River District Consulting Group

09/03/2026

👀 Chatham 🥰

08/20/2026

The U.S. Economic Development Administration has just announced a $8.3 million award to upgrade the Hurt Water Treatment Plant. 🎉

Congratulations to the Town of Hurt and Pittsylvania County!

This is a big step forward for reliable water service for the town and surrounding community for years to come.

This award adds to a broader funding strategy that also includes a $500,000 grant from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission’s SEID Grant Program and local investment from the Town and County.

We were honored to write the grant application that helped make this happen, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work alongside the Town, the County, and the West Piedmont Planning District Commission as this project moves forward.

Congratulations to Mayor Gary Hodnett, County Administrator Vincent E. Shorter and Economic Development Director Matt Rowe, and everyone who worked to bring this home!

WASHINGTON –Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced $28.5 million in Disaster Supplemental funding awards to five states, which were impacted by storms and natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.

08/03/2026

08/03/2026

Some places tell a community’s story. Others help write its next chapter. Sometimes, they’re just across the street from each other.

This weekend, we were honored to attend the unveiling of Virginia’s newest historical marker recognizing Gilbert’s Restaurant in Chatham.

For decades, Gilbert’s was far more than a restaurant. During segregation, it was a place of welcome, dignity, and community for Black travelers and local families. This marker is a well-deserved recognition of the Gilbert family’s contributions—not only to Chatham, but to the broader story of Virginia and our nation. Congratulations to the Gilbert family and to everyone whose years of research, advocacy, and persistence made this recognition possible.

Standing there, it was hard not to look across Main Street.

Just across the road, work has begun to prepare the future north trailhead and park along the Chatham Trail System. Before long, that space will become another place where people gather, connect with one another, and experience our community.

Those two places are connected in an important way.

One reminds us where we’ve been. The other represents an investment in where we’re going.

At RDCG, we’re fortunate to work alongside communities as they plan for the future. Experiences like this are a reminder that the strongest communities don’t choose between preserving their history and investing in what’s next.

Chatham First Pittsylvania Historical Society

07/27/2026

Congratulations to Virginia Career Works - West Piedmont Region on this tremendous investment in workforce development and career exploration for our region!

River District Consulting Group is proud to partner with Virginia Career Works on funding strategy and grant development. We’re excited to see this program expand into Danville and Pittsylvania County and we know the impact will be felt by students, employers, and communities across the region for years to come.

Congratulations to everyone who helped bring this opportunity to life, including Danville Regional Foundation for investing in opportunities that strengthen our region’s workforce.

Record Grant Cycle for West Piedmont Workforce Development Board

Martinsville, VA — The West Piedmont Workforce Development Board (WPWDB) is proud to announce a historic funding cycle after successfully securing every competitive grant for which the organization applied, bringing millions of dollars in new investments to strengthen workforce development across the region.

The funding includes a $1.5 million YouthBuild grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, supported by $375,000 in matching funds from The Harvest Foundation ($187,500) and the Danville Regional Foundation ($187,500).

In addition, the Danville Regional Foundation awarded $892,228 to expand the Board's highly successful Guided Career Exploration (GCE) program into Danville-Pittsylvania County.

The Board was also awarded two new TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) grants in partnership with the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville as well as a new Project Imagine (Community Violence Intervention Program) grant in partnership with the City of Danville totaling another $500,000 annually.

These grants are all in addition to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds the organization administers through the two Comprehensive Workforce Centers located at 233 W. Commonwealth Blvd. in Martinsville and 211 Nor Dan Drive in Danville, along with a satellite location at 103 West Blue Ridge Street in Patrick County.

Together, these awards represent the most successful funding cycle in the organization's history and position the West Piedmont Workforce Development Board to expand services and create new opportunities for youth and adults throughout the region.

The YouthBuild program provides opportunity youth with education, industry-recognized credentials, hands-on training, leadership development, supportive services, and pathways to employment and post-secondary education. The West Piedmont Workforce Development Board is one of only two organizations in Virginia to operate a YouthBuild program.

Over the past three years, the program has achieved outstanding outcomes by helping participants earn industry-recognized credentials, obtain employment, enroll in post-secondary education, and develop the skills needed for long-term career success. Building on that proven track record, the newly awarded grant will allow the Board to continue transforming the lives of young people while expanding its impact throughout the West Piedmont region.

The Guided Career Exploration program connects young adults with paid work-based learning experiences, career exploration, and mentorship through partnerships with local employers in Martinsville-Henry County. Since its launch, the program has helped hundreds of participants gain valuable workplace experience while assisting employers in developing their future workforce. The new funding will expand these opportunities into Danville-Pittsylvania County, allowing hundreds more participants to benefit from the program.

"When our young people succeed, our entire community succeeds," said Dr. Sandy Strayer, Program Officer at The Harvest Foundation. "The employers who open their doors to these young adults are offering an internship and a learning opportunity, but they are also offering a pathway to a future that might otherwise feel out of reach. Every investment in education and job training builds stronger families, a stronger workforce, and a community that cultivates and keeps its own homegrown talent."

Clark Casteel, President & CEO of the Danville Regional Foundation, said:

"Our region is experiencing a level of growth we haven't seen in decades, and it's essential that our young people have the opportunity to grow alongside it. The West Piedmont Workforce Development Board has already demonstrated the success of the Guided Career Exploration program in Martinsville and Henry County by connecting youth with meaningful work experiences and career pathways. We're excited to see that proven model expand into Danville and Pittsylvania County. This investment reflects what is possible when workforce organizations, educators, employers, and community partners unite behind a shared vision. The Danville Regional Foundation is proud to support this effort and looks forward to the lasting impact this next chapter will have on the young people and employers across our region."

