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Community partners present FY2025 requests; CRC proposes regional development group and asks for membership contribution
Summary
Representatives from the Commonwealth Regional Council, VA Legal Aid, Piedmont Senior Resources, the library, STEPS and veteran services presented FY2025 funding requests; CRC proposed forming a regional economic development organization and requested $2.50 per capita (about $30,078 for Lunenburg).
On April 11 several community partners made FY2025 funding presentations to the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors.
Melody Foster, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC), said CRC secured $1.2 million in grant funding for Lunenburg County in 2023 and requested an annual membership contribution of $19,000. Foster also proposed forming a new regional economic development organization modeled on the Virginia Growth Alliance (VGA). Based on a recent poll CRC cited, Foster said 61 percent of businesses were unfamiliar with a regional organization and 68 percent did not understand what it does; CRC requested $2.50 per capita as a local match (approximately $30,078 for Lunenburg) to support startup costs and asked whether IDA funds might be an appropriate source for the initial investment.
Other presenters and requests included Pam DeCamp for the VA Legal Aid Society (requesting $4,992), Jeff Angle for Piedmont Senior Resources (requesting $16,445 and noting the organization served 516 clients and delivered 12,510 meals in the county last year), JB Crenshaw of the Lunenburg County Public Library (requesting increases after 10 years without additional county funding), Shawn Rozier of STEPS, Inc. (requesting level funding of $21,500 for Community Action Agency operations and $11,000 to support reopening Madeline’s House, a domestic violence shelter), and Douglas Randolph of the Piedmont Area Veterans Council (requesting $5,000 to support operations in a new facility).
Administrator Gee said the Finance Committee will meet to review all requests and make recommendations to the full Board; the Board asked Administrator Gee to research whether IDA funds could be used for the CRC regional economic development startup contribution.
