FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission?
In 1968, the Commonwealth of Virginia authorized the
establishment of planning districts under the Virginia Regional
Cooperation Act. The Mount Rogers Planning District Commission (MRPDC)
is one of 21 PDCs across the State, and is officially known as PDC 3.
The overall goal of the MRPDC is to promote an effective approach to
regional planning.
2. What is the purpose of the MRPDC?
The purpose of the MRPDC, as set out in the Code of Virginia,
Section 15.2-4200, is “…to promote the orderly and
efficient development of the physical, social, and economic elements of
the district by planning, encouraging, and assisting governmental
subdivisions to plan for the future and, if requested by a member
governmental subdivision or group of member governmental subdivisions
and to the extent the commission may elect to act, assisting the
subdivisions by carrying out plans and programs for the improvement and
utilization of said elements.”
3. What localities form the Mount Rogers Planning District?
The MRPDC consists of two cities (Bristol and Galax) and six
counties (Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Wythe, and Washington). The
Commission also serves the incorporated towns within the district,
which are: Abingdon, Chilhowie, Damascus, Fries, Glade Spring,
Hillsville, Independence, Marion, Rural Retreat, Saltville, Troutdale,
and Wytheville.
4. Who does the MRPDC staff work for?
The MRPDC staff works for all the localities served by the PDC
under the direction of the Executive Director and the 38-member
Commission.
5. What statistical information does the MRPDC maintain?
The MRPDC is a Census Data Center Affiliate, which means that the PDC receives and maintains data distributed by the U.S. Census Bureau. The MRPDC also collects and disseminates regional statistics from the Virginia Employment Commission, the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics, local governments, and other sources.