[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6362260,"mediaKeyId","2168301-13421b04ae10a7b169b44c1ce0ee1734","parentId",2168301,"title","Blacksburg staff reviewing potential effects of temporary federal assistance pause on housing and transit funding","audioSeconds",204,"startMs",518000,"endMs",722000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168301-13421b04ae10a7b169b44c1ce0ee1734&start=518&end=722","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168301-13421b04ae10a7b169b44c1ce0ee1734/thumbnail_518000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362260/Blacksburg/Montgomery-County/Virginia/Blacksburg-staff-reviewing-potential-effects-of-temporary-federal-assistance-pause-on-housing-and-transit-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362260-dc35cc069b7aa341aed2578b790427db/orig.mp4?Expires=1773682998&Signature=K4FtzHq7LcWtleetokU~ZiWAfmd4Hx1Qab3LIAJfe5zJZG8aioHbbDGuvwrorUJ503YDAcH~adWXcAskdUk4TNeJfM2Xj1pQ83-i0XbWSk5FPDB2hONH~TiF1~g0sWCuqI2Iv4-psPaWYm289UfLEBZLVPPHGPuX2URKeB8jcCWs3RETZTfhApiXW-A2tXO3NKFjhimfayOBTf0JqEW2fgDwvqqQ1EUx3YNpRdA0mGpB7nikxDglXisRFeMo2b52mMshKpqVv0W6vDmOmjrCMNb4GWUQZLnad92GkTVroMOvjIXX4VrtkpLfCkVotAIpMyL0Myn5-wt8B7Sp7sZkJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-28T23:46:10Z","article","Town officials in Blacksburg said staff are investigating how a short-lived federal pause on assistance could affect local housing and transit programs, and that a federal judge has temporarily blocked the freeze.

The town manager told the council the initial White House memo prompted widespread confusion about whether all federal grants and loans would be paused. “The short answer is we don't know yet,” the town manager said, adding that the memo appeared to pause a broad range of federal assistance and agencies were still interpreting the guidance. The manager noted a news report that a judge had blocked the assistance freeze, which could move the question into the courts.

Officials said the two major federal funding streams for the town are its housing programs and transit funding. Transit dollars flow from the federal government through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) at the state level; housing projects often combine Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program funds with other federal or local sources. The town manager said staff are reviewing existing and future projects to determine whether any have funding dependencies that would be disrupted.

On ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, staff said current information indicates ARPA allocations to the town are not included in the pause. The manager cautioned, however, that the town uses ARPA in some housing projects that also rely on other federal funding, meaning an interruption to those other sources could indirectly affect projects financed in part by ARPA.

The manager also noted the university’s federal research and salary funding is a related community concern and that Virginia Tech staff were assessing potential impacts. Council members were told staff will report back with more specific information once agencies clarify which programs, if any, are affected and how ongoing projects might be adjusted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blacksburg Town Council Meeting - January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Town officials in Blacksburg said staff are investigating how a short-lived federal pause on assistance could affect local housing and transit programs, and that a federal judge has temporarily blocked the freeze.","taxTitle","Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia","taxId",4264,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6362265,"Blacksburg council adopts FY2025–30 capital improvement program; members flag parking data gaps",191,335000,526000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168301-13421b04ae10a7b169b44c1ce0ee1734&start=335&end=526","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168301-13421b04ae10a7b169b44c1ce0ee1734/thumbnail_335000.jpg","/articles/6362265/Blacksburg/Montgomery-County/Virginia/Blacksburg-council-adopts-FY202530-capital-improvement-program-members-flag-parking-data-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362265-a702cca447045ff70cef7ea0b48a6076/orig.mp4?Expires=1773682998&Signature=ewJ3B5LtwvtoQintGfox-c4lPYSvT3om-Yg3Q2s-Cd1bpiRfzkt9jWPivlpEmmyFkB09gJRI~ozPdFbg6B~4GSRv5HEllrbdeBTrwt2x76y8ztZVlSu--j~esVbRB~h5XlSjwO7SBixATsY3xfTh5RaDW3X8wvKRlOL5nnRGPLws0OgpBaURaaldOHpagchjboJSL1d0QzGBJts034LcJTDOd3f3cPCnxT0YXoLyVdth8V6XQhON~EDCCkmeNmpITEx4Oo2oX6VFqSa7Affg1coLF5qbaSqFS-biSOpsX41TzryfOvUrhskmL36VfRIFWoH56goKe--S7TEamTnVDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blacksburg Town Council voted to adopt the town’s capital improvement program for fiscal years 2025 through 2030, approving Resolution 1 C 25 after a brief discussion about downtown parking needs.

The resolution adopts the five-year-plus CIP that the council reviewed in prior meetings and work sessions; council members said they had considered public comments submitted during the hearing and in written form.

Council members discussed a letter from Dr. Charles Shague that questioned how much parking the town needs and urged greater emphasis on housing and downtown development that would reduce reliance on automobiles. One council member summarized Shague’s position, saying his “preference is for more housing downtown and for attracting businesses that will make it possible for people to live downtown without needing an automobile.” The council member added they shared some of those concerns while balancing other town priorities, including fields and public safety needs.

Council members asked staff to provide supporting parking data before the town advances construction funding for an out-year garage. The town manager said staff have conducted parking counts and citizen surveys and can update the council with parking-utilization figures to help justify any future garage investment. “We can update those and let you know kind of what parking utilization existing parking utilization looks like in downtown,” the town manager said.

The council called the roll and the motion to adopt the CIP passed on a recorded vote. The council also approved the meeting’s consent agenda, which included approval of the Jan. 7 town council minutes and the 2025 Blacksburg Legislative Priorities.

Staff indicated they will return with updated parking data and other information before the town moves forward on funding for the proposed garage or related downtown projects.","The Blacksburg Town Council voted to adopt its capital improvement program for fiscal years 2025–2030. Council members acknowledged letters raising concerns about a proposed downtown parking garage and asked staff to supply parking-utilization data before funding is advanced.","actionData","errors"]

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Blacksburg staff reviewing potential effects of temporary federal assistance pause on housing and transit funding

Blacksburg council adopts FY2025–30 capital improvement program; members flag parking data gaps