| Contact Information | Date |
|---|---|
| For Immediate Release Contact: John Campbell 434.220.9070 or 434.989.0665 |
Sept. 16, 2009 VDOF 09030 |
VDOF Awarded Federal Stimulus Funding;
More than $1 Million in Aid for Projects in Southside Virginia And Shenandoah Valley
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has been awarded just over $1 million in federal stimulus funding to be used for projects in 15 localities in the Shenandoah Valley and five localities in Southside Virginia.
The $1.076 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds will create 12 new jobs and retain 42 positions in the designated areas, according to Paul Revell, VDOF's urban and community forestry manager.
“A total of $897,000 has been approved for the Shenandoah Valley Watershed Community Ecosystem Restoration and Enhancement project,” Revell said, “and $179,000 was designated for the Southside Virginia Community Tree Planting Initiative.”
In the Shenandoah Valley, the communities of Winchester, Front Royal, Woodstock, Strasburg, Stanley, New Market, Broadway, Timberville, Bridgewater, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Lexington, Elkton and Grottoes will benefit from tree planting for stream bank restoration, riparian buffer establishment, environmental site design work, community tree planting and/or greenway/trail development. A total of 10 jobs are expected to be created and 30 jobs retained during the duration of the project implementation.
The Martinsville and Danville areas in Southside Virginia will see two jobs created and 12 jobs retained for projects involving community tree planting, tree maintenance, hazard tree removal, tree inventory/assessment work as well as stream restoration planting.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the funding for these VDOF projects as part of the final series of awards to enhance water quality, air quality, wildlife habitat, wildland fire resistance and recreational opportunities in 30 states.
U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell said, “Our goal is have projects well underway as soon as possible to create jobs for the citizens we serve, and support our mission of sustaining the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests to meet the needs of present and future generations.”
State Forester of Virginia Carl Garrison said, “The VDOF is proud to have a role in getting Virginians back to work while at the same time enhancing the health and beauty of the Commonwealth.”
-30-
The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, the Agency has forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide service to citizens of the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.
With nearly 16 million acres of forest land and more than 144,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products and related industries, Virginia forests provide more than $27.5 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.
