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Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission Newsletter
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July 2016  |  Volume 14, Number 2
Visit Our Regional Websites:  www.rrregion.org  |  www.rrcommute.org  |  www.fams.org  | www.foothillshousing.org  |  www.thevirginiapiedmont.org | www.tweenriverstrail.com
RRRC Appoints Executive Director & Recognizes Outgoing Commissioners

Registration Open for Free Rural Development Roundtable on August 4th

FAMS Expands Employment, Volunteer, and Recreation Transportation Subcommittees

Homeowner's Guide to a Watershed-Friendly Backyard Now Available!

Foothills Housing Network Award Homeless Services Grant for Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018

RRRC Commuter Services Ready to Assist Commuters

Upper Goose Creek TMDL Implementation Plan Underway

2015 Virginia Workforce Development Survey Report Released

Photo Feature:  Historic Areas of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Region
Historic Areas of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Region Photo Feature
Above: Off Main Street, The Plains (Credit: Jenny Biché, RRRC)
RRRC Appoints Executive Director & Recognizes Outgoing Commissioners
Members of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission (RRRC) appointed Patrick Mauney as the Regional Commission’s Executive Director at their April meeting. Mr. Mauney has worked for the Regional Commission for 10 years, most recently serving as Interim Executive Director following the departure of Jeffrey Walker in March. He previously served as Deputy Director and GIS Program Manager with oversight and coordination responsibilities for RRRC’s transportation program, project management, GIS, and data services, and website and IT management.

Mr. Mauney is a native of Blacksburg, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from Mary Washington College, and will complete a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in August 2016.  He currently serves as chair of the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) Rural Transportation committee and as VAPDC representative to the Virginia Freight Transportation Technical Committee.

In June, the Regional Commission recognized a trio of outgoing Commissioners for their service and leadership to the region.
  • Robert Gurtler served on the Regional Commission from 2009 to 2016 as the first representative from The Plains.  Mayor Gurtler was instrumental in The Plains' decision to join the Regional Commission in 2009.
  • Yak Lubowsky represented the Town of Warrenton on the Regional Commission from 2014 to 2016, and was involved with the Regional Commission on several initiatives prior to his service as Commissioner.
  • John McCarthy, recently retired Rappahannock County Administrator, served on the Regional Commission from 1995 through 2016.  His tenure included serving as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer.
The Regional Commission wishes all three outgoing Commissioners well in the future!
Below: RRRC Executive Director Patrick Mauney presents Resolutions of Appreciation to John McCarthy (left) and Robert Gurtler (right)
Registration Open for Free Rural Development Roundtable on August 4th
The Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission, RRRC Regional Tourism Committee, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development are hosting a Rural Development Roundtable and Networking event on August 4th in Culpeper.

Join us for a FREE morning of learning about how your locality can partner with USDA Rural Development on community projects, networking with regional colleagues and USDA Rural Development staff, and small group breakout sessions on topics including:
  • Community Facilities
  • Rural Broadband access
  • Business Development opportunities, including startup and expansion for businesses and non-profits
  • Water & Sewer infrastructure funding
  • USDA Rural Housing programs
  • Value-added activities for agricultural producers
  • Other topics of regional interest  
This workshop is open to all interested participants, but is geared towards local elected officials, local government staff, including administrators, managers, planners, economic development, public safety, public works, as well as Main Street alliances, healthcare officials, and non-profit organizations.

Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.  Registration is required before August 3rd and can be completed online at http://rdroundtable.eventbrite.com.
When
August 4, 2016
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Where
Germanna CC
Daniel Technology Ctr.

