The Secret to Stronger Virginia: Supporting Local Community Efforts

Returning to society after incarceration is a daunting journey, particularly for those living in rural Virginia. Imagine trying to rebuild your life while navigating obstacles like finding affordable housing, securing reliable transportation, and accessing mental health or substance abuse treatment. For many, these challenges feel insurmountable, creating a cycle of hopelessness.

According to a US Chamber of Commerce study, an overwhelming 91% of small businesses believe that companies should give back to their local communities. This statistic underscores the undeniable value of local investments in fostering stronger, more resilient neighborhoods. Community-based organizations (CBOs) are at the heart of these efforts, addressing critical issues like workforce development, mental health, and housing stability. Their impact extends beyond immediate aid, creating sustainable change that benefits entire communities.

Image Courtesy: US Chamber of Commerce

For Virginia’s decision-makers—delegates, senators, the governor, and local leaders—investing in CBOs is more than a moral obligation; it’s a strategic move. These grassroots organizations act as catalysts for economic growth, employment, and social cohesion. By prioritizing funding and support for community organizations, leaders can empower communities to overcome systemic challenges and build a brighter, more inclusive future. The benefits are clear: stronger partnerships, greater local impact, and a ripple effect of positive change across Virginia and beyond.

Top Benefits of Investing in Local Community-Based Organizations

Local community-based organizations (CBOs) play a transformative role in fostering growth, addressing systemic challenges, and empowering individuals. For Virginia’s decision-makers, finding a community investment strategy is an opportunity to create sustainable change that benefits communities at large. Below, we highlight the key benefits of prioritizing investments in CBOs and how they align with the state’s long-term economic development goals.

1. Building Strong Community Connections and Strategic Partnerships

Community investment efforts strengthen the bonds within local communities. These organizations have an intimate understanding of their communities’ unique challenges and are well-positioned to create tailored solutions. By supporting community involvement, decision-makers enable stronger connections between individuals and the financial resources they need to thrive. This builds trust and resilience within neighborhoods, making them more cohesive and better equipped to handle challenges.

Additionally, CBOs act as bridges between local government, businesses, and other nonprofits. Their deep-rooted presence in the community allows them to foster strategic partnerships that maximize impact. By prioritizing these organizations, leaders in Virginia can create a network of support that amplifies their reach, ensuring that resources are distributed efficiently and equitably across the state.

2. A Renewed Focus on Local Impact

Local community-based organizations ensure that resources stay where they are most needed: within the community. Unlike larger entities, CBOs dedicate their efforts to solving hyper-local issues, from housing insecurity to workforce development. This localized focus enables them to deliver faster, more effective outcomes that resonate with the specific needs of their target populations.

When decision-makers invest in CBOs, they empower these organizations to scale their local initiatives and address pressing issues more comprehensively. This leads to measurable improvements in areas like education, healthcare, and economic mobility. The impact is visible in immediate outcomes and the long-term growth and stability of local communities.

3. Supporting Local and Global Communities

While CBOs are deeply rooted in their local context, their work often has global ripple effects. Community investment offers focused on workforce training, for instance, can help individuals in Virginia secure employment in industries that are part of the global economy, such as renewable energy or technology. These efforts make Virginia’s workforce more competitive globally.

Furthermore, the values and practices promoted by community groups—such as sustainability, inclusivity, and equity—can serve as a model for other regions. Supporting these organizations allows Virginia to lead by example, showcasing how local efforts can drive global progress in areas like environmental stewardship and social justice.

4. Employment Generation

One of the most immediate benefits of investing in community-based organizations is job creation. CBOs not only employ local residents but also equip individuals with the skills they need to thrive in today’s competitive job market. By offering training programs in industries like hospitality, healthcare, and clean energy, these organizations empower individuals to secure stable, meaningful employment.

Moreover, the jobs created through CBOs often contribute to the broader economic health of the community. When individuals gain employment, they contribute to the local economy, pay taxes, and spend on local businesses, creating a virtuous cycle of growth. Supporting these organizations is not just an investment in people—it’s an investment in the prosperity of the entire state.

LOC Family Services (LOCFS): Creating Lasting Impact

LOC Family Services (LOCFS) is dedicated to empowering returning citizens in Planning District 14, which includes Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward counties. This committed community-based organization (CBO) provides essential support in several key areas.

LOCFS helps individuals access substance abuse and mental health resources, obtain important documents like driver’s licenses, birth certificates, and social security cards, receive housing support through referrals, and enroll in workforce development programs. The organization aims to help returning citizens obtain stability and become productive community members. It also works with partners to create pathways to success in the growing fields of hospitality and renewable energy, equipping individuals with the tools they need to thrive.

The Challenges of Reintegration

Despite their successes, organizations like LOCFS often struggle to secure adequate funding to help with operating costs and expansion efforts and are under intense funding restrictions. Local governments and larger institutions frequently prioritize support for bigger organizations, leaving smaller community development groups, particularly those led by minorities, without the necessary resources to operate effectively. 

Making a Difference

LOC Family Services operates in some of Virginia’s most underserved areas, including Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward counties. Their mission is to provide returning citizens with the tools they need to succeed, from securing essential documents to accessing workforce development programs.

