Go Virginia Region 2 highlights $3.7M in investments affecting Campbell; county leaders discuss EDC, comprehensive plan and data centers

Kimbell Payne, representing GO Virginia Region 2, briefed the Board of Supervisors on the region's economic development program, telling the board the regional council supports job creation by funding projects that build industry-specific credential pipelines, support site-readiness and match other local or private funding.

Nut graf: Payne said Region 2 has funded 14 projects that touched Campbell County and supplied roughly $3.7 million in Go Virginia funds to projects that produce jobs and credentials; the board followed the presentation with discussion about reviving the county's Economic Development Commission (EDC), advancing the county's comprehensive economic development strategy (SEDS), and preparing for potential data-center opportunities.

Payne described the program's structure: a state council is the ultimate decision-maker, the Department of Housing and Community Development administers the program, and regional councils vet and forward projects. He said Region 2 receives about $1.5 million a year for grants and planning and that Go Virginia funding typically acts as a matching source to leverage other public or private funds. Payne highlighted Central Virginia Community College's CTE Academy as a major source of credentials in the region and noted projects to improve site readiness at Lynchburg Regional Airport and workforce programs run by local partners.

Board members asked how Go Virginia dollars flow into local projects. Payne said grants typically go to grantees (regional entities, colleges or nonprofits) and that successful applications usually show multi-jurisdictional collaboration; single-locality projects are less likely to be funded, he said. Supervisors pressed on whether Campbell County taxpayers were paying for K-12 CTE programming; Payne and other presenters explained that the CTE Academy serves both k-12 students and workforce training and that local school divisions and community colleges remain primary funders for direct K-12 tuition.

The board also discussed local economic-development governance. Administrator Rogers reported the Economic Development Commission has been dormant and asked supervisors to suggest candidates to repopulate the body; he said a current comprehensive economic development strategy (SEDS) is in place and that the EDC could help operationalize that plan and guide future grant applications including federal Economic Development Administration funding.

Supervisors and staff then discussed data-center prospects. County economic-development members noted that data centers require three core elements: power, connectivity and (often) water for cooling, although free-air cooling can reduce water needs. The board heard that data centers bring large capital investments and a significant tax base but limited long-term on-site employment; the county has taken steps to allow heavy industrial uses and staff said they've had preliminary conversations with brokers and potential investors.

Ending: Supervisors asked staff to continue outreach and to return with policy or ordinance options if and when concrete projects materialize; they also asked staff to pursue candidates for a reconstituted EDC to support SEDS implementation and federal grant eligibility.