TJPDC E-News
Fall 2005
30 Years of Regional Planning, Linking Transportation, Land Use, Economy,
& Environment
TJPDC E-News is issued on a quarterly basis to keep you informed about
the programs and projects at the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.
In addition to e-mail, every issue of TJPDC E-News is posted on our website
at www.tjpdc.org. If you are interested
in additional information on a particular subject, just click on the link embedded
in the article or contact the appropriate TJPDC staff member. Please feel
free to send comments and suggestions to info@tjpdc.org.
TJPDC Staff and Commissioners Invite You to Open House
The TJPDC invites you to our Open House Thursday,
October 27, 2005. Come visit our new office at 401 East Water Street and see
the work we've done over the past year. Staff will be on hand to speak about
the many programs and projects we're involved in. Stop in between 11:00am and
2:00pm or between 4:30pm and 7:00pm to tour our new office space, get information
on our programs and projects, and enjoy refreshments. Hope to see you here!
For more information, contact Rhonda Edmunds at redmunds@tjpdc.org
or (434) 979-7310 x330.
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month!
The Charlottesville Workforce + Consortium, which includes
the Jefferson Area Disability Services Board and the Piedmont Workforce Network
as well as many other partners in the region, will be hosting an Employer Resource
and Recognition Day. The event includes a Business Breakfast, employer awards
including the Martha Tarrant Employer of the Year award, and presentation of
assistive technology devices that increase the employability of persons with
disabilities. Displays of information to assist employers in recruiting and
retaining employees will also be featured. The event will be held at the Albemarle
County Office Building on 5th Street Extended on October 18, 2005 from 8:30am
to 10:30am. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.technologytamers.com/EmployerR&RDay.htm
or contact Rochelle Garwood at rgarwood@tjpdc.org
or (434) 979-7310 x320.
TJPDC, Albemarle County, and VDOT Gear up For Places29 Workshops
The TJPDC, Albemarle County, and the Virginia Department
of Transportation (VDOT) are gearing up for a second set of workshops for Places29.
During the first public workshop held in May, the public was able to provide
input including important factors of consideration for this project. During
the second set of workshops, the public will have two opportunities to provide
feedback. An Open House will be held November 1 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm and will
give the public an opportunity to hear a brief overview of Places29 and see
displays and other information. A Public Workshop will be held November 3 from
7:00pm – 9:30pm where the public will learn about several proposed alternative
framework plans for the study area. Both sessions will be held at Sutherland
Middle School in Albemarle County. For more information, visit www.albemarle.org and click on the Places29
link or contact Harrison Rue at hrue@tjpdc.org
or (434) 979-7310 x110 or Rhonda Edmunds at redmunds@tjpdc.org
or (434) 979-7310x 330.
RideShare Announces 2nd Annual Awareness and Appreciation
Week
RideShare is pleased to announce its 2nd Annual RideShare Awareness
and Appreciation Week, happening October 17-21. This is an opportunity to highlight
the services RideShare offers, including its carpool matching service and vanpool
formation assistance, and to show appreciation for commuters who currently carpool
or vanpool to work. During this week, various worksites will be hosting carpool/vanpool
contests. RideShare will be setting up information booths at various organizations
to promote the event and to provide more information on RideShare’s programs
and services. RideShare is happy to work with any local organization wishing
to participate. For more information, visit www.rideshareinfo.org
or contact RideShare at (424) 295-6165.
Statewide Homeless Conference Held in Charlottesville
On August 4, 2005 service
providers and activists from around the state gathered in Charlottesville for
the 18th Annual Meeting and Conference for the Virginia Coalition for the Homeless
(www.vahomeless.org). VCH is a nonprofit,
membership advocacy organization that brings people together to advocate, educate
and develop resources to eliminate homelessness and poverty in Virginia. Philip
Mangano (www.ich.gov/mangano.html),
Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
(ICH), delivered the keynote address at the conference. Mr. Mangano also met
with local officials and members of the 2012 Task Force on Homelessness. Feedback
was overwhelmingly positive, and planning has already begun for the 2006 conference,
which VCH hopes to have in Charlottesville again! For more information, contact
Evan Scully at escully@tjpdc.org or (434)
979-7310 x440.
Executive Director Participates in Envision Houston Project
TJPDC Executive Director Harrison
Rue recently assisted the Houston-Galveston Area Council with their Envision
Houston Region project. He trained agency staff, consultants, and activists
to facilitate the visioning workshops, which were conducted by Fregonese Calthorpe
Associates. Rue also moderated two of the regional visioning workshops, which
were held just after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For more info, visit
www.envisionhoustonregion.org
or contact Harrison Rue at hrue@tjpdc.org
or (434) 979-7310 x110.
Single Room Occupancy Grant
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has awarded funds
to our region for pre-development activities for Single Room Occupancy (SRO)
housing. Piedmont Housing Alliance (www.avenue.org/pha/) prepared the grant
proposal in partnership with the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless
(TJACH - http://www.tjpdc.org/housing/tjach.asp)
and will serve as the grantee. Grant activities will include detailed feasibility
analysis and planning. SROs, similar to small efficiency apartments, are a cost-effective
alternative to life on the street for people in need and could provide permanent,
affordable, supportive housing for a number of people in our region. For more
information, contact Evan Scully at escully@tjpdc.org
or (434) 979-7310 x440.
Palmyra Community Plan
The TJPDC Community Development Team presented the draft Palmyra
Community Plan at a public meeting held on September 28, 2005. During previous
public workshops, the community expressed its desire for a sustainable village-scaled
community served by a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system.
