2022-2023 Center for Rural Virginia Annual Report

Summary

2022-2023 Annual Report of the Center for Rural Virginia. It describes the Center as a partnership of the Center for Rural Virginia, a Virginia legislative entity advocating for rural policy, and the Council for Rural Virginia, and says the Center was created by the General Assembly in 2004. A letter in the report says the Center completed the second year of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) and congratulated 28 graduates. It lists the 2023 Governor's Summit on Rural Prosperity in Blackstone and the 2023 Rural Caucus Reception among the year's successes. The report states that Kristie Helmick Proctor was hired as Executive Director in 2017.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Full text

2022-2023
Center for Rural Virginia
Annual Report

Our Mission
The Center is a partnership of the Center for Rural Virginia, a Virginia legislative
entity advocating for rural policy, and the Council for Rural Virginia, an entity
organized by federal statute that is a conduit for building rural capacity by facilitating
the collaboration and creation of coalitions of the key economic regions and sectors
of the Commonwealth.


Our History
Created by the General Assembly in 2004, the Center for Rural Virginia works to
advance economic development, job creation, workforce development, education,
infrastructure, healthcare and other vital initiatives for the prosperity of rural Virginia.
                               Table of Contents
    Center for Rural Virginia – A Review of Accomplishments
                            2022- 2023
A Letter from the Executive
                                ……………………………………………………………Page 5
          Director

  Organizational Structure      ……………………………………………………………Page 6

Project Overview & Specific
                                …..………………………………………………………Page 9
     Accomplishments
Partnerships & Collaborative
                                .…………………………………………………………Page 18
           Efforts
        Leadership              …….……………………………………………………Page 20

   Contact Information          …………..………………………………………………Page 22




4|Page
Dear Friends,

We are pleased to report that The Center for Rural Virginia (The Center) continues to build on
recent successes and had a very impactful year. It has been an exciting time for our organization as
we completed the second year of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) and congratulated
28 graduates who went onto complete their community impact projects within their respective rural
communities. VRLI is the Commonwealth’s first and only leadership program that was created by
the Center with the goal of retaining and attracting the best and brightest in our rural communities.

In addition to the launch of VRLI, the Center continued to serve as an educator, convener and
facilitator of programs and initiatives that work towards making our rural communities thrive.
The Executive Director at the Center continues to serve as statewide spokesperson on issues
pertaining to Rural Virginia. In addition to her duties of running the organization, the Executive
Director continues to place a large focus on fundraising to ensure that the Center’s programming
can move forward, including VRLI.

This past year the Center celebrated many successes, including the graduating class of 2023 Virginia
Rural Leadership Institute, the 2023 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity in Blackstone, the 2023
Rural Caucus Reception, and served as staff to host and organize regular meetings of the Virginia
General Assembly Rural Caucus during the 2023 General Assembly session.

 The Center remains committed to serving as a leader in retaining and attracting our best and
brightest in rural Virginia, promoting rural economic development opportunities, helping create
innovative workforce solutions, promoting broadband deployment, and ensuring that small
businesses have an opportunity to thrive in our small and rural towns.

Enclosed in this report, you will find a summary of the Center’s activities throughout this operating
year. It has been a privilege to work and meet with many of our rural friends as we traveled around
the state visiting rural communities throughout Virginia. We sincerely appreciate the dedication and
hard work from The Board of Directors at the Center for Rural Virginia. We are grateful to have an
incredible Board of Trustees that care deeply about the success of rural Virginia and remain
dedicated to ensuring the Center’s success.

Warm regards,


Kristie Helmick Proctor

5|Page
Organizational Structure
Executive Director

The Center for Rural Virginia hired Executive Director, Kristie Helmick Proctor in 2017. Since that
time, Mrs. Proctor has worked to heighten the visibility of the Center, build new partnerships and
programming opportunities that benefit rural Virginia.

Under her management, the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute was created and implemented and
has seen great success. Additionally, Mrs. Proctor has been able to obtain historic levels of
fundraising and investment from the private sector to ensure programming can continue, while also
being faced with record high inflation and expanding capacity.

2023 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity

The Virginia Rural Center held the annual 2023 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity at Fort
Barfoot located in Blackstone, Virginia. The Southside based event occurred October 11-12, 2023
and attendees were able to immerse themselves entirely in the town and familiarize themselves with
surrounding amenities. This annual event was co-hosted with the Governor’s office and the Center
was proud to provide interactive and meaningful experiences for attendees.

