More local community projects go without federal funding

Many projects from nonprofits across Virginia won’t receive expected federal funding, as Congress passed a stopgap funding bill that cut planned federal dollars for many local initiatives.

A wide variety of projects in central Virginia are affected, including those focused on clean drinking water, affordable housing, communications and medical equipment for first responders, support for youth mental health programs and expanded neonatal intensive care at the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital.

From Cardinal News: Dozens of community projects halted after federal funding was omitted from Congressional stop-gap spending bill

Congress passed, and President Donald Trump signed, the stopgap funding bill in March in order to avert a government shutdown, NBC News reported. The bill, which passed with the approval of nearly all Republicans and two Democrats, increased defense spending by $6 billion, according to Stars and Stripes, and reduced other spending by $13 billion.

The reduction in non-defense spending came largely from omitting “earmarks” or Congressionally directed funding, from the federal budget, Roll Call reported. Congressionally directed funding is federal dollars that are directed to a specific project in a specific state or congressional district. It is capped at one percent of all discretionary spending, and for-profit entities are not eligible to receive the money.

Some of the impacted projects in central Virginia include:

• $5.9 million to address “dead spots” in radio coverage for first responders in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County, according to WHSV TV.
• $5.6 million to build a water tower in Stanardsville to improve the supply of drinking and “fire flow” water for the town and Greene County
• $1.1 million for Greater Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity to help build rental housing to prevent displacement of the low-income residents in Albemarle County’s Southwood Mobile Park
• $1 million to support UVA Children’s Hospital’s $50 million expansion to its neonatal intensive care unit
• $880,000 to replace water filtration equipment at the South Rivanna Water Plant that provides drinking water to Charlottesville and Albemarle County
• $200,000 for Ready Kids, Inc., which offers youth mental health counseling in Charlottesville
• $28,000 to replace defibrillators in patrol cars for the Greene County Sheriff’s office

You can view a more comprehensive list of projects on Sen. Tim Kaine’s website here.

Cardinal News has also reported the impact on projects across south and southwest Virginia. Some organizations told Cardinal News that they have had to put projects on hold indefinitely, some plan to reapply for funding next year, and others are looking to find other sources of funding.

How Charlottesville Tomorrow is reporting on changes in the federal government

We’ll continue to report on the impact in central Virginia in the coming days and weeks. Read our latest coverage of local impacts of changes in the federal government here.

From CBS 19 News: Thousands attend nationwide ‘hands-off’ rally against Trump, Musk

This past weekend at least 1,300 “Hands off” rallies were planned in all 50 states to protest President Trump, adviser Elon Musk and recent layoffs, funding cuts and policy changes in the federal government, The Washington Post reported. (Subscribers to the Post can read more here).

There were several such protests across central Virginia: CBS 19 News reports that thousands of protesters gathered in Charlottesville, The Daily Progress reports that hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown Staunton (subscription required), and Byrd Street reports that several hundred protestors, including many residents from Orange County, rallied in Culpepper.

Protesters from central Virginia told the news outlets they were protesting the Trump administration’s dismantling of the federal government, deportations of immigrants who lawfully entered the country and recent policy changes affecting education and diversity initiatives, among other issues.

Stay safe and take care of each other, 
Akash Sinha, Managing Editor