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County administrator reports: denied housing grant, Space Center Australia‑NASA agreement at Wallops, and polling-place comment period
Summary
County Administrator Mike Mason reported a denial of a DHCD housing reconstruction grant for Horntown, announced a Space Center Australia–NASA Space Act agreement for horizontal air‑launch testing at Wallops, and reminded the public of a 30‑day comment period on a proposed polling‑place change.
County Administrator Mike Mason used his April 16 remarks to summarize several staff reports and external developments.
Mason said the county partnered with the Accomack‑Northampton Planning District Commission (AMPDC) to submit a grant to reconstruct five houses in Horntown, but the application was not selected for funding. He attached a denial letter to the meeting agenda and said the county has requested a debrief from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to determine why the project was not funded and intends to resubmit in the next grant cycle.
Mason also noted a recent press release that Space Center Australia and NASA have entered a space act agreement to advance horizontal air‑launch vehicle testing at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, and that Space Center Australia plans development involving a modified C‑130J Super Hercules to support airborne launch platform testing; Mason said the company may base operations at the Wallops/Wilds runway in the future.
Finally, Mason reminded the public that a 30‑day comment period on a proposed polling‑place change (moving a polling place from Tomkin Elementary School to the Mary Ann Smith Cultural Enrichment Center) runs from April 22 to May 21, with a public hearing to follow and instructions for submitting comments included in the agenda item.
Ending: County staff will request a debrief regarding the denied Horntown grant, monitor developments related to Space Center Australia’s activities at Wallops, and publish details for the polling‑place comment period and upcoming hearing.
