Recent News
03.24.2023
Funding will support the growth of strategic industry sectors, develop talent to meet industry needs and foster entrepreneurial activity
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today more than $8.1 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grant awards for 17 projects focused on creating talent pipelines and accelerating economic growth. Projects will support the growth of select industries across the Commonwealth by training and connecting talent to employers, supporting entrepreneurs seeking to start companies and creating supportive economic environments for the targeted industries to grow.
"GO Virginia allows us to invest in key projects that address regionally identified opportunities while fostering collaboration for economic growth between the private and public sectors," said Governor Youngkin. "These projects exemplify the innovative partnerships that GO Virginia was designed to promote, and will advance Virginia’s position in critical industries such as life science and energy, as well as leverage emerging opportunities in semiconductor manufacturing."
GO Virginia encourages regional economic growth and diversification by supporting collaborative projects that focus on workforce development, cluster scaleup, startup ecosystems and site development.
"As we grow Virginia's economy, the workforce must grow with it, and GO Virginia continues to inspire innovative solutions and regional collaboration," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. "These 17 projects will support and grow industry sectors and talent pipelines that are instrumental growing our economy."
In addition to the awarded GO Virginia funding, the 17 awarded projects will leverage an additional $5.6 million in local and non-state funding.
"We would like to thank the regional council leadership and project partners for their work in advancing these impactful projects,” said Nancy Howell Agee, chair of the GO Virginia State Board. “GO Virginia continues to recognize and facilitate strong regional economic development efforts that create the right environment for private-sector job growth and puts the Commonwealth in a position to compete to win."
Since the program’s inception in 2017, GO Virginia has funded 258 projects and awarded approximately $107 million to support regional economic development efforts. As of 2022, Go Virginia has created over 26,000 new jobs, trained 13,000 students in high-demand fields, created 2,700 work-based learning opportunities, including internships and apprenticeships, and awarded 3,600 workforce credentials. To learn more about the GO Virginia program, visit dhcd.virginia.gov/gova.
A FULL LIST OF THE AWARDED PROJECTS CAN BE FOUND HERE.
03.13.2023
Funding will support rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing and support services to underserved populations in 118 localities
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced more than $12 million in Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grants for 68 projects across the Commonwealth. The funding will advance targeted efforts to reduce homelessness for 2,669 individuals and families through 25 permanent supportive housing, 34 rapid rehousing and nine underserved populations innovation projects.
“A critical element of our pursuit of new businesses in the Commonwealth is the housing needed to support these economic development efforts,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This funding will help us protect our most vulnerable populations, address Virginia’s housing supply problem and ensure that homelessness in the Commonwealth is rare, brief and nonrecurring.”
The Virginia Housing Trust Fund is provided by the General Assembly and the grants announced today represent 20 percent of this fiscal year’s fund investment. The remaining funds support the production of new or rehabilitated housing units through the Affordable and Special Needs Housing Program.
“Housing is foundational for building vibrant communities and strong local economies across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “With this round of funding, we are focusing on strategies that have proven successful in reducing homelessness, such as rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing, ensuring that no vulnerable Virginians are left behind.”
The goal of the Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grant Program is to reduce homelessness throughout Virginia. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) supports Balance of State (BoS) Continuum of Care (CoC) local planning group strategies and homeless service projects that are a part of an effective emergency crisis response system in communities. The Homeless Reduction Grant program must be coordinated with other community-based activities. These grantees use a local centralized or coordinated assessment/entry system, which is the best practice for a housing-focused approach for helping households experiencing homelessness quickly regain stability in permanent housing.
For more information, visit dhcd.virginia.gov/vhtf-homeless-reduction.
A FULL LIST OF THE 2023 HOMELESS REDUCTION GRANT AWARDED PROJECTS CAN BE FOUND HERE.
03.10.2023
Funding will support new construction and rehabilitation of over 3,936 affordable and special needs housing units
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced more than $93 million in Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans for 57 projects across the Commonwealth. The recommended projects will create and preserve 3,936 total units for low-income and extremely low-income households, including 298 permanent supportive housing, 3,825 rental units and 111 units for sale as homeownership opportunities.
“Increasing Virginia’s supply of attainable, affordable and accessible housing is foundational to strengthening Virginia’s economy, and furthers my administration’s Make Virginia Home Plan,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “These awarded projects will create and preserve almost 4,000 units of affordable, quality housing for our most vulnerable residents.”
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers Affordable and Special Needs Housing (ASNH) loans, which combines state and federal resources to provide a simplified and comprehensive application process. Funding comes from four main sources: the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the federal National Housing Trust Fund (NHFT), Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency (HIEE), Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) state funds and the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF).
VHTF is provided by the General Assembly and supports financing for housing construction projects that create or preserve affordable housing units, reduce the cost of affordable housing and increase homeownership. This funding is a key source of financing for these affordable housing initiatives to support moderate- and low-income families, as well as supporting homeless reduction grants to provide rapid re-housing and longer-term housing solutions for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
“Stable and affordable housing is vital to building a thriving economy, and we are aligning housing development resources to holistically fill this need across Virginia,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “Increasing the supply of affordable housing is integral to our economic development efforts as we continue to build an economy that works for all Virginians.”
Affordable and Special Needs Housing loans are awarded through a competitive process. Sixty-one applications were received for this round of funding, requesting more than $108 million. The funded projects will leverage over $1.39 billion in additional federal, state, local and private lending resources. To learn more about the ASNH program, visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov/asnh.
A FULL LIST OF THE 2022 FALL ASNH AWARDS CAN BE FOUND HERE.
Upcoming Events
04.07.2023
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), in collaboration with the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA), is offering a Renovation, Repair and Painting training in Chester, Virginia. Renovation, Repair and Painting training is a requirement for contractors…
8:00AM
- 5:00PM
Brightpoint Community College - Talley Workforce Center
11301 Route 1
Chester, VA 23831
04.21.2023
In order to receive feedback on the housing and community development needs of the Commonwealth, as well as the best use of resources to address those needs, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is undertaking a five-year Consolidated Planning Process.
The planning…
10:00PM
- 11:30AM
05.16.2023
Join us for an immersive half-day workshop that digs deep into Main Street America’s (MSA) third accreditation standard- Diverse Funding & Sustainable Program Operations. Led by self-described spreadsheet nerd Jennifer Goldman, this presentation “Money Matters” will dive into funding best…
10:00AM
- 3:00PM
Northern Region- Central Rappahannock Regional Library Fredericksburg Branch
1201 Caroline St.
Fredericksburg,, VA 22401
05.17.2023
Join us for an immersive half-day workshop that digs deep into Main Street America’s (MSA) third accreditation standard- Diverse Funding & Sustainable Program Operations. Led by self-described spreadsheet nerd Jennifer Goldman, this presentation “Money Matters” will dive into funding best…
10:00AM
- 3:00PM
Southern Region- Altavista Chamber of Commerce
414 Washington St.
Altavista, VA 24517
05.18.2023
Join us for an immersive half-day workshop that digs deep into Main Street America’s (MSA) third accreditation standard- Diverse Funding & Sustainable Program Operations. Led by self-described spreadsheet nerd Jennifer Goldman, this presentation “Money Matters” will dive into funding best…
10:00AM
- 3:00PM
Southwestern Region- The Sessions Hotel
833 State St.
Bristol, VA 24201
