By Carol Vaughn —
The Accomack County Board of Supervisors at its meeting Wednesday approved a letter of support for the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority’s application for federal community project funding in Fiscal Year 2023 through the federal appropriations process.
The Eastern Shore this year received $11.2 million in community project funding, including $8.2 million for a regional public safety communications system.
The congressional district including the Eastern Shore and parts of Hampton Roads is eligible to apply for 15 projects in 2023, according to Rep. Elaine Luria.
The letter, addressed to Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Luria and signed by Chairman Billy Joe Tarr and Supervisor Ron Wolff, supports the VCSFA’s request for assistance to modernize its main space launch pad and to support “accelerating education and STEM outreach programs more widely throughout the Commonwealth and the Eastern Shore.”
The latest economic impact study shows an economic impact of the aerospace cluster on the Shore is $1.37 billion annually, according to the letter, which also cites the recent groundbreaking of a new rocket manufacturing facility for Rocket Lab near Wallops Island.
“We believe the projects being proposed for inclusion in the federal budget are incredibly important in keeping Virginia competitive and attractive for new customers, while continuing to grow the local economy,” Tarr and Wolff said in the letter.
The amount being asked for was not specified in the letter.
Child care start up and expansion grants awarded
Four child care entitities in Accomack County will receive grants through a county program funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act money, according to Accomack County Administrator Mike Mason.
Onley Preschool, Shiloh Baptist Church, the Boys and Girls Club, and Children’s Harbor were selected out of 11 applications received.
The awards will provide for around 126 new child care slots, Mason said.
He said most of the applicants requested the maximum award, $150,000.
Accomack County officials set aside $600,000 from the county’s ARPA funds to address child care needs.
A team made up of County and Department of Social Services employees reviewed the grant applications during several meetings and unanimously selected the four recipients.
The board in a vote Wednesday authorized Mason to enter into agreements with the grantees to disburse the funds.
The board will hold a town hall meeting Thursday, May 5, at 6 p.m., at Metompkin Elementary School in Parksley to receive public input on possible uses of the second part of ARPA funds coming to the county,$3.1 million, expected to come to the county in May.
Mason said there are three projects he recommends the board prioritize for the funding:
1. The cost of Accomack’s share of the regional 911 communication project not covered by a recently awarded federal grant, which would use between $892,000 and $1.56 million.
2. A sewer collection system feasibility stury for the northern end of the county. Having a study completed will improve the county’s ability to obtain future grants for its construction. The cost is an estimated $50,000.
3. Additional funds for broadband expansion. Even though the Shore was awarded a $12 million state grant to expand broadband services, “there is still a substantial portion of the seaside that does not have services,” according to Mason. He recommended setting aside $500,000 for that purpose.
Gospel Temple/Adams Crossing Housing Project Completed
Construction of five homes in the Gospel Temple/Adams Crossing area is complete and the homeowners have moved in, Mason said.
The project was funded by a Community Development Block Grant.
Townhouse Hearings Set for May
The board scheduled public hearings for rezoning and conditional use permit applications from CCG Note LLC to build a townhouse and commercial mixed use development near Captains Cove. The hearings are set for Wednesday, May 18.
Additionally, a hearing was scheduled May 18 to receive input about adding two properties to the county’s enterprise zone. One is Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority’s property on the road to Wallops Island. The second is a property on Lankford Highway, north of Temperanceville.
The Virginia Enterprise Zone program is a partnership between state and local government that encourages job creation and private investment by designating Enterprise Zones throughout the state and providing two grant-based incentives, the Job Creation Grant and the Real Property Investment Grant, to qualified investors and job creators within the zones, while the locality provides local incentives.