Tyler Freeland, CEO of the West Piedmont Workforce Development Board, stated:

"I am extremely proud of our team at the WPWDB. It's always a great feeling when hard work pays off and I want to thank the good Lord and the great group that spent many nights and weekends to make this possible. We are extremely appreciative of the Danville Regional Foundation and the Harvest Foundation for having the insight to invest in the future of our youth. These two organizations combining their resources to invest in an innovative regional collaborative is exactly what we need at this pivotal time in workforce development. This investment will be a catalyst to connect local youth to great jobs in our region that can provide a wonderful life without having to leave the area. These grants are just the beginning of the work we are doing to help employers fill the abundance of jobs we have right here at home. We look forward to continuing to grow to meet the needs of local employers and job seekers."

The grants provide financial stability for the next three years and will enable the organization to serve hundreds of participants through workforce training, career development, work-based learning, supportive services, and employment opportunities.

The West Piedmont Workforce Development Board extends its sincere appreciation to the U.S. Department of Labor, The Harvest Foundation, the Danville Regional Foundation, the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville, the City of Danville, and the many community partners whose collaboration and support continue to strengthen the region's workforce system.

About the West Piedmont Workforce Development Board

The West Piedmont Workforce Development Board serves the cities of Martinsville and Danville, along with Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania counties by connecting job seekers and employers through innovative workforce development programs, education and training opportunities, business services, and strategic partnerships that strengthen the regional economy.

07/26/2026

Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association

What fun showing off our community to some wonderful new friends!

07/24/2026

Every community has people who quietly make it better.

This week, our community is saying “see you again soon” to Dick and Betty Camp as they begin their next chapter in Cary, North Carolina. Betty Camp camp

While we’re happy for them, it’s hard to imagine Chatham without them.

If you’ve spent any time in our town, you’ve probably seen their fingerprints without even realizing it.

Through Rotary, the Garden Club, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chatham First, Reimagine Chatham, downtown beautification efforts, and countless volunteer projects, they’ve helped shape this community in ways that are difficult to measure.

People often ask what makes one small town different from another.

It’s people like Dick and Betty.

The ones who show up.

The ones who say yes.

The ones who quietly keep moving good things forward year after year.

Thank you, Dick and Betty, for everything you’ve given to Chatham. We’ll miss seeing you around town, but we know this isn’t goodbye. We look forward to welcoming you back home often.

Safe travels, and thank you for leaving Chatham better than you found it.

(Photo credit: Dick Camp)

07/22/2026

Rachel Del Campo Gatewood and Hollie Adams are honored to host this year’s Community Planners Assistance Program tour. as part of the APA Virginia Annual Conference, alongside Pittsylvania County Community Development Director Kelly Smith.

Our tour will take planning professionals through Pittsylvania County and three of the communities we call home—Chatham, Gretna, and Hurt.

We’re excited for the opportunity to introduce planners from across Virginia to communities that have been doing some exciting work in recent years. Along the way, we’ll share local projects, talk about opportunities and challenges, and, just as importantly, hear fresh perspectives from professionals who spend their days helping communities across the Commonwealth.

Sometimes it’s helpful to see your own community through someone else’s eyes. We expect to come away from the day with new ideas and a renewed appreciation for the places we’re proud to call home.

🤝 Meet Our Exhibitors!

The APA Virginia 2026 Annual Conference Exhibit Hall—proudly sponsored by Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. —brings together organizations that are shaping the future of planning, engineering, housing, technology, and community development.

We're excited to welcome:
✨ Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (Exhibit Hall Sponsor)
✨ Visit SoSi
✨ Virginia Housing
✨ WGI
✨ Summit Design and Engineering Services (summitde.com)
✨ Kimley-Horn
✨ Weston & Sampson
✨ Brailsford&Dunlavey
✨ East Point Energy (eastpointenergy.com)
✨ Green Infrastructure Center
✨ Center for the Study of Economics (urbantoolsconsult.org)
✨ Accela | Govtech Software
✨ Fernleaf (fernleaf.us)
✨ Tyler Technologies
✨ Benchmark Planning
✨ EPR, P.C.,
✨ Brick Industry Association
✨ GovWell
✨ Westwood Professional Services

Be sure to stop by the Exhibit Hall to connect with our exhibitors, explore innovative solutions, and build valuable connections throughout the conference.

Which exhibitor are you most excited to visit? Let us know in the comments below!

Caesar's Virginia, Danville, VA
July 26–29, 2026
 
We'll see you next week!
 
 
 
 

06/25/2026

Exciting news!

05/29/2026

Exciting week in Chatham as our partners from Arnett Muldrow & Associates and Hill Studio are in town working with local leaders and stakeholders on the next phase of Reimagine Chatham.

Current conversations are focused on downtown and gateway wayfinding, trail system planning and connectivity, tourism and visitor experience, signage placement, and coordination with local and regional partners.

Reimagine Chatham began as a community-driven Growth & Renewal initiative focused on strengthening downtown, improving quality of life, celebrating local identity, and positioning Chatham for long-term success. It’s rewarding to now see the work continue moving from planning into implementation.

River District Consulting Group’s role throughout the process has focused on project coordination, funding strategy, and strategic alignment.

One of the things we appreciate most about this kind of work is that successful community projects rarely happen in isolation. They require collaboration between local government, nonprofits, regional organizations, businesses, residents, and institutional partners all working toward shared goals.

Looking forward to seeing these next phases continue to take shape in Chatham!

Town of Chatham Chatham First