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Buckingham board hears grant and staffing requests from community center, Extension and veterans council
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Summary
At the March 9 meeting, the board received funding requests: Curdsville Community Center asked for $5,000 annually for kitchen heat/AC; Virginia Cooperative Extension requested conversion of a part‑time 4‑H assistant to full time to meet expanded program demand; Piedmont Area Veterans Council requested continued county support while pursuing sustainability.
Several community organizations presented budget requests and program summaries during the March 9 Buckingham County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Katherine Brooks representing the Curdsville Community Center requested a $5,000 annual grant to install heat and air conditioning in the kitchen and to support ongoing maintenance of the 111‑year‑old building. Brooks said the center keeps rental rates low to remain accessible and that prior discussions with County Administrator Karl R. Carter suggested successful applicants become recurring budget line items. Vice Chairman Gilliam and Supervisor Davis noted support; Mr. Gilliam relayed that absent Supervisor Michael Palmore had urged support.
Ruth Wallace (4‑H Agent and Unit Coordinator) and Jennifer Liggon (Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent) described Extension activity in 2025, including 1,646 enrolled youth (some participating in multiple delivery modes), strong local cattle‑industry sales, and volunteer contributions. They asked the board to fund transitioning a part‑time 4‑H program assistant into a full‑time, benefited position to expand 4‑H and agricultural programming. “We are getting lots more questions…and we are at capacity,” Wallace said, explaining demand for home‑food preservation, farm startup support and workforce‑readiness programs.
Sarah Maddox of the Piedmont Area Veterans Council described a volunteer‑led operation serving veterans, spouses and caregivers; she said the council delivered more than $633,000 in assistance to Buckingham County veterans in a recent short period and requested continued county support while the council aims to become self‑sustaining.
Board discussion: Vice Chairman Gilliam and other supervisors expressed support for community programs; Mr. Gilliam said absent members had communicated backing for at least some requests. The board did not finalize recurring appropriations during the March 9 meeting but noted the requests will be considered during the upcoming budget work sessions.
What happens next: The requests will be incorporated into the county budget process and discussed at the March 18 budget work session and subsequent meetings. If approved, the Curdsville grant and Extension staffing change would be reflected in the fiscal‑year budget.