VACo County Pulse Podcast – Uplifting Our Children Through Education Series with Jeremy R. Bennett | Episode 2
Gloucester County and School Construction; When A Community Comes Together Listen to the Podcast Uplifting Our Children Through Education Episode 2 | Gloucester County and School Construction; When a Community Comes Together. In this episode of the Uplifting Our Children Through Education series, Host Jeremy Bennett sits down with County Administrator Carol Steele and Deputy County […]
VACo Region 8 Meeting Celebrates a Life of Service and Focuses Discussion on Federal Issues
VACo held its eighth Regional Meeting of the year on August 20 in Prince William County. Counties across VACo Region 8, as well as elected state and federal officials from around the region, were invited to participate in the discussion. VACo President Ruth Larson opened the meeting by presenting Catherine “Smitty” Smith, wife of the […]
Public Comment Sought by September 19 on Draft Plan for Closure of Hiram Davis Medical Center
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) has released a draft plan for closure of Hiram Davis Medical Center and is seeking public comments on the plan. Public comments should be sent to hdmcplanningteam@dbhds.virginia.gov and are due by September 19, 2025. As previously reported, DBHDS announced in August 2024 that it was planning […]
Visit Warren County and the Warren County Historic Courthouse
Location: 1 East Main Street / Royal AvenueBuilt: 1935 – 1936Style: Colonial RevivalArchitect: Alan J SavilleContractor: Peters Construction Company Description: The building faces north and is a two story field stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Front Royal. The north front has a two story center […]
Joint Subcommittee Considers Budgetary, Administrative Aspects of Consolidating Elections into Federal Cycle
The Joint Subcommittee to Study the Consolidation and Scheduling of General Elections held its final meetings of 2025 on August 20 and September 2, with meetings dedicated to considering the budgetary implications and administrative effects, respectively, of consolidating Virginia’s elections into the federal cycle by holding elections in even-numbered years. As directed by 2025 legislation, […]
Governor Reports to Money Committees on State Finances
Governor Youngkin addressed a joint session of the “money committees” on Thursday, August 14, reporting that FY 2025 concluded with revenues $572 million ahead of the forecast that was adopted as part of the 2025 Appropriation Act, and expressing confidence in meeting the FY 2026 forecast. The Governor told legislators that “Virginia is as financially […]
Visit Tazewell County and the Tazewell County Historic Courthouse
Location: 101 East Main Street / Court AvenueBuilt: 1874 – 1875 / 1914Style: Second EmpireArchitect: W G BottimoreContractor: H L Branson & W W Peery Description: The building faces north and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Tazewell. The north […]
Opportunity Available to Provide Comments on State’s Rural Health Transformation Plan
The recently-enacted federal reconciliation legislation (PL 119-21, also known as HR 1, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) established a new Rural Health Transformation Program, which is funded at $50 billion over the next five years. Half of this funding will be distributed equally among all states, and half will be allocated through competitive […]
Oppose Bigger and Heavier Trucks on Virginia Roads
The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) is reaching out to ask for your help in opposing bigger tractor-trailers in Congress by adding your name to a local officials joint letter to Congress that Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, (CABT) is pushing out. CABT is a non-profit coalition of local government, law enforcement, public works, and Fire/EMS […]
House Emergency Committee Monitoring Federal Actions Meets in August
The House Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions met on August 14, following the Governor’s presentation to the “money committee” on FY 2025 revenues and the outlook for the next biennium. Committee members received briefings on the recently-enacted reconciliation bill’s changes to Medicaid, the expected effects of the expiration of […]
Stormwater Local Assistance Fund – FY 2026 Solicitation
The Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) Fiscal Year 2026 solicitation of applications began Friday, August 1, 2025. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Completed SLAF applications must be submitted via the MyDEQ Portal. Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Hard copy materials must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, October 1, 2025, […]
VRS Releases FY 2025 Investment Return Data
VRS reported a 9.9% return, net of fees, as of June 30. The strong return surpassed the 6.75% assumed rate of return and pushed the fund to a record high of $122.8 billion in market value. We congratulate VRS Chief Investment Officer Andrew Junkin and his team on a successful year that further strengthens the […]
US DOT Requests Input for Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill
The current authorization for Federal surface transportation programs is set to expire on September 30, 2026. In preparation for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has an open “Request for Information,” through which they are hoping to solicit policy priorities for the Administration to support while Congress drafts the […]
VACo County Pulse Podcast – Energy Landscape of Virginia with Joe Lerch | Episode 20
The Convergence of Farming with Solar: What is Agrivoltaics? Listen to the Podcast Energy Landscape of Virginia Episode 20 | The Convergence of Farming with Solar: What is Agrivoltaics? Joe Lerch talks with Rachel Henley, Working Lands and State Advocacy Specialist with the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation to explore how farms and solar installations can coexist […]
Virginia Counties Recognized for Model Programs
RICHMOND (August 8, 2025)—The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) is pleased to announce the 57 recipients of the 2025 Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in local government programs. VACo received a record 155 submissions. Winning entries focused on addressing issues of public safety, community development, and health, as well as finding solutions to challenges that […]
There’s Still Time to Register for the County Officials’ Summit
We are thrilled to welcome statewide candidates and county government leaders from all over the Commonwealth to the 2025 VACo County Officials’ Summit next week. Confirmed speakers Attorney General Jason Miyares, Senator Ghazala Hashmi, and Broadcaster and Businessman John Reid are set to speak on Thursday, August 14 at the Omni Richmond Hotel. Click here […]