Governor McDonnell Announces Additional $4.1 Million in Community Development Block Grant Funding

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell speaking at CPAC. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Seven localities receive Community Improvement Grants for housing rehabilitation and downtown revitalization projects

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced an additional $4.1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for four projects in Virginia. The seven community improvement projects are in addition to the $6.8 million of funding provided this year.

“The Community Development Block Grant program provides funding for localities to address numerous issues,” said Governor McDonnell.  “These projects focus on improving the lives of thousands of Virginians and utilizing all available resources to better our communities throughout Virginia.”

Since 1982, the federally-funded CDBG program has been administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and Virginia receives approximately $17 million annually for this grant program. CDBG grants are awarded through a competitive process.  Most projects benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and many projects are targeted for the prevention or elimination of slums and blighting conditions.

During this year’s competitive cycle, 35 proposals were submitted by 34 localities, and 11 projects received the initial funding. The Community Development Block Grant Program specifies that funding which has not been obligated or which has been returned from closed projects or cost under-runs by December is to be committed to proposals which did not initially receive funding in that year.

“Through the CDBG program, Virginia addresses issues including housing, economic development, health, safety and more to create great communities to live, work and do business,” said DHCD Director Bill Shelton.

2013 CDBG Community Improvement Grant Awards:

Locality	Project Name	CDBG Award
Matthews County	Matthews Court House Business District Revitalization Project	$   666,696
Town of Wytheville	Downtown Wytheville Business District Revitalization	$   700,000
City of Emporia	Belfield Business District Revitalization Project	$   719,596
Rockbridge County	Greenhouse Village Housing Production Project	$   288,936
Town of South Boston	Washington Coleman Housing Project Multi-Year Funding	$   600,000
Town of Blackstone	Church Street Project – Phase II Multi-Year Funding	$   600,000
Town of Chase City	Washington Street Housing Improvement Project Multi-Year Funding	$   535,132
	Total Recommended	$   4,110,360

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Governor McDonnell Announces $2.2 Million in Appalachian Regional Commission Grants

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell speaking at CPAC. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Grants leverage cultural, natural, community, structural and economic assets in Southwest Virginia

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced $2.2 million in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grants for 10 projects in the ARC region, which encompasses 25 counties and eight independent cities in Southwest Virginia.

“ARC funds are part of an economic development strategy to spur growth in the Appalachian region,” said Governor McDonnell. “We are encouraging development in communities that are poised for future growth by funding projects such as infrastructure, education, tourism and entrepreneurship support.”

Established in 1965, the general goal of the ARC program is to assist the region in achieving economic prosperity that more completely reflects the nation’s overall prosperity. ARC funds are broadly aimed at providing economic development in the Appalachian Region by funding projects such as infrastructure, entrepreneurship support and workforce development.  The grants support the goal of building a strong and sustainable asset-based economy by bringing jobs and prosperity to Appalachian communities while preserving their character.

2013 Virginia Appalachian Regional Commission Program Grants:

Applicant	Project Name	ARC Award
New College Foundation	New College Center of Excellence	$   200,000
The Highland Center	Attracting New Residents to Highland County	$   50,000
Emory and Henry College	Creation of classrooms with lab facilities for Emory and Henry College School of Health Sciences	$   500,000
People Incorporated Financial Services	People Incorporated Financial Services Small Business Boot Camp	$   75,513
The Crooked Road	Crooked Road Economic Impact Assessment	$   10,000
Mountain Empire Community College	Mountain Empire College Access Initiative	$   99,612
Town of Big Stone Gap	Big Stone Gap Visitors Center	$   51,294
Wise County Public Service Authority	Roda, Osaka and Stonega Sewer Project – Phase I	$   500,000
St. Paul IDA	Willis Building Renovation	$   500,000
Town of Haysi	Haysi Trails Center Development Project	$   288,564
	Total	$   2,272,938

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Gloucester, VA School Board, Federal and State Grants (Part 4)

Armand A. Fusco, Ed.D.

About the Yankee Institute for Public Policy

The Yankee Institute for Public Policy, Inc. is a nonpartisan educational and research organization
founded more than two decades ago. Today, the Yankee Institute’s mission is to “promote
economic opportunity through lower taxes and new ideas for better government in Connecticut.”


Question 4: Federal and State Grants 

How are grants being managed in the school district? Who is responsible for
monitoring the grants for proper implementation? How is the monitoring actually
done?

Background: Grants are another common and significant source of
corrupt acts. There are two types of grants: entitlement (specific dollar amounts
allocated to a district for specific reasons) and competitive (schools are not
required to apply for such grants). All too often, districts do not take advantage
of the latter because they involve extra effort and work -- a poor excuse
considering the additional resources such grants could provide.

