Local Foods, Local Places Grant

Christiansburg is one of the 27 communities nationwide to be awarded assistance through the Local Foods, Local Places grant program.

Launched in 2014, Local Foods, Local Places aims to provide technical and financial assistance to help communities integrate local food strategies into their economic development efforts. The program is a partnership between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S Department of Transportation, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Authority.

Christiansburg is the only community in Virginia selected for this initiative in 2016. As a participant, Christiansburg received technical assistance through Renaissance Planning Group from Charlottesville, VA, to engage with the community and develop an action plan. A $20,000 grant will be awarded to aid in implementation of the action plan.

The Town of Christiansburg anticipates using the program grant to identify and implement funding and marketing strategies to expand the Christiansburg Farmers’ Market, as well as supporting downtown business development.

On October 6, 2016, the community was invited to share their thoughts on how local foods can support a more vibrant and healthy downtown Christiansburg. At this open house, residents engaged in conversation with the technical assistance team to discuss the future of the Farmers’ Market and downtown, and the suggestions were incorporated into a recommended action plan. Preliminary sketches were also drawn up to spur discussion and are linked below.

Local Foods, Local Places Sketches

Downtown Structure (PDF)

Hickok Street (PDF)

Farmers' Market Setup Designs (PDF)
 Setup Classic (PDF)
 Setup Cul-de-sac (PDF)
 Setup Single Loaded (PDF)
 Setup Double Loaded (PDF)

Program Needs Legend (PDF)
 Program Needs A Current-Enhanced (PDF)
 Program Needs B Single Pavilion (PDF)
 Program Needs C Dual Pavilion (PDF)

Farmers’ Market Option 1 (PDF)
Farmers’ Market Option 2 (PDF)
Farmers’ Market Preliminary Concept - streetscape view (PDF)

Recommended Action Plan
Below is a link to the formal Local Foods, Local Places Action Plan, which was derived from input from citizens, property owners and business owners at the public workshop on October 6, 2016, as well as input from staff, representatives from the supporting agencies and the consultants. This document does not yet detail the use of the $20,000 Local Foods, Local Places grant, as that will be determined in coming months. The document lays out four goals, with accompanying action items, and is considered a living document in that it may be edited to accommodate potential new ideas or directions, provided they still fit within the framework of the Local Foods, Local Places Program.
Local Foods, Local Places Action Plan (PDF)