So much is happening that it’s easy to miss something. This is our brief weekly highlight of a few things we’ve see happening across Virginia. Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with news, funding opportunities, and events as we post them.
Climate Pollution Reduction Grant for climate action planning
VADEQ has received a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant for climate action planning from the USEPA. This grant will fund the development of a statewide Priority Climate Action Plan and Comprehensive Climate Action Plan and VADEQ needs input from communities across the state. Please attend one of their community meetings (hosted Dec 4-14) to provide ideas for measures that could rapidly reduce GHG emissions in Virginia. The feedback they gather from these meetings will help them develop a short-term Priority Climate Action Plan that includes projects that would then compete for part of a $4.3 billion implementation fund. Read more
Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program
EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy. Deadline to apply: November 21, 2024
Addressing food insecurity in the Appalachian region
Food insecurity is something many communities face and it can be hard to know the best way to address the issue. Learning from those who have launched successful programs is a great place to start. The Appalachian Regional Commission recently published a new report, “Food Insecurity in Appalachia,” highlighting how food banks, social enterprises, and nonprofits are making nourishing food more accessible for all. Read more
Unpacking Biden’s Climate Framework: Implications for Virginia’s Resilience Revolution
In September, the Biden administration released the National Climate Resilience Framework, outlining 6 core objectives to strengthen the nation’s climate resilience. But what does this framework mean for Virginia and how can it help build resilience in the state? In this article, Ann Randolph Whitlow, graduate student at Virginia Tech Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, unpacks how this framework is an opportunity for Virginia to take proactive steps toward a more resilient and sustainable future. Read more
Patrick & Henry expands workforce training opportunities with new building
Patrick & Henry Community College in Martinsville marked the formal opening of the Manufacturing Engineering Technology 2 complex (MET2). This space is designed to provide students with the skills and competencies they need to acquire good paying and high demand jobs at the local, state, and national levels. The facility includes several welding stations, a robotic welding room, and a virtual welding room, among other facilities. There are around 200 students currently enrolled at MET2. Read more
Dominion launches program to teach students on Peninsula about wind energy
Students at New Horizons Regional Education Center (located in Hampton, Va) now have a chance to gain hands-on experience in wind energy. A 30-foot micro wind turbine was installed at the center as part of the Wind for Students program, a partnership between Dominion Energy and the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project. As Dominion Energy develops its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind farm (27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach), this program is especially important to help train the workforce needed to complete the project. Read more
Regional resilience initiative launched
The state has also historically focused on coastal resilience and we’re happy to say that much progress has been made. However, the needs and priorities of non-coastal communities differ from coastal communities. Because of this, communities in Central and Southwest Virginia would benefit from intentional discussion and problem solving related to non-coastal needs and priorities with others who are going through the same challenges they are. Through the Resilient Virginia Collaborative Alliance, our rural and inland communities will collectively identify priority concerns; have a robust unified voice at the regional level; and accomplish more by working together. This will increase opportunities for funding revenue and boost local capacity. Read more