It is extremely important to note that grant monies cannot be used to
replace previously budgeted dollars. The monies must be used as an add-on to
the budget. One common grant abuse is that schools use funds to supplant
the budget (replace previous budgeted dollars) -- a corrupt act. What must
also be reviewed very carefully is to see who has received any of the monies.

Since grants usually do not involve local dollars (some do require
matching funds or resources), local oversight is shoddy at best. State and
federal education bureaucrats are responsible for monitoring the grants, but
are too often ineffective in uncovering mismanagement and fraud. This is why
grants dollars are abused so easily.  

Proposed Solution: During each budget presentation, a list of all grants
that were available to the school district should be listed, as well as the dollar
amounts involved. Next to each should be indicated whether the grant was
applied for and whether it was approved (with dollar amounts). If some were
not applied for, the reason should be given. The State Department of Education
will also have a list of all such grants (unless they are foundation grants).

Approved grants are public documents and must be forensically
examined to determine whether they are and have been used for the purpose
intended. If funds have not been spent according to the grant application, the
reasons must be given.

Any citizen can sue the district (as a person) if federal grant dollars have
been misused and receive a third of the recovered amount. School Corruption:
Betrayal of Children and the Public Trust gives the citation of the unanimous
U.S. Supreme Court ruling on this issue.

This is part 4 in our 10 part series on avoiding school corruption.  It's time to ask a lot of questions.

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Governor McDonnell Announces Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Planning Grant Recipients

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell by Gage Skidmore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~ $60,500 Awarded to Three Projects Covering Seven Localities Developing Plans on Agritourism, a Virginia Wine Heritage Center, and Local Food Systems ~

  Grant Funds Remain Available, Applications Accepted on a Rolling Basis through June 2014

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the recipients of the initial round of fiscal year 2014 planning grants from the planning grants program of the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID).  The AFID planning grants program was developed to encourage local governments and regional organizations to think strategically about how they can better support and integrate agriculture and forestry-based industries into their community’s overall economic development efforts.

            “At the state level, we’ve had great success incorporating the Commonwealth’s two largest industries, agriculture and forestry, and their $70 billion overall impact on our economy into our economic development agenda,” said Governor McDonnell. “Creating a program that incentivizes communities to plan for how they can best grow and support these industries in their business community is a natural continuation of a strategy that is proven to benefit Virginians and create jobs.” 

            The communities and regions receiving AFID planning grants will match each dollar awarded with a dollar of local funds, including certain types of allowed in-kind contributions. The program also requires the active participation of a board, committee or working group representing the relevant agriculture and forestry interests in the locality.  

            “Applicants were given flexibility to pursue the type of project that made the most sense for their region or locality, whether it was taking advantage of an existing asset, as Roanoke County is doing with their study of Virginia Tech’s Catawba Sustainability Center or exploring the creation of a new asset, as Albemarle County is doing with their Virginia Wine Heritage Center Study,” said Todd Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  “By actively involving the agriculture and forestry community into the planning process we are helping communities grow a long standing component of their economic infrastructure while providing new opportunities to our farm and timber producers.”

            The AFID planning grants program guidelines were first announced by Governor McDonnell on November 27, 2012.  Fiscal year 2013 awards were announced May 8, 2013 and awarded $249,000 to eleven projects covering thirty-one localities.  With this announcement, the AFID planning grants program has committed $309,500 to fourteen projects covering thirty-eight localities.  Applicants demonstrating a clear need, a solution to be undertaken, and strong support from local government and the agriculture and forestry community received the highest marks during the review process.  For the remainder of fiscal year 2014, requests from the AFID planning grants fund, which has $189,500 in uncommitted funds, will be accepted, reviewed, and awarded on a rolling basis until the fund is exhausted.

            Details on the grant awards are below. Localities interested in applying may visit http://vdacs.virginia.gov/agribusiness/planning.shtml for more information.

           According to a 2013 economic impact study by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, agriculture and forestry are two of Virginia's largest industries, with a combined economic impact of $70 billion annually. Agriculture generates more than $52 billion per annum, while forestry induces over $17 billion. The industries also provide more than 400,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.

Governor’s Agricultural and Forestry Industries’ Fiscal Year 2014

Planning Grant Recipients and Projects

Project Title: Feasibility Study to Establish Virginia Wine Heritage Center in Albemarle County

Applicant: Albemarle County

Award: $20,000

Summary: Albemarle County is partnering with the Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau, Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello, and Piedmont Virginia Community College, to bring in an expert consultant to examine the feasibility of establishing a Virginia Wine Heritage Center in Albemarle County.  The study will look at critical partnerships, facility attributes and location, funding needs, and the appropriate business model.

