Bland supervisors accept $242,500 VDEM grant, approve backup generator for Bland Elementary

The Bland County Board of Supervisors on June 24 voted to accept and appropriate a VDEM Sheltering Grant totaling $242,500, including a required local share of $70,325, to purchase a backup generator for Bland Elementary School and add the funds to the FY26 Emergency Services budget.

The motion to approve and appropriate the grant was made by Supervisor Patrick Groseclose and seconded by Supervisor Keith Costello; the motion carried unanimously. The Board’s action directs staff to enter the grant revenue and related expenditures into the FY26 Emergency Services budget so the generator purchase can proceed.

The grant is administered by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and, as presented to the Board, covers equipment needed to ensure sheltering capacity during prolonged power outages. County staff noted the grant requires a local match; the Board approved the $70,325 local share as part of the appropriation. The transcript records no additional discussion of vendor selection, timeline for purchase, or installation responsibilities.

Cameron Burton, the county administrator who is listed as present at the meeting, and Emergency Services staff are expected to handle the administrative steps required to accept the grant and direct procurement according to county policies. The Board did not set a public timeline for generator delivery or installation during the meeting.

The supervisors took the vote after routine budget items and other business; the meeting adjourned immediately afterward.