County of Louisa

The James River Water Authority (JRWA) held a groundbreaking ceremony in Fluvanna County on August 14, 2024, signifying the beginning of an estimated two-year completion timeline for the meaningful water infrastructure project. Local officials and community leaders gathered to recognize the project as a long-term sustainable water supply solution serving Fluvanna and Louisa County. The project will consist of a fully submerged water intake in the James River, a water pump station, and a raw water pipeline to carry the water nearly four miles, where it will connect to an existing Louisa County Water Authority water main. By utilizing water from the James River, Fluvanna and Louisa will not only minimize their reliance on surface and groundwater, but also will adequately meet the water needs of their growing populations. This project began in earnest over two decades ago, when similar to the effects of the drought experienced this summer, the surface and groundwater systems were stressed in both counties. It is estimated that millions of gallons of water will be needed daily in the area in the coming years, making this forward movement of the initiative highly important. “The James River can safely and sustainably accommodate a withdrawal to meet that anticipated demand,” said Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors Chairman Chris Fairchild. “Even during the lowest flows, the James will provide water for our communities.” JRWA is a partnership between Fluvanna and Louisa County, where both counties share in the investment and will receive 50% of the supply when the system is operational. Louisa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Duane Adams noted the collaboration between counties was a model for other jurisdictions and stressed the fiscal responsibility of the long-term plan. Detailed studies and formal permitting spanning a number of years have resulted in an abundance of confidence that the selected location and water main route represent minimized impacts on the environment and historical resources. Fluvanna County Government Faulconer Construction

Tuesday was another great day in Louisa County. Louisa County Supervisors and staff were honored to speak at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cutalong Golf Clubhouse. The fully-built development is expected to contribute significantly to Louisa County's economy, with an estimated annual impact of $6.5 million. Additionally, the project will generate over 200 full-time jobs and 150 construction and skilled trade positions during the development phase. "Louisa County has a rich history rooted in its natural resources," said Deputy County Administrator Chris Coon. "Today, we may not be digging for gold, but we are certainly uncovering opportunity for growth and prosperity." 

Today, at a ceremonial bill signing of SB 454, Dominion Energy Virginia announced it has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from leading SMR nuclear technology companies to evaluate the feasibility of developing an SMR at the company’s North Anna Power Station in Louisa County, Va. While the RFP is not a commitment to build a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at North Anna, it is an important first step in evaluating the technology and the North Anna site to support Dominion Energy customers’ future energy needs consistent with the company’s most recent Integrated Resource Plan. State leaders at the event emphasized the bipartisan nature of the legislation that essentially allows Dominion Energy Virginia to preform preliminary development work on SMRs and underscored the benefits that SMR development represents, including the lower upfront capital cost and scalability. With speakers enthusiastic about the early development work, they noted if built, SMRs will bring more reliable and clean power to the electric grid. “Virginia stands at the threshold of this very exciting and transformative era,” said Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears in her remarks. “Our energy needs, ladies and gentlemen, are growing and so too are our opportunities.” SMRs harness nuclear fission to generate heat and produce energy like their full-size nuclear unit counterparts and are widely considered the next generation of carbon-free nuclear power in the United States. “Though the parts are factory-made and modular, SMRs represent reliability like traditional nuclear power,” said Louisa County Economic Development Director Andy Wade. “Their scalability and small footprint will allow us to effectively meet the growing projected local power demands.” “While there is no commitment to build an SMR at North Anna as of today, we do know siting SMRs on an existing power station property allows for interconnection to the grid and access to a trained workforce,” said Louisa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Duane Adams. “Hopefully an SMR will soon call Louisa home.”

Our new Women in Leadership series will celebrate some of Louisa County's amazing female leaders. This series, primarily in a question and answer format, will introduce women guiding many behind-the-scene processes to serve our citizens each day and will highlight aspects of their professional journeys. Part 1: Tonya Hovey Miller, Director of the Louisa 911 Emergency Communications Center How many years have you been with the County of Louisa? 7/2/2024 will be my 23rd anniversary of working for Louisa County. (Happy belated anniversary, Tonya!) Briefly describe your duties. My primary responsibilities are overseeing the exceptional staff at the 911 center and ensuring the functionality of their call-processing equipment and software. I also serve as caretaker of all communications recordings, records, and computerized documentation and handle requests for such information. Where did you work prior to Louisa? Before becoming a dispatcher, I worked as a Customer Service Representative for a call center that processed catalog orders for various companies. I was forced to read scripts to people when they called and could not interact with them on the friendly level I wanted to. It became monotonous quickly and was nowhere near as exciting as the profession I have now! What inspired you to be a leader? I have always taken the initiative to learn about various subjects, professionally and personally. Because of this, people came to me for advice and answers, eventually leading to me taking on leadership roles. I embraced the responsibilities and pursued educational opportunities to improve my skills. When you began your career, did you imagine you would have a leadership role in this profession? When I began my career, my sole motivation was to provide for my three children. I never considered leadership or mentoring others. I had not set these goals for myself, mostly because I never saw myself as capable of achieving them. Once I saw the difference I could make, I wanted to be the best I could be at leading and made the decision to take classes to better myself. What benefits or lessons have you received from your leadership experiences? I have realized that holding a leadership position allows you to make a meaningful impact in someone's life. It's a significant responsibility that should be taken seriously. Many people underestimate the influence their words and actions can have on others. They can turn someone's bad day into a good one. It is important to be kind yet firm, to lead by example, and listen to understand. These simple principles will help develop individuals into better employees and future leaders! Read the rest in the July issue of The Informed Citizen: https://lnkd.in/eZxgx4_W