The Center was delighted to have over 200 attendees from nearly 40 counties and 18 different cities
join us for the 2023 Rural Summit. Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears served as the keynote
speaker of the event and several members from Governor Youngkin’s Cabinet participated in this
successful Summit.

Board Meetings
In addition to hosting an all-virtual Board meeting, the Center was pleased to host quarterly Board
meetings in the following locations:

     •   Winchester, VA
     •   Richmond, VA
     •   Blackstone, VA

Collective Services Agreement

The Center for Rural Virginia is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization established by the Virginia
General Assembly in 2004. The creation of the Center was a recommendation of the Rural
Prosperity Commission, created by the General Assembly in 2000. The goal of the Commission was
"Prosperity for all Virginians". The 18-member Commission was instructed by the General
Assembly to “undertake a detailed analysis of rural Virginia economies and recommend flexible but
targeted state policies which, combined with local efforts, will help foster sustainable economic
growth in Virginia’s rural areas.”

The Center currently operates in a collaborative partnership with the Council for Rural Virginia
through a collective services agreement as the Virginia Rural Center. The two organizations operate



6|Page
independently but share an executive director and operate in conjunction to fulfill their joint mission
of economic prosperity for rural communities throughout Virginia.


The final report of the Rural Prosperity Commission was issued in December 2001 and featured
specific policy recommendations, including the creation of the Center for Rural Virginia to address
the obstacles and capitalize on the many opportunities of Rural Virginia. In 2004, founding board
members Senator Frank Ruff and Delegate Steve Landes, sponsored the enabling legislation,
creating the Center.

The 21-member board of the Center for Rural Virginia works in partnership with the Council for
Rural Virginia. Together, the Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia work with
policymakers and regulators as well private sector stakeholders to improve economic opportunities
and preserve the quality of life throughout rural Virginia.

Institutional Partners

In addition to the support of the Virginia General Assembly and the Governor’s Office, the Virginia
Rural Center continues to enjoy partnerships with two other entities that make the daily operations
of the Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia efficient, effective, and
successful.

The first is the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). This
agency provides office space for the Executive Director. Additionally, DHCD provides back-office
support and assistance that enhances the productivity and accessibility at The Virginia Rural Center.

The second is Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. The
Virginia Rural Center’s partnership with VCE, provides assets and operational efficiencies that
enhance the cost-effective operation for the organization. Additionally, Virginia Tech serves as the
payroll agent to the Executive Director.




7|Page
Annual Sponsors

The Center for Rural Virginia is fortunate to have numerous organizational sponsors committed to
the Center’s mission and rural prosperity. The Executive Director spends a large amount of time
obtaining financial support from various organizations to ensure the Virginia Rural Center is
successful.

The 2023 Annual Sponsors include (in alphabetical order):

   •   All Points Broadband
   •   Appalachian Power
   •   Cozen O’Connor
   •   Danville Community College Foundation
   •   Dominion Energy
   •   Farm Bureau of Virginia
   •   Farm Credit
   •   Letterpress Communications
   •   Lumos
   •   Old Dominion Electric Cooperative
   •   Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
   •   RiverLink Group
   •   Sentara Health
   •   Smithfield Foods
   •   Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project
   •   The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
   •   The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission
   •   University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
   •   Virginia Broadband Industry Association
   •   Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority
   •   Virginia Cooperative Extension
   •   Virginia Housing
   •   Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
   •   Virginia Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives
   •   Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative
   •   Virginia Resources Authority
   •   Virginia Rural Health Association




8|Page
Project Overview & Status Updates
2023 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity
When rural Virginia thrives, everyone in the Commonwealth prospers. That was among one of the
key takeaways from the 2023 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity, held Oct. 10-11, 2023, at Fort
Barfoot in Blackstone, Virginia.

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears delivered the keynote address at the event that brings together state,
business and civic leaders to explore the future of rural Virginia and the innovative initiatives in their
respective communities.

Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears called for increased broadband expansion to continue to attract businesses to
rural Virginia. The infrastructure, she said, is also important for companies with remote employees.
Energy is also an important priority, she said, given Virginia’s 28 military installations along with
data centers that continue to flock to the Commonwealth, the top data center in the world.