18121 Technology Dr.
Culpeper, VA 22701
Map

Who Should Attend
- Local Elected Officials
- Local Administrators
- Planning Staff
- Economic Development Staff
- Public Safety Officials
- Public Works Officials
- Main Street Alliances
- Healthcare Organizations
- Non-profits

Schedule
9:00: Registration/Networking
9:15: Welcome
9:20: USDA-RD Overview
10:15: Break/Networking
10:30: Breakout Session 1
11:10: Breakout Session 2
11:50: Closing Remarks
FAMS Expands Employment, Volunteer, and Recreation Transportation Subcommittees
The Foothills Area Mobility System (FAMS) Steering Committee elected to create three new subcommittees to provide opportunities for members to concentrate their efforts on specific aspects of transportation and to ensure all needs and unmet needs in the region were being captured. The new subcommittees are:  Employment Transportation, Volunteer Transportation and Recreation Transportation.  

While the FAMS Committee continues to build upon their past collaborations, including the FAMS One-call/click Transportation Center and the Foothills Express shuttle bus, new energy is needed to address additional priority transportation needs; specifically employment, volunteer and recreation transportation. FAMS members volunteered to join one of the subcommittees and will meet regularly to identify and understand the needs and unmet needs of the region while developing potential strategies to address them. This information will be shared at the FAMS Steering Committee meetings who will work to implement them through grants, shared resources, education and outreach and other identified venues.

The information collected on needs, unmet needs and recommended strategies will also be incorporated in the region’s Consolidated Human Services Mobility (CHSM) Plan which is updated every five years.  Any human services transportation project seeking grant assistance from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) must be included in the CHSM Plan in order to be eligible for funding.

The FAMS Steering Committee is comprised of human service agencies, non-profits, transportation providers, businesses and other community stakeholders from each of the five counties.  Since its inception in 2009, FAMS has been awarded numerous grants and has implemented several projects to help support, expand and improve transportation in the region. The addition of these subcommittees will help continue their efforts in providing transportation options that meet the community’s needs, allowing residents more accessibility to live healthier, independent lives.
Homeowner's Guide to a Watershed-Friendly Backyard Now Available!
RRRC recently published “The Rappahannock-Rapidan Homeowner’s Guide to a Watershed-Friendly Backyard” to assist area residents in addressing common backyard issues while protecting local water quality.  The guide contains chapters on stormwater management, lawn and garden, septic system maintenance and pet waste management, all tailored to the region.  Basic how-to information is included in each chapter, as well as listings of resources and contacts for further information.

Inspiration for the guide came from the region’s local governments during the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Planning process to help address nonpoint-source pollution from residential property.  Content was developed with input from an ad hoc technical workgroup made up of staff from local and state government, and environmental organizations. Hard copies have been provided to the region’s County governments, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Health Department for distribution to homeowners.  It is also available for download from the Regional Commission’s website at www.rrregion.org/rainscaping.html, and due to the large number of web-based resources, is the most user-friendly method.

Development of the guide was funded through the Regional Commission’s National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Small Watershed Grant.  The overall grant project, which concludes at the end of August, incorporates aspects of Friends of the Rappahannock’s Rainscape Retrofits Program and Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Green Grass Program into a comprehensive Backyard Rainscaping program.  Cost-share funding, design, and installation of best-management practices are provided to urban and suburban homeowners within the region to address the impacts of stormwater runoff.  For further information on the Commission’s homeowner watershed education project, please visit the project website or contact Michelle Edwards at medwards@rrregion.org.
Foothills Housing Network Awarded Homeless Services Grant for Fiscal Years 2017 & 2018
The Foothills Housing Network (FHN) has been awarded continuation of Virginia Homeless Solutions Program (VHSP) grants totaling $412,000 for each of the next two fiscal years to continue providing homeless services to residents of the region. FHN partners that were awarded grants include RRRC, People Incorporated, and Culpeper Housing and Shelter Services (CHASS).  RRRC’s grant will be used for planning, coordination and facilitation efforts as lead agency for FHN; and to operate the Homeless Services Central Entry Program, which is a single point of contact for anyone seeking homeless assistance in the Rappahannock-Rapidan Region.  All requests for assistance should be directed to Central Entry at 540-724-6630.

