One of the natural by-products of investigating and developing one news story is the unanticipated discovery of another often unrelated story. Such was the case recently. While looking into information announcing a recent appointment of a new resident engineer to the Farmville area regional staff, I happened across a single page full top to bottom with very small text.

Closer scrutiny revealed the page to be a project activity and future interest update provided by Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC).

At this point I will make good on my chance to be up front. I know the Commonwealth Regional Council is an active and successful agency that helps to improve communities in a number of ways through a wide range of services.

I did not know, I am sorry to say, the extent to which CRC has worked and does work to facilitate a long and varied list of projects that could well be in progress simultaneously.

The project list was so impressive that it piqued my curiosity about an organization that accomplished so much so quietly. I eventually called and spoke briefly with CRC’s Executive Director Melody Foster, who was indulgent enough to give me a quick CRC tutorial.

CRC is one of 21 planning district commissions that are intended to promote local and state governmental cooperation and to address issues that are larger than local level. Since its creation, an endless list of accomplishments that revolve around the organization’s ability to not only locate, but secure grant funding prove that CRC has evolved to become a grant sourcing and grant writing organization of respectable stature in this area. The list of projects that CRC has successfully assisted within its region are not limited to grant writing either. CRC offers construction administration services, project planning, governmental services and more.

CRC serves Region 14, which consists of Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Lunenburg and Prince Edward counties. One representative and an alternate from each county make up the council.

The following projects are going on just within the Town of Farmville and counties of Prince Edward, Buckingham.

Dillwyn CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Project – Construction has begun on some of the properties. Staff is still working with DHR on mitigation actions for the project.

Assisted Prince Edward County Rescue Squad to apply for a Rescue Squad Assistance Funds (RSAF) grant to purchase an ambulance.

Assisted Farmville Fire Department in applying for funds from the Fire House Subs Public Safety Foundation.

Assisted Farmville Fire Department in applying to FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program for funding for retention, recruiting and equipment. Assisted Hampden-Sydney Volunteer Fire Department in applying to the Virginia Department of Forestry for grant funds to replace a Dry Hydrant at Briery Creek Lake.

CRC staff continues to assist Buckingham Branch Railroad in pursuing a Keysville Inland Port project. CRC staff is working with the FOIA Council to arrange FOIA training again this year for localities. CRC staff executed an Agreement with Department of Environmental Quality for continuation of services for the Watershed Implementation Plan Phase III Update.

STEPS, Prince Edward Affordable Housing Strategic Plan – The Housing Coalition has met with the consultant and developed a survey and plan for Focus Group meetings.

There is a constantly renewing list of projects that will improve a wide range of issues within Region 14. CRC is always reviewing potential projects as well as potential funding sources that could finance those projects, like the water, sun and fertilizer that helps the garden that is our community grow.

Our collective growth is clearly evident. It is also evident that CRC has become a primary, favorable condition, in a metaphorical sense that facilitates our community’s growth. It works consistently and quietly at its job, which it obviously does quite well. May our weather remain as fair for our future as it is now.

NOEL OLIVER is a staff writer for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. He can be