About West Piedmont Planning District Commission
The West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC) is a regional planning organization serving the counties of Franklin, Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania; the cities of Danville and Martinsville; and the Town of Rocky Mount.
What is a Planning District Commission?
In 1968, Virginia was divided into planning districts based on the community of interest among its counties, cities, and towns. A Planning District Commission is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, chartered under the Regional Cooperation Act by the local governments of each planning district. As such, they are a creation of local government encouraged by the state. The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions helps its members meet their responsibilities to local and state government and coordinates inter-PDC functions. There are 21 PDCs in Virginia.
The West Piedmont Planning District’s member localities are: Franklin, Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties; the Cities of Danville and Martinsville; and the Town of Rocky Mount. The WPPD Board of Commissioners is made up of 21 members—two elected and one appointed from each of the seven member jurisdictions. The PDC meetings, which are open to the public, are held on the fourth Thursday of the month at its office at 1100 Madison Street, Martinsville.
Our Purpose
The purpose of Planning District Commissions, as set out in the Code of Virginia, Section 15.2-4207, is:
“…to encourage and facilitate local government cooperation and state-local cooperation in addressing on a regional basis problems of greater than local significance. The cooperation resulting from this chapter is intended to facilitate the recognition and analysis of regional opportunities and take account of regional influences in planning and implementing public policies and services.The planning district commission shall also promote the orderly and efficient development of the physical, social, and economic elements of the district by planning, and encouraging, and assisting localities to plan, for the future.”
The work of PDCs has been meeting the needs of local and state governments for over forty years. Within their region, PDCs may serve to build regional approaches to issues like economic development, transportation, and legislative priorities. In other states, organizations like PDCs are known as regional councils, regional commissions, and councils of government.
WPPDC Staff
Joe Bonanno
Senior Planner - Transportation
Jacob Bullins
Finance Director
Sean Campbell
Housing Programs Director
Kristie Eberly
Executive Director
Amanda Gray
Tourism & Marketing Specialist
Tracy Meade
Office Manager
Mike Mercado
Housing Rehab Specialist
Rebekah Morgan
Community Development Specialist
David Rakes
Data Systems Manager
Chasta White
Housing Programs Specialist