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2016, Virginia Homeless Solutions grants allowed the Foothills Housing Network (FHN), which services the five counties of Planning District 9, to place 67 homeless households into permanent housing, and help another 49 households avoid certain homelessness by preventing evictions.
RRRC Commuter Services Ready to Assist Commuters
RRRC’s Commuter Services program has information about the regional commuter bus -- Academy Bus, VRE and Metro.   We can also help residents find or start a car or van pool by connecting commuters with others going the same way.   Commuter Services' representatives participate in numerous transportation fairs, regional and local events throughout the year to promote our services and would be happy to make a presentation to your group.  

We recently participated at Culpeper Fest and the Warrenton Street Festival, along with outreach to employers both in and outside the region.  Commuter Services' next event will be the Vint Hill Farm Festival on September 24th.  Email us at commute@rrregion.org or call (540) 829-7451 to discuss all of the commuting opportunities available to the region's commuters.
Upper Goose Creek TMDL Implementation Plan Underway
The first public meeting for the Upper Goose Creek TMDL-IP kicked off on June 21, 2016 at 6pm at Wakefield School in The Plains, VA. The Upper Goose Creek watershed is located in sections of Fauquier and Loudoun counties and includes Cromwells Run, Little River, Upper Goose Creek and some of its unnamed tributaries.  A total of 28 people attended with farmers, homeowners, government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations represented.  

The consultant, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) presented an overview of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) update and Implementation Plan (IP) elements through a power point presentation. DEQ shared information on the TMDL IP public participation process and Kevin Jennings, Manager for Archwood Farms, spoke on his experience utilizing various cost share incentives offered by DEQ. After the presentations there was a question and answer period before attendees were invited to attend the Agricultural or Residential Working Group session immediately following the short break.

During the working group sessions, attendees provided feedback on suggested best management practices that would be successful, asked questions about the data and programs available and shared their comments and concerns. At the conclusion of the working group sessions, volunteers from each working group were recruited for the Steering Committee.

The next Agricultural and Residential Working Group meetings will be held on September 22, 2016 and the final public meeting will tentatively be held in December 2016. The minutes, presentations and hand-outs from the meeting are available on the Regional Commission's website. Comments can be submitted to Jenny Biche (jkbiche@rrregion.org) or May Sligh (may.sligh@deq.virginia.gov) by July 21, 2016. 
Below: Archwood Farms (Courtesy Kevin Jennings)
2015 Virginia Workforce Development Survey Report Released
The Virginia Employment Commission, working with Virginia Commonwealth University's Center for Urban and Regional Analysis recently completed the 2015 Virginia Workforce Development Survey.  The survey measured:
  • Current and projected number of employees over the next 12 months
  • Number of projected job vacancies and expected difficulty filling those positions
  • Most important "hard" and "soft" skills needed for job vacancies
  • Projected wage and salary levels for job vacancies
The Rappahannock-Rapidan region is located within Workforce Investment Board Area VI.  Within that area, the largest number of projected vacancies are expected in Education, Training, & Library Occupations, Healthcare Practitioner & Support Occupations, and Construction & Extraction Occupations.  In addition, WIB Area VI is one of four regions where anticipated job openings will require more formal education, defined as beyond high school or GED education. 

The final report can be accessed on the Virginia Employment Commission website.
Photo Feature:  The Plains Historic District
This is an ongoing feature focusing on a building or area of historic interest in the region. We will feature noteworthy historic areas or buildings from each of the five counties and eight towns and welcome your suggestions and pictures to planinfo@rrregion.org.

One of the more recent additions to the National Register of Historic Places in the region, The Plains Historic District was added in May 2014.  The Historic District is 131 acres and includes most of the properties within the official corporate limits of the town.  Reflecting the relative lack of modern period construction within the town, 95% of the properties within the historic district have a primary resource dated before 1962, with most resources constructed between 1900 and 1930, and 1940 and 1960, according the application submitted by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to the NRHP.  The application also notes that "the interstate's avoidance of The Plains [referring to Interstate 66 bypassing the town in 1979] ultimately helped preserve the community's fabric and streetscape...today The Plains is a vibrant center of activity catering to both local residents and to tourists visiting Virginia's scenic and historic hunt country."
Copyright © 2016 Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission, All rights reserved.


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