Regional Projects Receive National Awards
PlanRVA was recognized at the 2023 Aliceann Wohlbruck National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Impact Awards during NADO’s Annual Training Conference earlier this month. Projects that received a 2023 award include:
- Preparedness Partnership Project with the Richmond Flying Squirrels
- PlanRVA Flood Aware: A Flood Risk Awareness Campaign in the Richmond Region
- Pathways to the Future
Each year, the NADO Impact Awards program recognizes its members for innovative contributions to regional economic development and quality of life. PlanRVA’s Vice Chair Sean Davis and Executive Director Martha Shickle serve on the 2022-2024 NADO Board of Directors, representing the East Region from Virginia to Maine.
Below is an overview of projects recognized this year.
Preparedness Partnership Project with Richmond Flying Squirrels Baseball Team
In 2022, PlanRVA and the Emergency Management Alliance of Central Virginia (EMACV) collaborated with the Richmond Flying Squirrels minor league baseball team to promote disaster preparedness in Central Virginia. The partnership kicked off with a "Preparedness Night at the Diamond" event and expanded to include various preparedness events and sponsorship nights during the summer seasons of 2021 and 2022.
Themed nights addressed many topics, including fireworks safety, pet preparedness and hurricane awareness. Thousands of community members attended the flagship event where over 30 volunteers distributed preparedness materials. PlanRVA played a central role in organizing activities, coordinating supplies and volunteers and creating a video series with the team's mascots that demonstrated emergency kit building.
PlanRVA Flood Aware: A Flood Risk Awareness Campaign in the Richmond Region
In 2023, PlanRVA launched a comprehensive flood risk awareness campaign for the Richmond region, educating the public through a webpage, a blog post, an online mapping tool as well as various digital and printed materials. The campaign included information on flood types, insurance and safety tips, as well as an interactive flood risk map displaying FEMA hazard areas, local floodplains, dam break zones and storm surge areas.
Infographics, social media content and printed materials were utilized to promote a common understanding of flood risks. The initiative fostered collaboration among PlanRVA, local floodplain managers and partner organizations, aiming to enhance the economic resilience of the Richmond area through increased flood awareness.
Learn more about this work at https://planrva.org/environment/flood-risk/.
Pathways to the Future Scenario Planning
PlanRVA’ s scenario planning, called Pathways to the Future, assesses risks and opportunities for the organization’s program areas, including housing, environment, community development, emergency management and transportation. Scenario planning is a method for communities to prepare for an uncertain future by exploring various potential outcomes. It guides policymakers, planners and community members in considering different future conditions and planning effective responses. Scenarios are viewed as sets of reasonably possible but structurally different futures. The outcomes can range from raising awareness to setting strategic directions or identifying specific actions such as policy recommendations and projects, depending on the program area.
Learn more about Pathways to the Future.
To view a complete list of 2023 NADO Impact Award winners, visit NADO’s website, and check out a recap of PlanRVA projects that earned an award last year.
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