A Virginia Tech sign sits outside of Squires Student Center on the Blacksburg campus.
An initiative to address shared challenges and opportunities in parts of the New River Valley is underway, with a new identity, Partnership for Progress: Shaping a shared future, and a plan to engage the community in the search for collaborative solutions.
Since their initial meeting in May, leaders from the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Montgomery County, the New River Valley Regional Commission, and Virginia Tech have established a 21-member Project Steering Committee and committed staff support for the initiative. The committee includes representatives from local government, Virginia Tech, the region’s business community, non-profit and economic development organizations, and K-12 education.
In early September LINK Strategic Partners, a global strategic communications and community engagement firm, met with the steering committee and more than 40 representatives from local government, Virginia Tech leadership and students, community-based organizations, and service providers to identify key themes for the region’s future.
Blacksburg Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith said the discussions provided helpful insight into the purpose of the initiative, noting the benefits of in-person, one-on-one interactions with stakeholders in the community.
Some of the shared goals and concerns that emerged from the initial conversations include housing availability and affordability; recruiting and retaining talent, including teachers and childcare providers; growing and retaining new businesses; and improving the quality of life across the region, especially relating to healthcare and K-12 education.
“I feel like the representatives from LINK were truly listening to our concerns,” Mary Biggs, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, said. “I’m encouraged by their commitment to develop a framework that will help us collectively to address these issues.”
LINK’s team noted the region’s history of successful partnerships, such as its COVID-19 response efforts and various shared authority boards, as evidence of the community’s ability to collaborate effectively.
“We have a history of successful collaborations, and a shared understanding of what has worked in the past will help us address today’s challenges,” committee member and Blacksburg Vice Mayor Michael Sutphin said. “It has been helpful to hear different perspectives, including students and university administrators, as we discuss how we can work together to invest in our community’s infrastructure and amenities.”
“It was encouraging to see a common understanding of the issues at hand and a sense of urgency to address them,” New River Valley Regional Commission Executive Director Kevin Byrd said. “I look forward to exploring what we need from each other to work together toward mutually beneficial solutions.”
Committee member Leslie Orellana, a Virginia Tech student and undergraduate representative on the university Board of Visitors, noted the variety of stakeholders and perspectives to consider.
“Many are at different stages of life, and we have different issues that are important to us,” Orellana said. “Open conversations can help us develop a shared understanding of how we can strengthen our communities, retain residents, and improve the quality of life for everyone.”
Christiansburg Mayor Michael Barber is encouraged by the initiative’s continuing pledge “to work with the towns, county, and surrounding region to find satisfactory solutions.”
“We’re in the early stages, but there is a strong willingness to work together, and I look forward to delving deeper into the process,” Barber said.
“We’re off to a good start and I appreciate the spirit and engagement of our partners and committee members,” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said. “They exemplify why we’re proud to be part of this community.”
As the initiative continues, the committee will meet monthly and plans to launch a community survey in October. The survey and future updates will be posted on a Partnership for Progress web page currently under development. For more information and/or to sign up for future email updates, contact P4P@linksp.com.
Mark Owczarski for Virginia Tech