Project Title: Building Agricultural and Forestry-based Businesses in The Foothills

Applicant: Rappahannock-Rapidan Region-Planning District (RRPDC); includes Culpepper, Orange, Madison, Fauquier, and Rappahannock counties

Award: $33,000

Summary: The project is an effort to increase support and preservation of the region’s agricultural and forestry based industries by implementing specific strategies designed to raise awareness of these industries, increase the purchases of regional ag and forestry products, and sustain the future of agriculture and forestry in region. Deliverables include a regional agro-artisan trail, directory, brand, annual conference, marketing effort, and completion of regional green infrastructure maps and data with agricultural soils and water quality.

Project Title: Linking the Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center to the Local Food System

Applicant: Roanoke County

Award: $7,500

Summary: The Virginia Tech Catawba Sustainability Center is a 377 acre historic dairy farm located in Roanoke County that was donated by the former Catawba Sanitarium to Virginia Tech.  In recent years, Roanoke County has helped fund the activities of the center and searched for ways to help the center contribute to region’s economy. Roanoke County and staff at the Sustainability Center, will work with Virginia Tech’s Office of Economic Development to explore strategies to increase the connectivity of the Catawba Sustainability Center to the regional food system. 

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Governor McDonnell Announces $859,406 in Grants to Expand Community Services for Individuals with Disabilities

English: Governor of Virginia at CPAC in . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD), the Commonwealth’s Developmental Disabilities Council, has awarded six grants totaling $859,406 to improve and expand support for individuals with developmental and other disabilities. The grantees have leveraged an additional $324,992 in private, local and state funds. 

“The grants awarded by VBPD will benefit all Virginians, not just those with disabilities,” said Governor McDonnell. “As we continue the transition to a community-based system for individuals with developmental disabilities, it is important that we implement programs to help these individuals and the communities around them thrive.  The grants awarded will serve persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in integrated settings as we move towards a Commonwealth of Opportunity for all.”

            The 2014 awards are:

Grantee:  Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS)

Project:  “Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program”

Grant Award:  $52,066       

Project Goal:  To develop a peer mentoring program for individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities being or recently discharged from state training centers.  Trained mentors will share their experiences and provide information and resources that will facilitate integration into community life.  DBHDS will partner with The Arc of Virginia and Hope House Foundation to build capacity and competence for a statewide peer-to-peer network and implement the mentoring program.

Grantee:  Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living (VACIL)

Project:  “Empowerment to Prevent Institutionalization”

Grant Award:  $ 124,688    

Project Goal:  To prevent the institutionalization of people with developmental and other disabilities who experience medical interventions, behavioral stresses or changes in family dynamics. Materials specific to each region will be developed and approximately 450 healthcare professionals will be trained on preventing institutionalization.

Grantee:  Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living (VACIL)

Project:  “ABLE: Advocates Building Livable Environments”

Grant Award:  $ 171,409    

Project Goal:  To significantly increase the knowledge, skill and expertise of builders, building inspectors/officials, engineers, architects and design professionals in the area of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines and Fair Housing laws.  The initiative will train at least 120 building professionals in 134 jurisdictions in Virginia through multiple formats.

Grantee:  Virginia Commonwealth University—Partnership for People with Disabilities (PPD)

Project:  “Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention”

Grant Award:  $ 178,125    

Project Goal:  To teach people with developmental and other disabilities about healthy relationships and how to protect themselves from assault, abuse, neglect and violence. The curriculum will be piloted at a state training center and ultimately will train 250 persons with disabilities through 15-20 training sessions in central Virginia using a train-the-trainer model.  

Grantee:  Virginia Oral Health Coalition (VaOHC)

Project:  “Improving Oral Health for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities”

Grant Award:  $ 89,143      

Project Goal:  To build statewide capacity and commitment for the provision of dental health services to individuals with developmental disabilities. VaOHC will conduct three 2-day Regional Dental Provider Trainings, with continuing education credits, in Chesapeake, Lynchburg and Richmond. VaOHC will also work with the VCU School of Dentistry on a dental externship.

As Virginia’s Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council, VBPD works to develop and advance policies and practices that promote individual and family-directed services and supports that allow individuals with developmental and other disabilities to be fully integrated and included in all facets of community life.

VBPD has invested in more than 220 best-practice, demonstration, research, advocacy, training and outreach projects in the areas of community supports, healthcare, education, employment, housing and transportation. 

Funding for VBPD’s investment initiatives is provided by the federal Administration for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,  under the national Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-402).

To learn more about VBPD, its grants, advocacy and leadership programs and other activities, visitwww.vaboard.org, call (800) 846-4464, or e-mail Info@VBPD.virginia.gov.