eNews – April 11, 2025
Small Towns Conference happening June 5-6, Winners of VML essay contest announced...and more!
Friday, April 11, 2025/Categories: eNews
This edition of eNews is sponsored by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation accelerating early commercialization & funding support for Virginia innovations, entrepreneurs, startups & market development initiatives. Learn more >.
Available to officials and staff from VML member localities.
Register for the City/Urban Section virtual meeting (May 1)
Register for the Town Section virtual meeting (May 2)
In this issue:
VML News
Committees
Opportunities
VML News
Congratulations to the winners of VML’s 2025 “If I Were Mayor” state essay 
contest!
VML announced today the statewide winner and regional winners of the league’s “If I Were Mayor” Essay Contest for 7th and 8th graders. As in years past, the students were asked to write a short essay in which they identified an issue in their locality, talked to others about possible solutions, and then presented the solution that they believe will best address the issue.
The 2025 winners are:
- Statewide winner: Jelena Ly of Edward W. Wyatt Middle School in Emporia
- Region 1: John Sawyer of Gate City Christian School in Gate City
- Region 3: Foster Pickett of Lylburn Downing Middle School in Lexington
- Region 4: Adrienne Eagle of Cornerstone Christian Academy in Appomattox
- Region 5: Caroline Le of Harper Park Middle School in Leesburg
- Region 7: Noelle Harris of E.W. Wyatt Middle School in Emporia
- Region 8: Ellie Stevens of Poquoson Middle School in Poquoson
*Note – VML did not receive any entries from regions 2 and 6 this year.
Read the winning essays here >
Of statewide winner Jelena Ly, VML President and Town of Ashland Mayor Steve Trivett noted: “She went beyond describing the challenge that required multiple actions, she also took the wise road of tracking and measuring the success of her action items with an eye on all the neighborhoods. She also displayed wisdom using her heart and her head: compassion for meeting emergency needs and the practicality of empowering people to take ownership and personally choosing healthier diets. Congratulations Jelena and to all this year’s winners!”
Read the full press release here >
VML Contact: Manuel Timbreza, mtimbreza@vml.org
Save the date: Virginia Small Towns Conference scheduled for June 5-6 in Farmville
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural offering, the Virginia Municipal League and Virginia Tech will host another Virginia Small Towns Conference on June 5-6 on the campus of Longwood University in Farmville.
Details, room block information, and registration will be available on VML’s website by the end of next week. See you in Farmville!
VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org
Legislative review section meetings coming in early May
VML will offer legislative wrap-up meetings through Zoom for the City/Urban Section and the Town Section. VML staff will present updates on bills and budget actions affecting localities during these sessions. The meetings are open to our members and their staff.
- City/Urban Section meeting: Thursday, May 1, from 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
- Town Section meeting: Friday, May 2, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The registration links will also be emailed to VML member localities in the coming weeks.
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
VML/VRSA Regional Briefing: South Boston April 23
Join VML and the Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) for this FREE event featuring conversations for local governments – from the smallest to the largest.
Topics will include:
- 2025 General Assembly Update
- Marijuana in the Workplace
- Cybersecurity
- …and more!
Breakfast and lunch will be provided
REGISTRATION:
Register by emailing Jackie Stauffer from VRSA at jstauffer@vrsa.us.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
- April 23, 2025
- 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- South Boston Town Hall (420 Main Street, 24592)
VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org
Committees
Federal workforce and funding reductions committee holds second meeting
On April 8, the House Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions held its second meeting, this time in Alexandria. Legislators listened to a series of presentations including (but not limited to) the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, Fairfax County, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, regional organizations, an expert on higher education, and a strategist who spoke on the federal budgeting process. Each presentation focused on affects, trends, predictions, and recommendations for how the General Assembly can help. Along with the committee members, other delegates not on the committee, members of the press, and local elected officials were in attendance.
Details and presentations from the meeting are available here >.
This committee plans to meet three more times before September across the Commonwealth with the next meeting on scheduled for May 12 in Wytheville.
VML Contact: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org
Opportunities
Complete the SLAF Needs Assessment Survey by May 16
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking input to identify future funding needs for SLAF-eligible nutrient reduction projects in the Commonwealth. This survey intends to capture an estimate of the SLAF funding needed for permittees conducting stormwater projects in the near future. Please note that there are several new survey questions in this year’s survey. Please pay special attention to the first section of the survey where these changes occur.