This vision, and the means to achieve it, arose from substantial input from
Fluvanna County residents, business owners and staff, as well as the Virginia
Department of Transportation, while building upon the concepts and ideas presented
in the Fluvanna County comprehensive plan. For more information, contact Billie
Campbell at bcampbell@tjpdc.org or (434) 979-7310 x230.
Planning Workshop in Nellysford
In Nellysford, the community planning process began with a
well-attended workshop on September 26, with over 150 people attending. The
workshop was an opportunity for citizens and business owners to articulate their
vision for the greater Nellysford area. Nelson County and Planning District
staff will begin with this citizen input and prepare a draft community plan
for realizing this vision. It is impressive to see the level of community involvement
in this project. The PowerPoint used at the workshop to provide participants
with examples of development in similar communities to stimulate the discussion
is available at http://www.tjpdc.org/ppt/Nellysford_9_26_05.htm.
For more information, contact Billie Campbell at bcampbell@tjpdc.org or (434) 979-7310 x230.
Life After High School
With funding provided
by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD), TJPDC is developing
a web site that will serve as a “mapping tool” for students with disabilities
to navigate the transition from student to adult life. The site showcases transition
resources available in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, including the
areas of education, employment, independent living, recreational activities,
and financial assistance. Work is continuing on the web site, which is now available
for previewing at www.tjpdc.org/lahs/index.htm. The
site will be fully functional by the end of the year and will be promoted to
high school students, their families, and school and agency personnel.
Please send your comments on the draft
web site to Billie Campbell at (434) 979-7310 x230 or
2006 Needs Assessment for Persons With Disabilities
Every three years, the Jefferson Area Disability Services Board (DSB) assesses
the needs of people with physical and sensory disabilities in the Thomas Jefferson
Planning District. This information is used to guide the activities of the DSB,
inform local officials of needs within their jurisdictions, and advise state
agencies. As in the past, a survey is being used to determine the needs and
desires of area residents with disabilities, but this year, the Needs Assessment
enters the electronic age with the availability of an online survey. If you
or a family member have a physical or sensory disability, please take a minute
to fill out the survey; if you know someone who does, please pass the link on
to them. The survey will be open until November 30. A downloadable, printable
version is also available from a link on the survey page: http://www.tjpdc.org/housing/dsb/needssurvey.asp.
For more information, contact Rochelle Garwood at rgarwood@tjpdc.org
or (434) 979-7310 x320.
Louisa Assisted Living Facility Planning Grant
Louisa, Fluvanna, and Goochland counties are exploring the
feasibility of an Assisted Living Facility to provide affordable care for elderly
residents who need assistance with daily care. As part of the project management
team, the Planning District prepared the needs assessment and drafted the Request
for Proposals to secure a consultant to prepare a business plan/feasibility
study. This effort is supported in part by a Community Development Block Grant
Planning Grant awarded by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Piedmont Workforce Network (PWN) Programs Meet or Exceeds All Performance
Measures
The PWN administers and monitors employment programs
for disadvantaged youth, low-income adults and dislocated workers. The State
bases the continued funding and the success of the programs on employment and
training performance measures. Performance measures include Entered Employment
Rate,
Credential Rate, Employment
Retention Rates and Six-Month Earnings Rates. Approximately 500 clients were
served during the past program year and all performance measures were met or
exceeded. Thirty-six individuals exited from the Adult program and 61% of those
individuals were employed the first quarter after exit. Of those employed the
first quarter after exit, 94% of them were still employed 6 months later. Eighty-seven
individuals exited from the Dislocated Worker program and 81% of those individuals
were employed the first quarter after exit. Of those employed the first quarter
after exit, 88% were still employed 6 months later. Sixty-one individuals exited
from the Youth program; 20 were Older Youth and 41 were Younger Youth. Of the
20 Older Youth, 100% of those individuals were employed the first quarter after
exit. Of the 41 Younger Youth, 82% of those individuals acquired a skill attainment
based on goals set at their entry into the program. For more information, contact
Todd Palmquist at tpalmquist@tjpdc.org
or (434) 979-7310 x250.
Environmental Planner Energized after First VNRLI Session
Rochelle Garwood, TJPDC's Senior Planner - Environment, attended the first
session of Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) on Sept.
21-23 at Graves' Mountain Lodge in Madison, thanks in part to a scholarship
from the Virginia Department of Forestry. She reports that "The session
was a stimulating combination of leadership training, communication skills development,
team building and learning about environmental issues affecting Virginia. I'm
very excited to be a part of this program, and think that the topics to be covered
will be very helpful to my work at the PDC." Five future sessions, to be
held in various locations around the state, will include such topics as process
design, collaborative leadership, economics of sustainability, consensus building,
urban and community forestry, and effective land use. If you would like to
learn more about this institute, contact Rochelle directly at rgarwood@tjpdc.org
or 434) 979-7310 x320.
Draft 2006 TJPD Legislative Program Available
The draft 2006 TJPD Legislative Program will be discussed and voted on by the
TJPD localities in the coming weeks. The program stresses efforts to enhance
state funding in areas such as transportation, education and the Comprehensive
Services Act, as well as addressing local revenue authority and land use issues.
The Commission, our localities and their staffs have all helped in shaping this
program, which will inform our legislators and help guide lobbying efforts during
the 2006 General Assembly session. The text of the draft program is available
at http://www.tjpdc.org/liaison/index.asp.
If you have questions about the draft 2006 TJPD Legislative Program, please
contact David Blount at dblount@tjpdc.org or (434) 979-7310 x350.
