Revitalization surveys complete
Downtown Wytheville Inc. and Virginia Tech will be working on a green space area just off Main Street.
Friends of Southwest Virginia, in partnership with Place + Main Advisors, has completed a nine-month Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy supporting economic development and downtown revitalization in ten Southwest Virginia and neighboring communities. Supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the initiative delivered market intelligence, practical implementation tools, and customized guidance that will help local leaders strengthen downtown districts and diversify economies historically shaped by extractive industries.
Selected through the Virginia Main Street Program, the participating communities include Wytheville, Galax, Pulaski, Martinsville, Marion, Covington, Buena Vista, St. Paul, Bristol, and Tazewell. Each locality received an individualized report outlining priority opportunities, redevelopment pathways, and clear next steps tailored to its assets, market conditions, and leadership capacity.
“After spending the past nine months working alongside ten communities across Southwest Virginia, helping them identify their potential and chart a clear path forward, we are excited by the momentum and hopeful for the future of the region,” said Joe Borgstrom, Principal at Place + Main Advisors.
Regional partners and local leaders in each community participated in a collaborative planning process designed to strengthen downtown economies across the region.
The project paired detailed data analysis with hands-on fieldwork, including third-party market research, downtown and property tours, Business Opportunities on Main Street inventories, walking vision sessions, and facilitated meetings with local officials, property owners, and economic development partners. By aligning state, regional, and local perspectives, the process ensured that recommendations are realistic, financeable, and ready for action.
Friends of Southwest Virginia served as the regional convener and implementation partner, coordinating stakeholders, aligning the work with broader tourism and community development strategies, and ensuring that results can translate into future investment across multiple funding programs. The effort reflects Friends’ expanding leadership role in providing communities with the tools, partnerships, and technical expertise necessary to compete for redevelopment resources and position their downtowns for long-term success.
“This initiative puts real numbers, real opportunities, and real strategies in the hands of the people doing the work on Main Street every day,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “By combining local vision with expert analysis and regional coordination, our communities are prepared to recruit businesses, bring vacant properties back into productive use, and build downtown economies that serve residents while attracting new visitors and private investment.”
A public recap report summarizing key findings, shared challenges, and recommendations for supporting additional Virginia communities is now available: Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy Recap Report.