The event commenced with opening remarks from Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense
Affairs Craig Crenshaw, followed by the opening of the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research &
Extension Center ag expo and a panel discussion on how localities can unlock innovation in rural
Virginia.

Special guest Ward Burton, winner of the 2002 Daytona 500, spoke on the Ward Burton Wildlife
Foundation that partners with local, state and federal organizations to advocate for conservation and
land management best practices. A key element of that is protecting the military mission from
encroachment, what he calls military readiness via conservation. “We can put the military mission
first while still practicing conservation,” he said.

Matthew Lohr, Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, spoke on the importance of small
businesses in farming localities as more than 80% of farmers rely on some form of off-farm income.
Attendees also heard from Travis Voyles, Virginia’s Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources,
who commented on increasing transparency, accountability and paving the way for more efficient
economic development.

Closing out the first day of the summit, Dr. Quentin Johnson, President of Southside Virginia
Community College, said that “88% of community college graduates stay and work right here in
Virginia.” The opportunity for innovation is ripe, and this is the place to do it,” Johnson said, adding
that programs in artificial intelligence must be part of future conversations.

Summit attendees experienced Fort Barfoot, downtown Blackstone and demonstrations at the
Southside Virginia Community College Occupational Technical Center before an evening reception
at the Inn at Blackstone.

Following Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears’ remarks on the summit’s second day, a rural workforce panel
convened, stressing the need for students to graduate with industry-ready skills and the growing gap
in health and wellness and affordable housing that affects many in the rural part of the state.
Ferrum College President, Mirta Martin, urged higher education to recognize the importance of
apprenticeships in preparing students to be career-ready.


9|Page
Sentara also offered tours of its Mobile Care bus that delivers healthcare directly to communities
with the greatest needs in the state, including those on Medicaid and the uninsured.

Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick and Virginia Economic Development
Partnership CEO and President Jason El Koubi closed the summit. “My job is to make Virginia the
best place to start, grow or relocate a business,” Sec. Merrick said. El Koubi targeted five focus
areas to driving regional growth in target industries: capacity building, workforce, site development,
infrastructure and strengthening incentives that lower the cost of doing business. “When we first
started in 2017, out of the 18 economic development regions in Virginia, only four were projected to
grow,” he said. “Today 16 are projected to grow.”

Drawing hundreds of attendees from around the Commonwealth, the summit was one of the largest
multi-day events of its kind ever hosted in Blackstone. “The town of Blackstone was incredibly
excited to host this year’s Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity,” said L. Benjamin Green, Town
Mayor. “While the economic impact for our local businesses, restaurants and lodging establishments
was important, what we’re really proud of is the world-class experience that our Southside Virginia
community successfully created and the terrific feedback we received from event attendees.”


2023 Rural Caucus Reception
Nearly 300 rural Virginia stakeholders gathered at the 14th Annual Rural Caucus Reception on
January 18th, 2023, including dozens of state government legislators and administration officials who
pledged support for rural Virginia.

Representatives from more than 45 counties across the Commonwealth participated in the event at
the Omni Richmond Hotel. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
Matthew Lohr and Secretary of Health and Human Resources John Littel all delivered remarks at
the reception.

Lohr, who serves on the Board at the Center for Rural Virginia, noted that agriculture is the number
one industry in the Commonwealth, with forestry ranking as the third largest industry. Recent
statistics show that combined, the two have an economic impact of $105 billion dollars.
Additionally, behavioral health was a key theme for Secretary Littel, who touted the behavioral
health plan Gov. Youngkin rolled out earlier and that should have a transformative effect in rural
communities.

The annual Rural Caucus Reception is a joint effort of the Center for Rural Virginia, the Virginia
Association of Counties (VACo) and the Virginia General Assembly Rural Caucus.

VACo’s Executive Director Dean Lynch; Sen. Emmett Hanger, Chairman of the Rural Caucus; Del.
Emily Brewer, Vice Chairman of the Rural Caucus; Sen. Frank Ruff, Chairman of the Center for
Rural Virginia, and Del. Les Adams, Vice Chairman of the Center for Rural Virginia were also
among the guests in attendance.

Hanger touted recent accomplishments of the Center for Rural Virginia, including launching the
Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI), the first program of its kind focused on attracting,
developing and retaining leaders in rural communities.



