WPPDC Deputy Director Sean Campbell discussing housing in our area at the Southern Regional Funders Gathering. Photo Credit: Harvest Foundation
The West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC) has been selected to receive a technical assistance grant from the Rural Investment Collaborative steering group.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Rural Investment Collaborative convenes rural leaders from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington DC. to participate in shared learning and programming that facilitates improvements.
Sean Campbell, Deputy Director of the WPPDC, graduated from the 2025 Community Investment Training, which helps community leaders develop investment-ready project proposals. During the training, Sean Campbell developed a proposal for a housing development project to increase the supply of safe, modern, and affordable homes for residents in the City of Martinsville. The grant is made possible by the Rural Investment Collaborative’s national and regional funding organization partners and will help accelerate the project by providing funding to complete all predevelopment activities and position it to pursue infrastructure funding necessary to ensure its long-term viability.
“Participating in the Community Investment Training has been an invaluable experience. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside passionate community leaders and to strengthen our efforts in Martinsville, stated Sean Campbell. “Receiving the technical assistance grant is an honor, and it empowers us to make a meaningful difference in our city. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”
This housing project will focus on the Fayette and Beaver Street areas of Martinsville and is a partnership between WPPDC, the City of Martinsville, Virginia Housing, Martinsville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and local non-profits. The project will be implemented in phases over three years, starting in January 2026 with an anticipated completion in late 2028.