HAPPY 2022 ASHLANDERS!

Welcome to the first issue of “Talk of the Town” – a new email newsletter that will feature stories and actionable information about upcoming Town initiatives, programs, public meetings, and more.

This newsletter will arrive in your inbox twice per month on the Thursday prior to every regularly scheduled Town Council meeting. The goal is to equip you with the information you need to stay informed and engaged with me, my staff, and most importantly, the issues you care about most.

Going forward, this newsletter will consist of a variety of short stories and informational blurbs about the Town.

But for this inaugural issue, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2021 and share my goals as your Town Manager for 2022, specifically around two areas where I hope to make progress this year: economic development and quality of life. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• distributed over $565,000 in rental/mortgage assistance grants and safety grants (paid for through a State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG);
• purchased and demolished one of our largest blighted structures (the Apple Garden Inn); and,
• assisted the new owner of the old bank building next to the Hampton Inn with bringing in a Chipotle and retail center.

QUALITY OF LIFE

We also saw some improvements to quality of life for the community in 2021 including: 

• Amtrak completed their platform improvement project to enhance accessibility at our quaint and historic little stop.
• approved an agreement with internet provider, Shentel, to provide residents with an internet alternative in the next few years.
• partnered with the Patrick Henry YMCA to bring the Capital Area Health Network (CAHN) mobile health clinic to Ashland on a weekly basis. The clinic provides low-to-no cost health services for individuals and families with and without insurance.
• secured land, in partnership with the Hanover King William Habitat for Humanity, to build a heritage park near the historic Berkleytown neighborhood, which will recognize and celebrate the history and contributions of this historically African American neighborhood in Ashland. 

In the year ahead, I am focused on creating and increasing connectivity within our community, including:

• maintaining and enhancing our trail and sidewalk network; and,
• improving communication with our residents, businesses, property owners, and visitors.

"We have lost too much of our ability to connect due to
COVID-19. I love the idea of creating physical connections through public infrastructure and community connections
through information sharing." 

NEW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Some of you may already be aware, but we recently hired a Community  Engagement Manager, Martha J. Miller (mmiller@ashlandva.gov), using some of our ARPA funding. She is not only responsible for this newsletter and all our communications channels, but most importantly, for helping me and my staff understand what information you want to receive and the best way to deliver it.

Thank you for your interest in your local government and your care for this one-of-a-kind community at the Center of the Universe.

Sincerely,
Josh Farrar
jfarrar@ashlandva.gov

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18th l 7:00PM

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• Thursday, Jan. 13th
  Parks & Rec Committee l 6:00pm

• Monday, Jan. 17th
  Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Town offices closed)

• Tuesday, Jan. 18th
  Town Council Meeting l 7:00pm

• Thursday, Jan. 20th
  Economic Development Authority l 5:30pm

• Thursday, Jan. 27th
  Next Issue: "Talk of the Town"