10 | P a g e
Virginia General Assembly’s Rural Caucus

The Virginia Rural Center (VRC) organized and staffed numerous meetings of the Virginia General
Assembly’s Rural Caucus during the 2023 General Assembly session.

The special guests for the 2023 Rural Caucus meeting included:
   • The Honorable Caren Merrick, Virginia’s Secretary of Commerce & Trade
   • The Honorable Aimee Guidera, Virginia’s Secretary of Education
   • The Honorable John Littel, Virginia’s Secretary of Health & Human Resources
   • The Honorable Sheppard “Shep” Miller III, Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation
   • Susan Dewey, Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Housing
   • Dr. Tamarah Holmes, Director, Office of Broadband at the Virginia Department of
       Housing and Community Development

The Rural Caucus provides an opportunity for legislators and stakeholders to learn about legislation
and initiatives impacting rural areas of the State. At the Rural Caucus meetings, legislators heard
from stakeholders and cabinet members about legislation and its potential effect on rural Virginia.

Rural Caucus meetings continue to provide a forum to share information, learn, and collaborate to
increase prosperity across rural Virginia.

Virginia Rural Leadership Institute
The Virginia Rural Center understands that prosperous communities rely on qualified, enthusiastic
leaders who can adapt to the ever-changing community and economy. Additionally, strong civic-
minded leadership has been well-documented as a driver of community vitality.
While recognizing the unique challenges faced in rural Virginia and the limitations of current
leadership programs focused specifically on rural leaders, the Virginia Rural Center created the
Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) in 2023.

Now in its second year, VRLI is accomplishing its mission to retain, attract, and develop rural
Virginians into innovative, responsible, and civic-minded leaders who build strong communities.
The second annual cohort of VRLI was announced in April of 2023 and includes 28 Cohort
members from all corners of the Commonwealth. The program continues to remain competitive
with more folks applying than can be accepted again in 2023.

The Virginia Rural Center was pleased to see the following Cohort members graduate in November
2023 from The Virginia Rural Leadership Institute:

John Patrick Clair, Marion
Town of Marion, Chief of Police

Donna J. Dagner, Victoria
Community Resources Services, Executive Director

Jackie Davis, Farnham
Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board, Executive Director




11 | P a g e
Jessica K. Drake, Suffolk
Filanthropie Consultancy, Founder & Principal

Jarrod Elwell, Doswell
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Community Development Regional Manager

Todd Fortune, Farmville
Commonwealth Regional Council, Deputy Director

Olivia Garrett, Henry County
New College Institute, Director of Institutional Advancement

Josh Gillespie, Louisa County
County of Louisa, Director of Community Development

Courtney L. Harper, South Hill
Building Blocks to Success, LLC, CEO and Occupational Therapist

Darren Hays, Freeman
Spotts Fain Consulting, Government Relations Assistant

Tabitha Hodge, Christiansburg
Floyd County Economic Development Operations Director

William Johnson, III, Emporia
City of Emporia, City Manager

Stephanie Lillard, Luray
Director of Community Economic Development, People Incorporated

Jamie Lynn Anderson Lindley, South Boston
Comfort Systems USA MidAtlantic, Outreach, Recruiting, & Training Manager

Vanesa Livingstone, Warsaw
Richmond County Department of Social Services Director

Craig McCroskey, Bassett
United Way of Henry County & Martinsville, Director of Financial Stability Programs

Angela McPhaul, Waverly
Town of Waverly Mayor

Nick Minor, King George County
King George County Director of Economic Development

Alex Rendon, Henrico County
Dominion Energy, External Affairs Representative



12 | P a g e
AJ Robinson, Tazewell County
Tazewell County Director of Communications and Tourism

Jennifer Schmack, Fluvanna County
Fluvanna County Director of Economic Development

Beth Simms, Patrick County
Patrick County, County Administrator

Kim Smith, Russell County
Heart of Appalachia, Interim Executive Director

Joe Sumner, Martinsville
New College Institute, Executive Director

Rhett Weiss, Farmville
DEALTEK, Ltd, Chairman & CEO

Alex White, Luray
Town of Luray Councilman

Kendra Wood, Aylett
Rappahannock Community College, Dean of Strategic Enrollment Management

Dr. Terrence M. Wood, Greensville County
Greensville County Director of Human Resources

VRLI program development began in 2019 with research conducted to create a curriculum focused
on the unique skills required by rural leaders to address current and future economic and community
challenges. Virginia Rural Center staff consulted other statewide leadership development program
directors to determine best practices for the implementation of VRLI’s curriculum and
programming. Now, in both years of the program more applications were received than spots
available in the Cohort and our diverse list of partners was instrumental in the selection process of
the cohort.

