With the severe budget crisis facing the Commonwealth and the already distressed economy of our region, it is critical that citizens of the New River Valley plan and work together to build a viable and livable economy here at home. This economy certainly must be linked to the state, nation, and world. It begins, however, with a local commitment to understood and “doable” goals. Community First is an appropriate and timely vehicle for creating these goals, objectives, and the projects and the programs to make them real.

Clearly our educational institutions and skilled and motivated workforce provide an important and powerful basis upon which to enhance our future. Additionally, our regional commitment to collaboration supports the model of partnerships and teamwork that is crucial in this highly competitive and connected economy. We are more than the paid work that we do. This regional community recognizes that the businesses and entrepreneurs that are growing and expanding expect a vibrant and progressive community in which to live and work. The New River Valley has the assets and values to support this as well.

Our local manufacturing industry will always be an important piece of this region, however, it can no longer provide the number of jobs and spin-off companies it did so well in the past. We must build on our local talents and strengths; support strong community; and promote individual initiative that is such an obvious asset to the New River Valley.

This work takes diverse and committed members of the regional community coming together - learning about and with each other, as we develop ideas, plans, and actual projects that will drive our vision forward. We can do this; we must do this.

The 2003 update of the New River Valley Vision 2020, Community First calls the citizens, organizations, businesses, and governments of our region to put Community First. The projects and programs that came from the community brainstorming work clearly called for putting Community First, ahead of reliance on outside markets and ahead of individual or organizational pursuits. We are in this together in the New River Valley and we need to find ways to build bridges across jurisdictional and programmatic lines.

Projects were categorized into three supporting components: Organizing Community, Corporate Development, and Infrastructure. In the following Projects and Programs section, effort was made to provide ballpark cost and timing estimates. These are clearly not absolute. Unforeseen circumstances, interest, and funding will influence of how these projects will actually move forward over time. That caveat aside, these projects and programs are drivers of this vision and efforts to bring them to reality is key to Community First.