CULPEPER TIMES

The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday voted to approve funding for projects around the 7th Congressional District including three in Culpeper.

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger successfully secured as part of a U.S. House-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations bill.

The investments in these community-focused projects total more than $12.2 million for infrastructure, transportation, public safety, and accessibility needs in Virginia’s Seventh District.

Spanberger worked directly with local officials in Virginia to solicit these requests, move these projects forward, and make sure they were included in this federal funding legislation. The FY2024 appropriations package now goes to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

“My priority as a Member of Congress is to be responsive to the needs of Virginia’s Seventh District — and to deliver solutions to address those needs. This House-passed package includes more than one dozen investments that local leaders requested through my office, worked with me to move forward, and ultimately secured in this package,” Spanberger said. “These federal dollars are responsible, direct investments to strengthen Virginia’s physical infrastructure, enhance public safety, and allow more Virginians to take advantage of all that our Commonwealth has to offer.”

Spanberger secured $380,000 for a new critical incident vehicle for the Culpeper Police Department. This investment would allow the Town of Culpeper to secure the vehicle to provide a platform for law enforcement to safely conduct operations during critical or emergency situations within the community, while providing real-time intelligence to keep community members and visitors safe.

“The citizens of the Town of Culpeper will greatly benefit from awarding this funding to our Culpeper Police Department,” said Mayor Frank Reaves, Jr. “This vehicle, along with the technology that will come with it, will provide our officers with the tools to ensure public safety in our great town. On behalf of the Town of Culpeper, I want to thank Representative Spanberger and her staff on working with our police department.”

“This Community Project Funding will provide the men and women of the Culpeper Police Department with a level of technology that will provide for greater efficiencies on major events within the Town of Culpeper,” said Police Chief Chris Settle. “Also, this funding will continue us to assist and provide support to our law enforcement partners in our region and beyond.”

Spanberger also secured $500,000 for Culpeper County to make improvements to the auditorium at the Carver Center. The improvements — such as additional fixed seating, lighting, stage repairs and audio-visual improvements — would allow for the existing main school building to be fully utilized to hold educational and community events both for current users of the Carver Center and expand use of the space to all of Culpeper County.

“On behalf of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, I would like to thank Congresswoman Spanberger for her work to obtain funding for needed community projects across her district. The Carver Center is important not only to Culpeper County, but the region. The renovation of the auditorium will create an exciting amenity that our residents can utilize and enjoy,” said Culpeper County Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Bates. 

“We are so appreciative of Representative Spanberger and her team. She has been a huge advocate for the Carver Center and Culpeper County. With these funds we can continue revitalizing and improving this historic community resource for all our residents to enjoy,” said Culpeper County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman David Durr.

Additionally, Spanberger secured $132,777 for Culpeper County to bring Lenn Park and its surrounding areas up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This investment would allow the county to grade and pave the parking lots and the trail loops around the softball fields, dog park, fitness equipment, amphitheater, pollinator garden, and shelter to upgrade the spaces to current ADA standards. The paved trail network would offer connecting access to all the amenities in Lenn Park for use by community members.

“As Chairman of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to access community funding through our congressional district. We are working hard to make Culpeper County a vibrant community where all our residents can live, work, and play. The awarded funds will improve trail accessibility and will ensure that Lenn Park can be used by residents and visitors of all abilities,” Bates said.

“Lenn Park is a community resource we are all proud of. Making this park as well as others accessible for all our residents is a priority for both our Parks and Recreation Department and the Board. We are thankful that these funds can be used to further those goals,” said Culpeper County Board of Supervisor Susan Gugino.

“Thank you to every local leader across the Seventh District who visualized the potential impact of these smart investments, advocated for their communities and the Virginians they serve, and worked with my team and me to get to this point,” Spanberger said. “I look forward to seeing these investments make it to the President’s desk and make a real impact in our communities.”

For FY2024, the U.S. House of Representatives allowed for specific Community Project Funding requests — as it did in FY2023. Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in localities across Virginia’s Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that members of Congress — in concert with the communities they represent — may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of the yearly appropriations process.

To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or non-profit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding.

The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications needed to demonstrate significant local support for the projects.