PlanRVA Brings Home Three 2022 NADO Impact Award Certificates

Earlier this year, PlanRVA was awarded three 2022 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) during its 2022 Annual Training Conference in Pittsburgh. PlanRVA was recognized for its work to develop ConnectRVA 2045, in support of the Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund and in founding the Lower Chickahominy Watershed Collaborative.

NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of the nation’s regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies which strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. PlanRVA Chairman Sean Davis joined the NADO Board of Directors in December 2022, representing the east region from Virginia to Maine. PlanRVA’s Executive Director, Martha Shickle also serves on the Board of Directors.

The Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities.

“[PlanRVA] is proud to be a member of an organization dedicated to promoting equitable community development and improving rural development and quality of place, among other efforts,” said Martha Shickle, PlanRVA Executive Director. “We’re honored to be recognized. The staff at PlanRVA are dedicated every day to improving the Greater Richmond Region through collaborative initiatives like these.”

Recognition in Transportation: ConnectRVA 2045

Led by the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization, ConnectRVA 2045 is the latestmultimodal plan that makes recommendations for transit, bicycle, pedestrian, air, road and freight-related projects with short-term and long-term strategies. The 2045 Vision is to have a transportation system in the Richmond Region that will reliably and safely connect people, prioritize more equitable opportunities for all to thrive and live healthy lives, promote a strong economy and respect environmental stewardship.

To learn more about ConnectRVA 2045, view the plan here.

Recognition in Emergency Planning: Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund

The Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund was created in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide support and financial assistance to organizations in the Central Virginia region. The fund drew on earlier planning efforts by PlanRVA and the Emergency Management Alliance of Central Virginia to establish a regional disaster preparedness and response fund. This previous work allowed PlanRVA to immediately provide relief to vulnerable residents impacted by the pandemic.

From 2020-2021, the Fund raised just over $7M from hundreds of donors, large and small, far surpassing any previous disaster response campaign. The Fund distributed valuable support dollars to community organizations through 220 grant awards, impacting 761,282 individuals across the region in 16 localities.

Recognition in Environmental Planning: Lower Chickahominy Watershed Collaborative

PlanRVA works with local federally recognized Tribes, counties and other supporting stakeholder organizations on this joint effort that aims to advance natural resource conservation and sustainable economic development in an ecologically significant area along the Lower Chichahominy River. This region of the river stretches from Walkers Dam at the eastern edge of Chickahominy Lake downstream to its confluence with the James River. The Lower Chickahominy watershed is said to contain “nearly pristine” marshes and swamp forests and is home to some of the most impressive fresh tidal vegetation in the Mid-Atlantic region. Learn more about the Lower Chickahominy Watershed Collaborative here.

The 2022 class of 2022 NADO impact award recipients include 107 projects from 71 organizations spanning 28 states. These projects are presented in an interactive “Story Map” developed by NADO that includes project summaries, partners and images. The Story Map is available online at:  https://tinyurl.com/38vbcczu.