Governor Spanberger Celebrates $16.5 Million to Improve Infrastructure in Hampton Roads

RICHMOND, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger today celebrated $16.5 million in federal grants through the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) to improve and support infrastructure in the City of Portsmouth, York County, and across Hampton Roads.

"Reliable infrastructure is essential to the quality of life of our military communities," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "These investments will strengthen critical infrastructure across Hampton Roads, support the men and women who serve our nation, and reinforce Virginia's commitment to working with our federal partners to make sure our military communities remain strong. Virginia is deeply proud of our military footprint - and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the servicemembers who keep our nation safe."

The DCIP funds community infrastructure projects that support military installation readiness, mission assurance, and quality of life for servicemembers and their families. The Commonwealth assists localities in applying to the DCIP by sharing up to 50 percent of the federal match requirements through the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Program. In total, the grants and state and local matching investments will support $23.5 million in new infrastructure projects.

"This $16.5 million in funding will result in $23.5 million in Virginia critical infrastructure improvements - and highlights the importance of military missions in Virginia," said Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Timothy P. Williams. "These investments demonstrate our shared focus on meeting the needs of military communities across the Commonwealth."

"I am pleased to see the Department of Defense award $16.5 million in federal funding toward infrastructure projects in Hampton Roads through the Defense Community Infrastructure Program," said U.S. Representative Bobby Scott. "Congress created DCIP in 2019 to assist state and local governments in addressing community infrastructure projects surrounding military installations. This investment in our region will ensure our national security facilities have the funds needed to improve a sewer infrastructure project at Norfolk Naval Station, upgrade water infrastructure in the City of Portsmouth, and improve a pedestrian crosswalk in partnership with Joint Base Langley-Eustis."

The grants will support the following infrastructure projects:

• The Hampton Roads Sanitation District: $13.1 million to support a sewer infrastructure improvement project in partnership with Naval Station Norfolk.

• City of Portsmouth: $3 million to upgrade wastewater infrastructure in partnership with the Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads.

• York County: $313,000 for the construction of a pedestrian crosswalk in partnership with Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

Additionally, last week, the U.S. Navy announced that the new unmanned Warfighting Development Center will reside at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. This mission will bring tens of millions in direct, indirect, and induced economic value to the Hampton Roads region and the Commonwealth.

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