Virginia's eight coastal planning district commissions (PDCs) play an integral role in the Virginia CZM Program by providing an important link between the state agencies and 87 localities that constitute Virginia's network of coastal resource managers.  To do this, a representative from each PDC serves on the Virginia CZM Program's Coastal Policy Team.

Additionally, each PDC meet quarterly with Virginia CZM Program office staff.  In addition, each PDC holds quarterly meetings for its local coastal resource managers. 

Virginia CZM supports each coastal PDC with an annual technical assistance grant, and has provided assistance for a variety of regional and local coastal resource management projects sponsored by the PDCs.  As the link between Virginia CZM and the local governments, these grants provide the PDCs with the means to carry out the Virginia CZM Program's goals of effective protection and careful development of Virginia's coastal areas. 

Since 1988, Virginia CZM has supported each coastal PDC with an annual technical assistance (TA) grant. Over these 35 years Virginia CZM provided $9,899,183 for annual TA grants, which was matched with $10,451,515 for a total of $20,350,698 (Figure above).

Virginia CZM Contacts at Coastal PDCs