But LOCFS doesn’t stop at offering temporary fixes—they create long-term solutions. Connecting individuals to opportunities in growing industries like hospitality and renewable energy empowers them to achieve stability and become active contributors to their communities.

Stories of Impact: LOCFS Programs

LOC Family Services (LOCFS) has consistently delivered innovative programs that transform the lives of returning citizens and strengthen rural Virginia communities. Through targeted initiatives addressing workforce development, healthcare disparities, and recidivism, LOCFS has demonstrated the power of tailored, community-focused solutions.

Changing Lanes Project

This program, funded by the Department of Justice from 2018 to 2021, supported justice-involved individuals through comprehensive reentry services. The results were astounding: After one year of follow-up, 49 participants out of 107 achieved zero recidivism.

HOPE Grant: A Pathway to Hospitality Careers

In partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, LOCFS helped 74 justice-involved young adults gain hospitality credentials and secure job placements. This program not only met but exceeded its enrollment targets, proving that tailored support can lead to real change.

Clean Energy Reentry Program

The Accelerated Clean Energy Reentry Program is revolutionizing how we think about workforce development for returning citizens. As of mid-2024, 28 participants completed renewable energy training with a 0% attrition rate, and 21 passed a certification exam on their first attempt.

Addressing Healthcare Disparities

Through a Virginia Department of Health grant, LOCFS has helped address healthcare disparities for 21 returning citizens, ensuring they receive the medical and mental health support they need to thrive.

The Funding Dilemma

Despite their proven track record, LOCFS faces significant challenges in securing funding. Local governments often prioritize larger organizations, leaving minority-led CBOs underfunded and overburdened.

Since 2018, LOCFS has facilitated over $1.2 million in federal grants to support its work. However, it has had to navigate crises like the pandemic and opioid epidemic without access to crucial programs like PPP loans or ARPA funds. This underscores the urgent need for equitable resource distribution to support organizations making a tangible difference.

Breaking the Cycle of Recidivism

LOCFS’s innovative approach to reducing recidivism is a model worth replicating. Their work with Piedmont Regional Jail has shown remarkable results: only 15% of participants have been rearrested within one year and ten months of release.

But the financial implications are just as compelling. While incarcerating an individual in Virginia costs taxpayers about $27,060 annually, providing housing and supportive services post-release costs only $18,600 per year. Supporting organizations like LOCFS is not just morally right—it’s fiscally responsible.

Why Virginia’s Leaders Must Act Now

Virginia’s policymakers are at a pivotal crossroads. Targeted community investment in local organizations can create far-reaching and sustainable change. Supporting community-based organizations (CBOs) like LOC Family Services (LOCFS) is a compassionate and strategic choice that yields measurable benefits for individuals, neighborhoods, and the state as a whole.

Virginia’s leaders can address systemic challenges, strengthen local economies, and foster equity by prioritizing funding and resources for these organizations. Here’s how investing in CBOs transforms communities and drives positive outcomes:

Economic Savings Through Strategic Community Investment

Investing in community-based organizations (CBOs) is a smart and cost-effective way to address challenges like recidivism and unemployment. Supporting programs that focus on housing, job training, and mental health services reduces reliance on expensive incarceration systems while promoting long-term stability for individuals. This redirection of resources offers a more sustainable approach to addressing systemic issues.

Organizations like LOCFS not only alleviate financial strain on public systems but also create pathways to economic growth. By equipping individuals with skills in high-demand fields such as hospitality and renewable energy, these programs boost local economies and help build a skilled, productive workforce. This approach strengthens communities while maximizing the impact of taxpayer dollars.

Stronger Communities Through Empowered Individuals

The entire community benefits when CBOs like LOCFS receive the funding they need. Empowered individuals who receive housing, mental health support, and job training can successfully reintegrate and become active contributors to their neighborhoods. This reduces crime rates, strengthens local economies, and fosters safer, more cohesive communities.

Community engagement initiatives spearheaded by CBOs also build trust and collaboration among residents, businesses, and government institutions. These efforts create a shared sense of responsibility and pride, enhancing everyone’s quality of life.

Advancing Equity and Inclusion Through Community Engagement

Many minority-led organizations face systemic barriers to funding, even though they are often best equipped to serve underserved communities. Supporting these organizations ensures that resources are distributed equitably, addressing gaps in healthcare, employment, and education for marginalized populations.

Investing in CBOs promotes inclusivity and ensures that all Virginians, regardless of race or background, have access to the tools and opportunities needed to thrive. This commitment to equity strengthens the state’s social fabric and sets a precedent for inclusive policy-making.

Be Part of the Solution

Change begins with action. By aligning with LOC Family Services, you can help transform the lives of returning citizens and strengthen communities across Virginia. Whether through advocacy, donations, or policy reform, your support makes a difference.

Visit LOC Family Services to learn more about their work and how you can contribute to their mission. Together, we can create a brighter future for all Virginians.

Visit locfamilyservices.com for more information.

Contact details

1. Company name: LOC Family Services

2. Website link: https://www.locfamilyservices.com/ 

3. Contact email: Info@locfamilyservices.com

4. Country: USA

5. City: Charlotte, Virginia 

6. Contact person name: Shelley Mays-Couch