While VRLI’s sessions take place over one year, the program also includes a second-year component as
well. In the first year, Cohort members participate in four 3-day sessions across different rural
regions of the Commonwealth – learning from the stories of success and challenges faced by each
region, as well as from guest speakers invited to share their expertise with the cohort. In the second
year, the skills are demonstrated by VRLI graduates through a Community Impact Project.




13 | P a g e
2023 Session Locations included:

   •   Southern Virginia
                 • Danville and South Boston)
   •   Middle Peninsula/Northern Neck
                 • Tappahannock, Warsaw and King William County/Upper Mattaponi Indian
                     Tribe
   •   Southwest Virginia
                 • St. Paul, Breaks and Abingdon)
   •   Shenandoah Valley
                 • Broadway, Weyers Cave and Staunton

Each VRLI Session provides an immersive experience in the rural communities of the region where
the Cohort tours recent economic and community development successes while also participating in
discussions and presentations from experts.

The topics discussed included:
   • Agriculture
   • Broadband
   • Building a Team
   • Civic Engagement & Advocacy
   • Communications
   • Community Story Telling
   • Difficult Conversations
   • Engaging with Elected Officials & the Government
   • Faith in Rural Communities
   • Food Issues
   • Growing Your Network
   • Leadership Development
   • Main Street Revitalization
   • Organization & Funding
   • Regional Collaboration
   • Rural Entrepreneurship
   • Rural Health
   • Rural Housing
   • Rural Tourism
   • Tribal Governance
   • Understanding Data
   • Youth In Rural Communities

Additionally, the Mentorship Program provides a unique component of VRLI which connects
Cohort members with established rural leaders providing valuable insight into their future
Community Impact Projects. Mentorship meetings occur throughout the VRLI experience and
includes at least three meetings between Mentors and Cohort members.



14 | P a g e
Mentors involved with Virginia Rural Leadership Institute come from the following organizations:

    •   Charles City County, Administrator
    •   Common Sense Strategies, Owner & Senior Manager
    •   Department of Housing and Community Development, Associate Director of Community
        Revitalization
    •   GOVA Region 3, Program Director
    •   Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Hampton Roads, Executive Director
    •   Pittsylvania County Public Schools, High School Agricultural Educator
    •   Radford University, Center for Police Practice, Policy, and Research
    •   Shenandoah County, Director of Tourism and Economic Development
    •   Southern Virginia Food Hub, Founder
    •   Strata Clean Energy, Local Government Affairs
    •   The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Vice President, Advanced Learning
    •   The Riverlink Group, Principal Officer
    •   University of Virginia (Retired), Public Health Expert
    •   University of Virginia's College at Wise, Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic
        Development and Engagement
    •   Virginia Association of Community Action Partnerships, Executive Director
    •   Virginia Community College System, Director of Career Education Programs & Workforce
        Partnerships
    •   Virginia Community College System, Youth Programs State Coordinator of Virginia
    •   Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Executive Director, Virginia Office of
        Education Economics
    •   Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategic
        Partnerships
    •   Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability, Assistant Director
    •   Virginia Housing, Director of Strategic Housing
    •   Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, Vice President, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
    •   Virginia Rural Health Association, Executive Director
    •   Virginia Tech's Center for Economic & Community Engagement, Executive Director
    •   Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, Deputy Director
    •   Washington County Public Schools, Superintendent

Year two of VRLI focuses on implementing the Community Impact Projects selected by each
Cohort member. Each project is approved by the VRLI Advisory Committee. This project-focused
approach for year two allows Cohort Members to take learnings from the first year and quickly apply
them in their communities, providing benefits for individual Cohort members and their locality as
well as providing a return on investment for supporters of VRLI.