Survey data will be used to prepare an estimate of the amount of SLAF matching grants expected to be requested by local governments. This will be included in the biennial funding report submitted to the Governor pursuant to § 2.2-1504 and included in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Waters Clean-up Plan and Report submitted annually by the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to the Governor and the General Assembly pursuant to § 62.1-44.118. Submissions must be received by May 16, 2025, in order for DEQ to include your information in these related reports.
Access the survey here: bit.ly/4iLvzK4
DEQ Contact: Karen Doran, 804-836-5912 or cwfap@deq.virginia.gov
VOLSAP helps volunteers save
Across Virginia, volunteer firefighters and rescue squad workers save lives and protect property every day. While volunteers serve our communities, retaining these first responders can be challenging.
The Virginia Volunteer Firefighters’ & Rescue Squad Workers’ Service Award Program, or VOLSAP, is an optional savings plan targeting volunteer first responders. It can be used as part of your locality’s strategy to recruit and retain volunteers.
How Volunteers Can Save With VOLSAP
- Eligible volunteers submit the application form and have it certified by their local squad or department to become a VOLSAP member.
- Volunteers contribute money quarterly, and a representative from the department or squad submits the contributions on their behalf.
- To encourage saving, a department, squad or local government may elect to make the contributions on behalf of members or match a portion of the amount members contribute.
- Contributions are invested alongside the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) pension trust fund in a widely diversified portfolio.
- When members reach age 60 with at least five years of qualifying service, they are eligible to receive a distribution that includes any investment returns and matching funds.
Promotional Resources
Spread awareness in your locality about this savings opportunity by downloading VOLSAP promotional material at volsap.org. You’ll find a program overview video and presentation, brochures and flyers. The website also has links to required forms, a procedures guide and other program details.
VOLSAP Contact: Submit questions to volsap@varetire.org
Public input requested: Amended State Plan for Aging Services
The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) has released draft amendments to the State Plan for Aging Services to align it with updated federal Older Americans Act regulations.
The amendments address key areas, including Grab and Go meals and Program Development and Coordination Activities.
DARS is hosting a 30-day Public Comment Period from March 24 to April 23, 2025. Public comments can be submitted online, via email, mail, or fax.
To learn more about the amended State Plan for Aging Services and the public input process, visit: https://vda.virginia.gov/stateplans.htm.
DARS Contact: Charlotte Arbogast, charlotte.arbogast@dars.virginia.gov
Funding available from National Fitness Campaign for outdoor wellness infrastructure
Free, accessible outdoor wellness opportunities for communities and schools across Virginia are possible thanks to a continued partnership between National Fitness Campaign and Aetna.
In 2025, the sponsorship will provide more than $350,000 in new grant funding to communities and schools across the Commonwealth. This funding will be allocated to support municipalities across Virginia to join the growing National Fitness Campaign, building healthy infrastructure for smart communities and schools of the future. The campaign has expanded significantly in the past few years, with plans to welcome its 750th Healthy Community in America in 2025, fostering a healthier, more active country.
The program is designed to bring world-class healthy infrastructure to public spaces, along with consulting, funding, and community programming support. Watch NFC’s 3-minute video describing the program: Campaign Video.
The Town of Dumfries celebrated the launch of its Fitness Court in 2023 at Ginn Memorial Park. Town of Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood shared his enthusiasm for the community: "Based on our comprehensive plan and resolutions that had already passed in Dumfries, the Fitness Court Studio already aligned with the vision, creating unanimous support in the town. We chose the location for highest density and best walkability in town to make sure the space would be activated for years to come.”
In 2025, the program is seeking applications from municipalities of all sizes interested in building accessible outdoor wellness infrastructure to support the health and wellbeing of their residents. Funding is now available for 2025 applicants and is projected to be allocated over the next 60 days.
If you would like to join a 30-minute briefing to learn more about the NFC/Aetna wellness campaign in Virginia and how to qualify for funding, please fill out a short contact form at the link below. The briefings require the attendance of the Parks Director, Mayor, Town Manager, or Administrator to qualify for funding.
Sign up for briefing for funding qualification here >.
NFC Contact: Sarah Morgan, sarah@nfchq.com