Joint subcommittee unanimously adopts Virginia CSBG state plan, clearing path for federal submission

The Joint Subcommittee on Block Grants voted unanimously to adopt Virginia's Community Services Block Grant state plan after a series of presentations and stakeholder endorsements.

Kristin Zegar, identified on the record as chief deputy commissioner at the Virginia Department of Social Services, presented the 2026–2028 state plan and outlined the funding and goals the plan will guide. "The federal CSBG is $12,339,723 and the TANF is $13,525,000," Zegar said, adding that the total budgets for community action agencies across the Commonwealth are approximately $149,000,000 and that the network serves on average more than 90,000 individuals and 46,000 families. She said the record of the legislative public hearing will be forwarded to the Federal Office of Community Services and that the state will submit the plan by Sept. 1, 2026, with the plan in place through Sept. 30, 2028.

The plan identifies three primary goals: reduce poverty through policy improvements and whole‑family approaches; build community capacity and coordinated supportive infrastructure; and promote community‑level problem solving and collective impact strategies. Zegar emphasized the state’s collaboration with the Virginia Community Action Partnership and local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and highlighted an increased focus on Whole Family (2‑Gen) programs and workforce participation supports.

Leaders from the community action network backed the plan on the record. "We developed [the plan] with significant input from our network, and we really appreciate the Virginia Department of Social Services," Eric Johnston, identified as president and CEO of the Virginia Community Action Partnership, said in his remarks urging approval. Brian Phipps, president and CEO of People Incorporated of Virginia, described his organization’s statewide reach and called CSBG "an invaluable resource" for launching local initiatives. Kevin Otee, identified as chief operating officer of the Hampton Roads Community Action Program, supplied local performance figures—including more than 8,000 households served in 2025—and described measurable outcomes tied to CSBG investments.

Other stakeholder speakers included Angela Penn, president and CEO of Total Action for Progress, who cited client success stories and program outputs in her area, and Allison Duvalcourt, a Project Discovery alumna, who testified about the program's impact on education and employment outcomes. Rural providers also described how CSBG funds allow them to respond to infrastructure and basic‑needs challenges in remote communities.

With the motion properly before the committee, members opened discussion but raised no amendments; several members praised presenters and local agencies. Because the adoption authorizes public spending, the clerk conducted a recorded roll call. Each named member voted in favor, producing a recorded tally of 10–0. The chair announced the plan was adopted and thanked attendees for traveling and for their service.

Next procedural steps recorded in the hearing: the subcommittee will forward the record to the Federal Office of Community Services as part of Virginia's CSBG state plan submittal by Sept. 1, 2026. The plan is slated to remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2028.

The hearing concluded with no further business and the subcommittee adjourned.