Virginia Releases Draft Final Proposal for Federal Broadband Funds: Comments Due August 13
The Virginia Office of Broadband (within the Department of Housing Community Development – DHCD) has released its Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) funding Draft Final Proposal for a 7-day public comment window. In an email notice to stakeholders on August 6, the Virginia Office of Broadband states … The publication of this Final […]
Virginia Minimum Wage Set to Increase January 1, 2026
The Virginia Minimum Wage will increase from $12.41 per hour to $12.77 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. This increase ensures compliance with§ 40.1-28.10(F) of the Code of Virginia. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) has issued a formal letter to Virginia employers (see here) and posted notification on their website. As previously reported, […]
Senator Warner and VACo to host “Keys to Housing Affordability Summit” September 8 in Henrico
Join Senator Mark R. Warner, the Virginia Association of Counties, the Virginia Housing Alliance, and Henrico County for the “Keys to Housing Affordability Summit” on Monday, September 8th from 8 a.m. to Noon at The Westin Richmond. This half-day summit will bring together local elected officials, housing and economic development leaders, and nonprofit partners from […]
2025 VACo Achievement Awards Winners
BEST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WYTHE COUNTY Hitachi Energy Arena Revitalization | Read Submission BEST SMALL COUNTY ACHIEVEMENT (50,000 or less population) DINWIDDIE COUNTY Middle School Mock Trial | Read Submission BEST LARGE COUNTY ACHIEVEMENT CHESTERFIELD COUNTY Court Navigator | Read Submission ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS WINNERS ALBEMARLE COUNTY Pharmacy Project | Read Submission AMHERST COUNTY Seminole Park Project | Read Submission ARLINGTON COUNTY […]
Charlotte County Administrator Dan Witt Honored for 34 Years of Local Government Service
Front Row – Dan Witt (Retiring Charlotte County Administrator). Second Row (L-R) – Melody Foster (Retired Executive Director CRC), Christin Jackson (Executive Director CRC), Becky Carter (Retired Buckingham County Administrator), Monica Elder (Charlotte County Deputy County Administrator), Tracy Gee (Lunenburg County Administrator), Doug Stanley (Prince Edward County Administrator), Third Row (L-R) – Alex McCoy (Executive Director […]
Joint Subcommittee Considers Consolidating Virginia Elections into Federal Cycle
A study group created by legislation in the 2025 General Assembly session and directed to examine the implications of moving some or all elections in Virginia to even-numbered years held its first two meetings on July 22 and July 24, respectively. The Joint Subcommittee to Study the Consolidation and Scheduling of General Elections will conduct […]
JLARC Presents VRS Oversight Report
As part of their July 14th meeting, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) presented an oversight report of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) as required by the Code of Virginia. The health and well-being of VRS is important to local governments as it administers retirement programs and other benefit programs for state and […]
Visit Stafford County and the Stafford County Historic Courthouse
Location: 1300 Courthouse Road / Jefferson Davis HighwayBuilt: 1922 – 1923Style: Greek RevivalArchitect: Philip N SternContractor: Walter Snelling Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building forms part of the courthouse complex located on landscaped grounds in the center of Stafford. The east front has a large […]
Medicaid Changes on the Agenda for General Assembly Committees
Three legislative bodies – the Joint Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources Oversight, the House Health and Human Services Committee, and the Joint Commission on Health Care — recently received updates from the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) on the Medicaid provisions in the recently-enacted federal reconciliation bill and their implications for Virginia. The […]
VACo Region 7 Meeting Held in Beautiful King George County
VACo held its fifth Regional Meeting of the year on June 16 in King George County. Counties across VACo Region 7, as well as elected state and federal officials from around the region, were invited to participate in the discussion. VACo was pleased to be joined by Delegate Paul Milde and staff from the offices […]
Agenda Takes Shape as Three Candidates for Statewide Elections Confirmed for County Officials’ Summit
We have received confirmation from Attorney General Jason Miyares, Senator Ghazala Hashmi, and Broadcaster John Reid to speak at the County Officials’ Summit on Thursday, August 14 at the Omni Richmond Hotel. Click here to view the agenda. We have also extended invitation to the other candidates for statewide office. Also important that day are […]
VACo Receives a Record 155 Submissions for the Achievement Awards Program
Thank you to all the counties that entered the 2025 Achievement Awards Program. VACo received a record 155 entries, which broke last year’s record of 145 submissions. The judges for this year’s event are Charles Hartgrove, ICMA-CM, Managing Director of the Virginia Institute of Government; Dr. Sheryl Bailey, Visiting Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech, […]
Congratulations to Karie Walker, CAE for earning her Certified Association Executive designation!
Congratulations to the following members who recently earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation: Leslie Frazier | Virginia REALTORS Jennifer Haire | National Center for State Courts John Newby | Virginia Biotechnology Association Erin Schrad| Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation Karie Walker | Virginia Association of Counties Their success reflects the value of VSAE’s peer-driven […]
Revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement Released for Public Comment
In December 2024, the Chesapeake Executive Council directed the Principals’ Staff Committee to revise the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and propose a simplified and streamlined structure and process for the Chesapeake Bay Program. While the structure and process revisions are ongoing, the multi-jurisdictional partnership has evaluated the 2014 Watershed Agreement’s current goals and outcomes […]
Visit Spotsylvania County and the Spotsylvania County Historic Courthouse
In 1722, the court system of Spotsylvania was first established at Germanna, a community that was built with the help of Alexander Spotswood, the namesake of Spotsylvania County. In 1732, the court system was moved to Fredericksburg (which was a part of Spotsylvania County at the time); to the “old Courthouse” in 1778; and to […]
VACo Tours Juvenile Detention Centers in Northern Virginia as Part of Further Discussions of Efficiency in the Juvenile Justice System
VACo was recently invited to participate in workgroup discussions regarding the state’s system of juvenile detention centers, an effort convened by Senator Dave Marsden that kicked off on June 30 with tours of the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center and the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center, which serves Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, and […]