Congressman Eugene Vindman visited Culpeper on Friday, February 27, 2026, to announce federal Community Project Funding awards to support key local initiatives, including $850,000 for the Simms Drive extension project for A.G. Richardson and Pearl Sample Elementary Schools.
In addition to the road extension project, federal funding was also awarded to the Culpeper Police Department for Emergency Call Boxes throughout the Culpeper Trail Network, which will enhance safety for residents and visitors who use the town’s trails.
Vindman presented the funding during an event at the Culpeper Police Department Community Room, where local officials and community leaders gathered to highlight projects included in the FY26 federal funding legislation. Speakers included Gary Deal, Vice Chairman of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors; Frank Reaves, Mayor of the Town of Culpeper; Nick White, Deputy Chief of the Culpeper Police Department; and Culpeper County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tony Brads, who spoke about the impact the projects will have on safety, infrastructure, and the community.
Currently, Pearl Sample and A.G. Richardson Elementary Schools share Simms Drive as the only access road connecting the campuses to U.S. Route 15. The project will extend Simms Drive to connect with Friendship Way on the opposite side of the property, creating an additional access point. The road extension will improve traffic flow and enhance safety in addition to establishing a safe walking route to the schools. Dr. Brads, when referencing the County and Schools collaboration on this joint effort stated, “this additional funding is greatly appreciated and is a tremendous help in getting us closer to the finish line for this much needed project.”
Vindman worked with local officials and community leaders across Virginia to solicit these requests and ensure they were included in federal funding legislation, bringing new resources to projects that improve safety, infrastructure, and quality of life in Culpeper.
