NSVRC supports economic development in the region by accessing funding and partnerships critical in developing and implementing marketable assets that make the Valley competitive. NSVRC partners with the region’s economic development organizations, K-12 and higher education, chambers of commerce, tourism, small business development center, private sector, and elected officials to identify opportunities for investment throughout the region. Shenandoah Valley is the premier location for business and visitation.
We bring projects to life by leveraging state and federal funding to cost-share investments...
Services We Provide
- Project Development
- Grant writing
- Procurement
- Contract Management
- Fiscal Agency
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is the guiding document for future work. The CEDS is updated every 5 years to reflect the economic development goals of the region with input from more than 100 stakeholders.
Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) was created by the 2008 U.S. Farm Bill and includes the counties in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia that are not included in the Appalachian Regional Commission. The Governor of Virginia serves as State Member on the Commission. The supported counties are designated by a level of distress that determines eligibility for funding. In the NSV Region Frederick, Clarke, and Winchester are designated as “Attainment Counties”; Shenandoah, Warren, and Page are designated as “Transitional Counties”; and the City of Winchester has a single isolated area of distress. SCRC funds states based on overall population, distressed population, and distressed square miles. Virginia was allocated approximately $2.3M, or 11.36% of the $20M in available funding in FY 24.
NSVRC engages with SCRC through a cooperative agreement through which staff will identify and align projects and programs in the region that could leverage funding in SCRC's priority investment areas:
- Invest in critical infrastructure (water sewer, digital infrastructure, transportation infrastructure and transit)
- Improve health and support services access and outcomes (access to affordable and high-quality mental and physical healthcare)
- Strengthen workforce capacity (promote workforce development programs for local, high-demand job opportunities)
- Foster entrepreneurial and business development activities (expanding access to capital supporting innovation and economic equity, investments in business opportunities that address critical challenges while attracting and retaining talent)
- Expand affordable housing stock and access (increase access to services and legal assistance to resolve title, heirship, land tenure and eviction issues; support access to homebuyer programs, and efforts to improve the affordability and availability of quality housing)
- Promote environmental conservation, preservation, and access (air, water, and soil cleanup efforts that impact historically disadvantaged communities, and preserve and expand access to natural resources to increase outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities)
GO Virginia
GO Virginia is a bipartisan, business-led economic development initiative that is changing the way the Commonwealth’s diverse regions collaborate on economic and workforce development activities. The objective of the GO Virginia program is to foster private sector growth and job creation through state incentives for strategic regional collaboration.
NSVRC serves as the lead support organization for GO Virginia and contracts with the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission and private providers for staff support as needed. The GO Virginia Region 8 website offers relevant information regarding the program, funding priorities, and how to apply.
