County Receives two VACo Achievement Awards Gloucester County
recently received two Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) 2025 Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in local government programs. Gloucester’s winning entries focused on its “Current Conversations” podcast and its efforts to reach different audiences via video.
Because Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin’s declaration of a state of emergency, Virginia will be able to issue Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) to SNAP customers in November during the federal government shutdown. Virginia is the first state in the nation to use emergency funds to deliver food assistance to SNAP households while the federal program is paused. Customers will still receive their full monthly benefit amount, but November payments will be split into weekly parts so that normal distributions from the federal government can resume as soon as the shutdown ends. These weekly benefits will be issued based on the day of the month customers usually receive SNAP payments. Beginning Monday, November 3: Customers who regularly receive their SNAP benefits on the 1st of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Mondays. Customers who regularly receive their SNAP benefits on the 4th of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Wednesdays. Customers who regularly receive their SNAP benefits on the 7th of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Fridays. Virginia Steps up to Issue Benefits to SNAP Households
Both entries were submitted by Gloucester’s Community Engagement & Public Information department.
Water Treatment Plant Receives Gold Award Gloucester’s Water Treatment Plant was recently awarded the 2024 Gold Award from the Office of Drinking Water for achieving Virginia’s Optimization Program Goals. The performance award is given to water treatment plants that provide excellence in clarification, filtration, and backwash.
There were 50 Gold Awards statewide, and only four were given in the Hampton Roads region.
Visit www.dss.virginia.gov/VENA for more information as it becomes available.
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