STAUNTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — The City of Staunton has hired Anna Leavitt as the new Economic Mobility and Opportunity Special Assistant.

According to a release, this position is funded by a competitive private grant managed by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), bringing resources into Staunton at no cost to local taxpayers.

42% of Staunton households are reportedly “cost-burdened” by housing, while local employers struggle to fill open jobs. Leavitt will coordinate between city departments and outside agencies to address these gaps, focusing on:

  • Workforce: Helping businesses fill vacancies and individuals find living wage jobs by addressing barriers like lack of skills training, transportation, and childcare.
  • Housing: Implementing strategies to ensure the people who work in Staunton can afford to live in Staunton.
  • Transportation: Improving how residents access jobs and essential services through better regional transit connections.
  • Efficiency: Streamlining city efforts so work isn’t segmented in “silos.”

Leavitt joins the city after serving as Executive Director of CAPSAW (Community Action Partnership of Staunton, Augusta, & Waynesboro). In that role, she managed local, state, and federal funding and led efforts with coordinating housing and workforce initiatives and strengthening partnerships between government and nonprofits.

“What excites me about this role is the chance to look at housing, workforce development, education, and transportation as connected pieces of the same puzzle,” said Leavitt. “I’m looking forward to working with city staff and community partners to strengthen the pathways that help Staunton residents build the futures they want.”