The New River Valley Vision 2020 Plan Update has Begun!

What is the Vision 2020 Plan?  The Vision 2020 Plan is “not about today,” it’s about meeting the challenges of the future.  The purpose of the Vision 2020 Plan (through citizen input and involvement) is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the region (and/or individual communities) and to develop projects and programs that will build on our strengths and strengthen our weaknesses.  The Vision 2020 Plan is the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the whole New River Valley.  The initial Vision 2020 Plan – The New River Valley…a Global Community was completed in 1998.  The previous update, Community First – Harnessing Change and Building Connections was done in 2003.  Implementation of the projects and programs outlined in the Plan will be the joint responsibility of local and regional governments, governmental and community agencies, community and civic organizations, local businesses and private citizens.

The NRVPDC and the Vision 2020 Steering Committee (made up of 18 community, civic and governmental leaders of the New River Valley) met on January 9, 2009 to develop the process by which the Vision 2020 will be updated.  During this initial meeting, it became obvious that there was apprehension about the current economic conditions and how the New River Valley will be affected.  The Committee voiced a need to have community conversations throughout the region to hear the concerns and ideas from a wide array of NRV citizens on how the region is to survive this crisis and continue to build a sustainable economy for the future.
There will be six opportunities to participate in these community conversation events and everyone is invited to come out and share their opinions and ideas about the future of the New River Valley.

February 19, 2009 (Thursday) 7-9PM in Dublin at New River Community College, Edwards Hall, Rm. 117
February 26, 2009 (Thursday) 7-9PM in Radford at the Radford Recreation Center
March 12, 2009 (Thursday) 6-8PM in Floyd at the Floyd Country Store
March 19, 2009 (Thursday) 7-9PM in Christiansburg at New River Community College at NRV Mall
March 31, 2009 (Tuesday) 7-9PM in Pearisburg at the Pearisburg Community Center
April 14, 2009 (Tuesday) 7-9PM in Shawsville at the Meadowbrook Library

Along with the community conversations, citizen input will also be gathered through presentations done at other civic/community organization meetings and through a written survey (that will be available on-line).  An additional area-wide meeting (an open house) will be held April 30, 2009, at the New River Valley Competitiveness Center (Room #145) in Fairlawn from 3 -7 p.m. where all the ideas gathered will be reviewed and prioritized.

A final report on the update will be completed in late June. For more information about the Vision 2020 update, the process and progress of the update contact Marty Holliday at (540) 633-6764 or mholliday@nrvdc.org.

Community Conversation Results

• Dublin-New River Community College
• Radford-Radford Recreation Center
• Floyd-Floyd Country Store
• Christiansburg-New River Community College at NRV Mall
• Pearisburg-Pearisburg Community Center
• Shawsville-Meadowbrook Library