Rural Retreat’s Brody Childers scores against Chilhowie in the 2024 VHSL Region 1D baseball finals.
Rural Retreat’s Brody Childers scores against Chilhowie in the 2024 VHSL Region 1D baseball finals.
Wytheville wins Main Street award
Downtown Wytheville, shown in this undated file photo, recently receied the Great American Main Street Award.
Downtown Wytheville was picked to receive the prestigious Great American Main Street Award during the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The award recognizes excellence in preservation-based commercial district revitalization. Downtown Wytheville was picked by a national jury comprised of leaders in the economic development and historic preservation space.
The organization led one of the nation’s most dramatic downtown turnarounds, reducing vacancy rates from 42 percent in 2014 to just 4 percent today.
“Downtown Wytheville exemplifies the power of the Main Street Approach to rebuild not only buildings, but civic belief,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. “Through grassroots leadership, inclusive engagement, and a preservation-first strategy, Wytheville transformed a largely empty downtown into a thriving district where residents see themselves reflected in the future.”
Founded in 2014, Downtown Wytheville, Inc. is a nonprofit with two full-time staff members serving a community of approximately 8,200 residents. When the program began, much of downtown was vacant and in deteriorating condition. Over just 11 years, the organization has catalyzed more than $23 million in private investment and nearly $10 million in public improvements.
Historic preservation has anchored the district’s resurgence. The adaptive reuse of long-neglected buildings has brought new life to downtown, including the restoration of the Millwald Theatre as a regional arts venue, the revitalization of the Bolling Wilson Hotel, the adaptive reuse of warehouse space into a vibrant indoor-outdoor Farmers Market, and the recruitment of destination businesses such as Moon Dog Brick Oven and 7 Dogs Brewpub. Coordinated streetscape upgrades and walkability improvements have reconnected the district to its historic roots as a hub along the Great Wagon Road and a prominent railroad stop.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Downtown Wytheville, Inc. emerged as a trusted community development leader, administering over $1 million in rent and mortgage relief funds countywide and launching a “Not Back to Normal – Forward to Better” grant campaign to help local businesses adapt and thrive. The organization’s efforts were recognized nationally, including coverage by the Brookings Institution and selection for a rural small business pilot initiative.
Inclusion remains central to Wytheville’s work. Through partnerships with the Wytheville Training School Cultural Center, a former Freedmen’s Bureau school, the organization has elevated historically underrepresented voices and supported the preservation of Black churches, neighborhoods, and businesses. Its Youth Ambassador Program embeds young leaders in public art, planning, and civic engagement, helping counter “rural brain drain” and ensuring long-term community ownership.
In a testament to its organizational capacity and trust-based leadership, the Town of Wytheville is working in conjunction with Downtown Wytheville staff to assist in leading the development of its first resident-driven Comprehensive Plan in decades, extending the Main Street Approach beyond downtown to shape the future of the entire community.
“This award exemplifies the hard work of so many dedicated residents, partners, and businesses within our community,” said Todd Wolford, Executive Director at Downtown Wytheville, Inc. “We have truly turned a vision into reality here, and we will continue to push for all that is possible right here at home. Being able to put Wytheville in the spotlight and keep our community relevant and thinking forward is my number one goal as the director”.
“We are thrilled that Wytheville is being recognized for their incredible strides over the past decade to invigorate their downtown and bring more businesses, jobs, and training to Southwest Virginia,” said Courtney Mailey, State Coordinator for Virginia Main Street. “For a small community nestled in Appalachia, Downtown Wytheville Inc.’s efforts have fostered community pride, created new opportunities, and given a bright future for Wytheville.”
Downtown Wytheville, Inc. has been named one of only three programs in the nation to receive the 2026 Great American Main Street Award, solidifying its place among the country’s top downtown revitalization efforts. In a historic milestone, Downtown Wytheville is the first Main Street program to earn both the Great American Main Street Award and the Mary Means Leadership Award, presented to Executive Director Todd Wolford in 2022.
Wythe marks Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Wythe County is recognizing April 12–18 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, honoring the dedicated professionals who serve as the first point of contact during emergencies.
Observed annually during the second full week of April, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International. The observance recognizes the critical role telecommunicators play in answering emergency calls, dispatching responders, and providing life-saving assistance.
The Wythe County Board of Supervisors formally recognized the week and honored local dispatchers by unanimously adopting a proclamation at its March 24 meeting.
The Wythe County Consolidated E911 Center handles thousands of emergency calls each month, serving Wythe County and the towns of Rural Retreat and Wytheville. Telecommunicators coordinate response efforts 24 hours a day, working closely with law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies, public works, and state and federal partners.
The center utilizes advanced technology, including Next Generation 911 systems, computer-aided dispatch, and emergency medical dispatch protocols, to improve response times and enhance service delivery. These tools support dispatchers in their mission to save lives, protect property, and maintain public safety across the county.
The E911 Center operates as a partnership between Wythe County, the Town of Rural Retreat, the Town of Wytheville, and the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, dispatch personnel within the Sheriff’s Office support critical functions such as warrant management and civil process coordination.
Through its proclamation, the Board of Supervisors expressed its appreciation for the professionalism, commitment, and service of all telecommunicators, recognizing their essential role in ensuring that every call for help is answered.
“As the first voice heard in an emergency, our telecommunicators provide calm, clarity, and coordination when it matters most,” the proclamation states. “Their dedication ensures that help is always within reach for the citizens of Wythe County.”
“Every call we answer is someone’s worst day, and our team rises to meet that moment with professionalism, compassion, and precision,” said Melissa Parsons, director of the Wythe County Emergency Communications Center. “Our telecommunicators are highly trained, deeply committed, and proud to serve this community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
A copy of the proclamation will be entered into the official record and shared with the leadership of the Wythe County Emergency Communications Center and the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office in recognition of their teams’ service.
Schools to get Forest Service funds
The U.S. Forest Service announced it will issue $248 million to U.S. communities through the “Secure Rural Schools” program.
“Secure Rural Schools” program funds are essentially meant to supplement Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT). Wythe and Bland counties, along with other numerous communities in the region, will receive funds.
Bland County will receive $97,986. Wythe will receive $76,675.
In response to these awarded funds, U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement.
“As someone who voted to reauthorize the ‘Secure Rural Schools’ program, I am glad to see these funds flow to Ninth District communities.
“It is not right for rural communities to miss out on property tax revenue from public lands that could be used for local schools and roads. I am glad that the ‘Secure Rural Schools’ program provides some relief to localities that contain tracts of federally owned national forests.”