15 | P a g e
The VRLI Community Impact Projects include:

  Agriculture & Food
     • Build a food pantry and community services building in Lunenburg County
     • Research, plan, and implement a county farm tour in Fluvanna and Louisa Counties

  Tourism
     • Create a destination center for tourism in the coalfields region of Southwest Virginia
     • Establish a Virginia Restaurant and Travel Association branch in Southwest Virginia

  Housing
    • Modernize local zoning ordinances to promote housing development in Luray

  K-12 Education & Jobs Training
     • Create a youth entrepreneurship program and contest in Floyd County
     • Develop an annual career and technical education summit for a local school division
     • Develop partnership between Workforce Development Board and Local Department of
        Social Services to advance youth workforce development in Richmond County
     • Establish a week-long technical training program for high schoolers to promote trade
        jobs and skills in Southside Virginia
     • Found a workforce development center to assist at-risk youth with workforce
        development in Mecklenburg County
     • Launch a "Careers in Solar" event to share employment opportunities in solar for
        Southside Virginia Youth
     • Launch an experiential real estate development course for high school students in a
        rural Virginia school division
     • Reinvigorate technology education in local schools in the City of Suffolk

  Economic & Workforce Development
     • Coordinate work across a Southside Virginia County's Economic and Community
       Development Offices
     • Develop a county economic development strategic plan for King George County
     • Develop workforce and economic partnerships across a three-county/city area in
       Southside Virginia
     • Forming partnerships between a community college and regional workforce agencies
       and employers in the Rappahannock Community College Region
     • Update a small town's Code to foster small business development in the Town of Luray

  Community Development
    • Build a local water feature to promote town tourism and community involvement in the
      Town of Waverly
    • Build a program to deliver integrated financial services for individuals in need in
      Martinsville and Henry County
    • Develop a Regional Aging Plan for Southside Virginia
    • Develop an approach to promote rural community development financial institutions
      across Virginia


16 | P a g e
      •   Develop an inventory to promote old country stores in Louisa County
      •   Develop young professionals’ group in Martinsville and Henry County for targeted
          professional development opportunities
      •   Implement a stratified policing model in the Town of Marion


The Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) was able to provide a need-blind program in its
inaugural year due to fundraising efforts from mostly private sector entities that are committed to the
Center’s and Institute’s mission. The financial support from sponsors is essential to building more
rural leaders across the Commonwealth.

These sponsors include (in alphabetical order):
   • Appalachian Power
   • Danville Community College Educational Foundation
   • Dominion
   • Mid Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation
   • Microsoft
   • River Link Group
   • Virginia Housing
   • Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative
   • Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission




17 | P a g e
Partnerships and Collaborative Efforts
The Virginia Rural Center engages in numerous partnerships and collaborative efforts with other
organizations. These partners, often sharing aligned missions, exponentially strengthen the Rural
Center’s efforts and provide a platform to elevate the Commonwealth’s rural issues.

Taskforce for Rural Virginia Economic Growth, Founding Member

A collaborative effort organized by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the
Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC), and the Virginia Rural Center. The
group officially launched in 2023 and works to foster a positive impact through collaborative and
action-oriented efforts. The primary goal is to address rural areas' concerns and work together to
discover sustainable solutions. The taskforce works to exchange insights on ongoing initiatives in
different communities and delve into the current challenges faced by rural areas.

2023 Virginia Department of Education, Teacher of the Year Selection Committee Member

Served as rural representation on the VDOE Teacher of the Year Selection Committee,
evaluating nominations and applications for teachers who were nominated for the very
prestigious award.



Partners for Rural America, Board of Directors Member

Partners for Rural America (PRA) was founded in 1998 to support the efforts of its member State
Rural Development Councils (SRDCs), which are uniquely positioned to expand economic and
social opportunities for America's rural communities and their residents, promote equal treatment of
rural America by government agencies and the private sector and provide a collective voice for rural
America. Joined in January 2018, the PRA Board of Directors provides a networking platform for
other state rural center leaders to share successes and answer inquiries on best practices in member
states.

Broadband Advisory Council, Board Member

The Broadband Advisory Council was established to help determine the Commonwealth's goals for
broadband and how best to achieve them. The Rural Center’s executive director gathers knowledge
and contributes thought to further advocate for broadband expansion across the Commonwealth.

