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The Cumberland County newsletter went out for the first time on Tuesday, April 8. County staff members have also been working on their website, setting up text alert programs and increasing their social media presence. All of that’s being done with one goal in mind: to get more people engaged with Cumberland government. 

“Over the past couple years, we’ve been trying to make strides in how we engage and communicate with the general public,” Cumberland Administrator Derek Stamey told his board during their Tuesday, April 8 meeting. 

A county annual report will also be going out each year to local residents, similar to what neighboring municipalities do. It will detail the projects done throughout the year, what county staff is working on and the status of different repairs and renovations. 

The county will also be bringing back town hall meetings, similar to the ones held in 2024. The goal is to have the first of these in the next couple of months, to answer questions and give updates. It’s all part of a larger effort Stamey and his staff have been working on, to try and make sure the most people possible in Cumberland know what’s going on. If you visit their website at cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov, you can register to get text alerts. Farmville has a similar program, which warns people when their area is under a tornado warning or any other severe weather threat. 

Cumberland County sets up projects

In addition, Stamey has set up a monthly radio interview on WFLO, an increased social media presence through multiple departments, a bi-yearly community guide that is distributed through the school system, and the livestreaming of County meetings, including the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission regular business meetings, to help people stay informed.

New initiatives will include the following: a website refresh that will seek to improve how information is accessed and shared, a consolidated social media presence to improve communications, a monthly County newsletter that will be shared via text alert and at the regularly scheduled Board meetings. Other initiatives will include a “Conversation with the County Administrator” program – where groups can invite the County Administrator to an event, program or gathering to share County information.