In a surprise recognition by the Board of Supervisors at tonight's meeting, the Board congratulated County Administrator Christian Goodwin for receiving the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development's Leigh B. Middleditch, Jr. Award for Excellence in Economic Development last month. The Board extended a formal acknowledgment of the accomplishment, noting "Christian’s tireless contributions to the Partnership and as a selfless individual who has led by example to inspire others." The award signifies outstanding leadership and integrity in regional economic development, and it has only been previously bestowed three separate times in 10 years. Those that know Christian know he is incredibly deserving and humble, and we join the Board in applauding the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development for selecting him for this award.👏👏👏

The July issue of The Informed Citizen is now available. This issue of Louisa County's newsletter offers information on the Louisa County Fair, introduces a new series on women in leadership, provides information on volunteering opportunities, and gives an update on litter survey results. A shoutout to Goochland County, Virginia for their fantastic women in leadership series which set the bar high in Central Virginia! We are excited to join the effort to inspire female leaders of tomorrow.

We are delighted to announce the outstanding achievers of the 2024 Louisa County Chamber of Commerce Awards: 🏆 2024 Businessperson of the Year: Congratulations to Bo Bundrick for his exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing business in County of Louisa. Bo's visionary approach has made a significant impact on our local economy and community. 🌟 Additional Award Winners: Good Neighbor Partner of the Year: Jody Korman Chamber Volunteer of the Year: Laura Watts Chamber Partner of the Year: Town of Louisa Chamber Partner Lifetime Achievement: Willie Gentry These individuals and organizations embody the spirit of excellence, collaboration, and community service that defines Louisa County. Their contributions are integral to our shared success and prosperity. Join us in celebrating their achievements and commitment to making Louisa County a thriving place to live and work! Photo Credit: Brynn Straley #LouisaCounty #BusinessExcellence #CommunityLeadership #Congratulations

The Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development is pleased to announce that Christian Goodwin, County of Louisa Administrator, was awarded the Leigh B. Middleditch, Jr., Award for Excellence in Economic Development at its Annual Meeting last Friday, June 21, 2024. The award recognizes an outstanding leader who has provided extraordinary support to regional economic development and has done so with integrity, tenacity, and a philanthropic spirit. Former recipients, Kurt Krueger and Charles M. Rotgin, Jr., presented the award. Congratulations, Christian! #CentralVirginia #EconomicDevelopment

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the County of Louisa for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. The GFOA established the certificate program nearly 80 years ago to encourage state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles. To receive the Certificate of Achievement, GFOA concluded Louisa County’s annual comprehensive financial report demonstrated transparency in government and a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate financial information. Louisa County has received the award multiple times, reflecting the commitment to deliver a thorough and understandable financial document to the County citizens. An impartial panel judged the Louisa County’s annual comprehensive financial report for the 2023 fiscal year and found it to effectively detail the support of county schools, fire and emergency medical services, law enforcement, courts, parks and recreation, and other functions in support of the community. “This award represents a considerable amount of work by the financial team led by Deputy County Administrator Wanda Colvin,” said County Administrator Christian Goodwin. “The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of distinction for governmental accounting and financial reporting, and we congratulate our finance department for producing a document that goes above and beyond in representing government transparency.”  

The June issues of both the Louisa County newsletter (The Informed Citizen) and the Visit Louisa guide offer information on the upcoming Jack Jouett Day Festival. Jack Jouett saved Thomas Jefferson and other Virginia legislatures from capture during the Revolutionary War, however, Jouett's name is not well-known beyond Central Virginia and near his historic house in Kentucky. Louisa County's local committee of the VA250 Commission is working to change that with new materials to tell the story of Jouett's heroic 40-mile ride, and the festival on Saturday in Jouett's name will offer interactive historical demonstrations, exhibitions, and book readings (in addition to pony rides, vendors, food trucks, axe throwing and other activities). Find more information about the Jack Jouett Day Festival in The Informed Citizen: https://lnkd.in/ehy6ApXm Or in the Visit Louisa guide for June: https://lnkd.in/eGmvjCmC Then, be on the lookout for the new materials from Louisa County's VA250 committee on Jouett's ride.