On behalf of the Roanoke-Alleghany Regional Commission, I am honored to present our 2025 Annual Report. The Commission released its initial Annual Report fifty-four years ago. However, our mission remains the same: to convene and coordinate with our member governments around issues and opportunities that promote and support jurisdictional needs and services.
Over many decades, the Commission’s work has experienced significant changes in methodologies, service needs and evolving technologies. Today, the Commission continues to work in a unified manner in areas such as broadband, highways, greenways and a host of other programmatic areas that challenge our localities and the region as a whole. We are honored to be that collective voice for all of the localities we serve!
This annual report reflects over 40 projects that impacted our 11 local government members. Project highlights include assisting the Town of Clifton Forge on their comprehensive plan update, working with the Town of Vinton on project management for the Glade Creek Greenway Phase 3, the construction of several new homes in Roanoke City with support of our PDC Housing Development Grant, our Chesapeake Bay Watershed program’s Septic Pump-Outs in Roanoke County, and many others. In addition to our major work program items, the Commission took on innumerable technical support and grant-writing assistance efforts throughout the year.
Over the last few years, the Commission has become more actively engaged at the legislative level. A Legislative Committee, comprised of staff and Commission members, have worked to solicit locality feedback, develop an agenda, and advocate these needs to our General Assembly representatives in Richmond.
In addition to the projects and programs that this Commission undertakes, it’s important to remember our primary role as a Convener. Each month, our Commission meetings are an opportunity to discuss the issues that are affecting each of us, to hear from experts in various fields to help inform our collective decision-making, and to build strong relationships and friendships with each other. To that end, I also want to thank all of you, citizens, administrators, and elected officials, whose engagement and transformative ideas keep the Commission relevant and impactful fifty-four years later.
Working together, we will realize positive impacts for our localities and seek to move our organization into its future with optimism and steadfast leadership.
