
Newsletter Deadline!
 
The deadline for the next issue of "VAPDC Connections"
 is September 30, 2010. 
Please submit your articles to VAPDC. 
Creating Regional Opportunities from Regional Challenges 
 
VAPDC Summer Conference
 July 29-30, 2010
The Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach Oceanfront
 
Cavalier Oceanfront     Hurry and register for the VAPDC annual Summer Conference July 29 and 30 at the beautiful Virginia Beach oceanfront. Attendees will convene at The Cavalier Oceanfront Hotel for two days of networking, learning, and exchanging ideas.
    The agenda is packed with educational sessions, reception and dinners, and the opportunity to tour the Port of Virginia. Educational topics will include Opportunities from Governmental Reform, Creating Opportunities from Early Childhood Education, Economic Opportunities and Challenges for the Commonwealth, and more.      
     Hotel reservations can be made at either the contemporary Cavalier Hotel Oceanfront or the grand Cavalier on the Hill. Click here for more hotel details.
     Click here to register TODAY before it's too late!
    
 
VAPDC Announces Slate of Officers for 2010-2011
 
     VAPDC announces the Slate of Officers & Directors for 2010-2011. Elections will be held on Friday, July 30 at the 2010 Summer Conference.

2010-2011 Board Nominations - Officers:
President: Martin Nohe, Northern Virginia RC
First Vice President: Stran Trout, Richmond Regional PDC
Second Vice President: James A. Baldwin, Cumberland Plateau PDC
Secretary/Treasurer: Robert H. Wilson, AICP, George Washington RC
Past President: Coleman Speece, Southside PDC

Directors:
1. Kevin Byrd, New River Valley PDC
2. Jerry Davis, AICP, Northern Neck PDC
3. G. Mark Gibb, Northern Virginia RC
4. Willie T. Green, Sr., Mount Rogers PDC
5. Bruce C. Goodson, Hampton Roads PDC
6. F. Woodrow Harris, Crater PDC
 
Energy Grant Awarded to CSPDC
 

     The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) was awarded $403,150 to fund the Shenandoah Valley Regional Energy Efficiency Strategy. Twenty localities in the region will benefit from the project. The project is being funded with economic stimulus monies through the Virginia Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy. The project was among the 26 finalists chosen from a pool of 148 proposals submitted statewide.
     The grant will be used to help local governments reduce energy use and save on energy costs. The first step is to conduct energy audits of public buildings and other facilities in the region. The energy audits will help identify and prioritize energy saving improvements such as upgraded lighting and mechanical systems, temperature controls, weatherization, water efficiency measures, and renewable energy sources. The project also includes an educational outreach program on energy efficiency and conservation.

     Read more...
 
Bridge to the Government Marketplace:  Crater Procurement Technical  Assistance Center 
 
     In 1985, the Crater Planning District Commission was granted U.S. Defense Logistics Agency funding to establish one of the first procurement technical assistance centers in the United States. Its purpose is to provide one-on-one counseling and technical support to companies that wish to expand their market reach through government contracting - federal, state or local.
     The Center sponsors educational seminars throughout the year on topics relevant to government contracting. Additionally, it offers a computerized Bid Matching Service, which is updated daily from databases including FedBizOpps, Defense Logistics Agency, and many others. Center staff uses a customized profile of each company's capabilities to do a full text search of these databases for matches and delivers the opportunities to registered businesses by e-mail. There are now approximately 1,450 companies on the Crater Center's construction/construction-related database and e-mail updates go out daily with information on new prime and subcontracting opportunities - not only for Fort Lee, but for other construction opportunities for both state and federal projects.  It is worth noting that BRAC Construction contracts on Fort Lee now exceed the $1 billion mark.
     Read more...
 
Bike Like Ike
 
     "Bike Like Ike" is a bicycle safety awareness program that originally began as a class project on the campus of James Madisonbike Universtity (JMU). In partnership with the  CSPDC, what started as a class project has turned into a regional effort to promote safe bicycling practices throughout the Valley and is specifically geared at college-age students. Ike is a fictional character created by the students at JMU to represent them as the ambassador of safe cycling. The "Bike Like Ike" campaign includes bus ads and brochures with bicycle safety tips from Ike. Additionally "Bike Like Ike" can be found on the CSPDC's website. The webpage includes bicycling tips for cyclists and motorists alike. For more information on "Bike Like Ike" and his tips, please visit the CSPDC's Web site.
 
2010 Sponsors
 
Gold:
 
Brown and Caldwell ~ GHD Inc.
 ~ The Port of Virginia ~ 
SCS Engineers ~
Virginia Housing Development Authority
 
 
Silver:
 
Draper Aden ~ Old Dominion Electric Cooperative 
~ Woolpert
 
Bronze:
 
Thompson & Litton