Virginia Housing, Rural Housing Advisory Council Member

The Rural Housing Advisory Council (RHAC) is a cross-regional group that will provide guidance
and expertise to Virginia Housing regarding housing issues in rural Virginia. Mrs. Proctor became a
member of Virginia Housing’s Rural Housing Advisory Council in August 2018, and she is pleased
to take on this role and provide additional insight to the housing needs in rural Virginia.

Legislative Sportsmen Caucus, Participant


18 | P a g e
Formed in 2004, the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of
legislators dedicated to protecting and advancing hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting
in Virginia. Regular involvement by the Rural Center in the Legislative Sportsmen Caucus includes
participating in and recruitment for weekly legislative sportsman caucus meetings and providing
support for the annual sportsman caucus retreat.

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Rural Initiative Steering Group, Member

The Richmond Fed created this group with the goal to bring together leaders who help rural areas
and small towns thrive. Participants collaborate on the needs and challenges that are facing rural
communities, as well as highlighting opportunities.

Areas of focus include helping rural communities develop innovations in community financing and
leadership; and create a common set of community indicators, tools, and success stories.




19 | P a g e
Leadership
Board of Trustees
Center for Rural Virginia

   •   Chair, Honorable Frank M. Ruff, Jr, Senate of Virginia
   •   Vice-Chair, Honorable Les Adams, Jr., Virginia House of Delegates
   •   Honorable Emily Brewer, Member, Virginia House of Delegates
   •   Honorable Winsome Earle-Sears, Lieutenant Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
   •   Honorable Wendy Gooditis, Member, Virginia House of Delegat havees
   •   Patricia Harper-Tunley, Certified Travel Concierge, P.T. Enterprise LLC
   •   Julie Hensley, President, Law Office of Julie D. Hensley
   •   Anne Herring, Partnership Liaison Specialist, Rural Development Innovation Center, United
       States Department of Agriculture
   •   Brian Isringhausen, CEO, Cranemasters, Inc.
   •   Willene A. Johnson, Ph. D, Independent Consultant
   •   Honorable Creigh Deeds, Member, Senate of Virginia
   •   Honorable Matthew Lohr, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Commonwealth of Virginia
   •   Sarah Marshall, Manager, State & Local Affairs, Dominion Energy
   •   Honorable Caren Merrick, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Commonwealth of Virginia
   •   Liz Povar, Principal Officer, The River Link Group
   •   Eddie Ramirez, Ramirez Consulting, LLC
   •   Honorable Chris Runion, Member, Virginia House of Delegates
   •   Chris Van Vlack, Farmer, Hanging Rock Hay & Bush Hog
   •   Lindsey Watson, Director of Government Affairs, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

In partnership with
Board of Directors – Council for Rural Virginia
   •   Chair, Bryan David, Program Director, Growth and Opportunity Virginia Region 3
   •   Vice-Chair, Dr. Edwin Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech
   •   Shannon Blevins, Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Engagement,
       University of Virginia’s College at Wise
   •   The Honorable Ruby Brabo, Realtor
   •   Katie Frazier, Director, Farm Credit of the Virginias Knowledge Center
   •   Sharon Johnson, CEO of the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board
   •   Hugh Joyce, Owner, James River Air Conditioning
   •   Gary Keener, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College




20 | P a g e
   •   John A. King II, General Manager and Vice President of Sales, VA Poultry Growers
       Cooperative
   •   Dr. Angela Lawhorne, Director, Career Education Programs & Workforce Partnerships,
       Virginia Community College System
   •   Mark Lawrence, Vice President of Governmental and External Affairs, Carilion Clinic
   •   Patrick Mauney, Executive Director, Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission
   •   Jay Poole, Owner, Common Sense Strategies
   •   R. Morgan Quicke, County Administrator, Richmond County
   •   Bill Tucker, Tucker Family Farms
   •   Brian T. Warner, Rolls Royce
   •   Carlyle Wimbish, Hickory Hill Farm




21 | P a g e
Contact Information




                 Kristie Helmick Proctor
                   Executive Director
                  varuralcenter@vt.edu

                600 East Main St., Suite 300
                   Richmond, VA 23219

                For more information, visit:
                      www.cfrv.org




22 | P a g e


File and source

File

2024-RD103.pdf

Size

443,874 bytes

SHA-256

b53073b8be5b42e4aa47cc83061294a8bf33eaf10cddd17fe61f4ca83482f281

Our copy

2024-RD103.pdf

Original

No public link identified.