Search
Close this search box.

The Voice of the

Commonwealth's Counties

2022 VACo Annual Conference Recap Page

Annual Conference Contact

If you have questions, contact Valerie Russell at vrussell@vaco.org or at 804.343.2507.

November 13 – 15, 2022
Greater Richmond Convention Center RECAP

10 – 11:15 a.m.  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

AV Sponsors: Trane/GreeneHurlocker/BILT Group and The Teneo Group

 

STATE BUDGET PREVIEW: NAVIGATING A CHANGING ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE | Grand Ballroom B21A | VIDEO

James J. Regimbal, Jr., Principal, Fiscal Analytics | PRESENTATION

 

TRANSFORMATIONS IN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY | Room B20 | VIDEO

 

TRANSPORTATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH | Room B15b | VIDEO

 

MEDIATORS, FACILITATORS, AND OTHER CONSULTANTS – WHY DO I NEED THEM? | Room B15c | VIDEO

 

 

11:30 a.m. 12:45 p.m.  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

TAX POLICY, THE STATE BUDGET, AND THE STATE-LOCAL PARTNERSHIP: LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVES | Grand Ballroom B21A

 

MEETING VIRGINIA’S NEED FOR HOUSING | Room B20 | VIDEO

 

SPORTS TOURISM BOOMS IN VIRGINIA | Room B15b | VIDEO

Dennis Bickmeier, Executive Director, Henrico County Sports and Entertainment Authority | PRESENTATION

Michael Rojas, Sports Tourism Manager, Prince William County, and Member, SportsNOVA | PRESENTATION

 

EMERGING CHALLENGES IN CYBERSECURITY | Room B15c | VIDEO

 

 

2:45 – 4 p.m.  CONCURRENT SESSIONS

K-12 EDUCATION FUNDING AND INITIATIVES | Grand Ballroom B21A | VIDEO

 

THE NEW ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE | Room B20 | VIDEO

 

KEY ISSUES IN SOCIAL SERVICES: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES | Room B15b | VIDEO

Mira Signer, Special Advisor, Safe and Sound Task Force | PRESENTATION

 

VACo/VSBA COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION | Room B15c | VIDEO

Rural Caucus Reception
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 | Omni Richmond Hotel | Registration Form

VACo/VML/VAPDC Local Government Day at the General Assembly and VACo/VML Legislative Reception
Thursday, January 19, 2023 | Omni Richmond Hotel | Registration Form

VACo Chairpersons’ Institute
Friday, January 20, 2023 and Saturday, January 21, 2023 | Registration Form

Briefing on Opioid Abatement Authority

Tony McDowell, Executive Director of the Opioid Abatement Authority, provided a briefing for VACo members on the Authority’s plans for the distribution of funding being provided to the state from recent settlements of opioid-related litigation. A portion of these funds will be provided to localities, in addition to the direct distributions localities are receiving from the settlements.

Watch the Video – https://youtu.be/LhAy0UGqgsI

Presentation – https://www.vaco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/OAA-presentation-to-VACo-10.12.22.pdf


New Approaches to Building Resilience in Counties

A variety of expert panelists describe new tools and approaches that counties can use to increase their resilience to flooding impacts.

Dr. Molly Mitchell from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) will discuss tools that can help localities determine the predicted level of flooding in their area, and VIMS’ recent work to map predicted flooding of wells, septic systems and transportation networks.

Lewie Lawrence, Executive Director of the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission, will describe the PDC’s innovative Fight the Flood Program and how it connects residents to potential funding and contractors to assist them with resilience efforts.

And Delegate David Bulova will provide an overview of legislative efforts to address resilience, including the new Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund.

Moderator Elizabeth Andrews, Director of the Coastal Policy Center at William & Mary Law School, will also provide a summary of some other resilience tools and initiatives in the Commonwealth.

Watch the Video – https://youtu.be/B6SdTCbbzXY

Dr. Molly Mitchell Presentation – https://www.vaco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SeaLevelRiseFlooding_VACo.pdf

Elizabeth Andrews Presentation – https://www.vaco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/VACoNewApproachesBuildingResilienceCounties.pdf


A significant component of the recently passed IRA seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. It does so by making significant investments in climate and environment programs and providing tax incentives to boost the development and deployment of clean energy. These investments include multiple direct funding opportunities for counties to save money while reducing emissions.

This webinar provides VACo members with a summary and explanation of how Virginia counties can take advantage of these investments. The panel of experts walk through the basics of the IRA regarding eligible funding opportunities in regard to deployment of technology, and how federal energy tax credits have been significantly modified and increased so that counties can utilize them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Attorney Eric Hurlocker, co-founder of GreeneHurlocker, PLC, which provides a broad range of administrative law, business and corporate law, commercial real estate law, employment law, energy law, mergers and acquisition counsel, regulatory law, and litigation legal services throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

CPA and Attorney Gregory Bryant, founder and managing partner of the BILTgroup, which provides clients expertise on understanding the nuances of federal tax and accounting law including the IRA.

Larry Cummings is a Regional Comprehensive Energy Leader for Trane and manages 5 states for them. Larry has been the Chair of VT’s Sustainability Institute and President of VCU’s College of Engineering Foundation, as well as being on various Boards for industry groups.

Watch the Video – https://youtu.be/rS8socSfWC8

Gregory Bryant (BILTgroup) and Erick Hurlocker (GreeneHurlocker, PLC) PRESENTATION – https://www.vaco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/EnergyInvestmentsIRAWebinarSlides22.pdf

Thank you Sponsors for all you do to make the VACo Annual Conference a success!

Thank you Exhibitors! The Annual Conference would not be what it is without you!