New River Valley Livability Initiative - New River Valley, Virginia

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New River Valley Livability Initiative

PlaceMatters will be working for the next two years with the New River Valley Planning District Commission (NRVPDC) and a consortium of local partners to develop public engagement strategies for the New River Valley Livability Initiative, a HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning grant recipient.  The New River Valley (NRV)—an agricultural region of Southwest Virginia that is home to Virginia Tech and Radford University—is one of a handful of small metropolitan areas working to create strategic plans that meets the needs of more rural regions.

PlaceMatters’ work in the New River Valley is focused on designing and implementing a public engagement process that will draw upon all populations in the New River Valley region, including those who are typically underrepresented.  Our work will include a series of community forums—featuring the full suite of PlaceMatters’ interactive visioning tools—to help NRV residents identify what aspects of life in the Valley should be preserved, and guide how the fast-growing region can develop in a way that is appropriate for its rural character and cultural heritage while meeting the needs of current and future residents.  These meetings, combined with smaller meetings and face-to-face conversations at regional gathering places, will provide a citizen-driven definition of livability and sustainability in the New River Valley.  PlaceMatters will also be working with the NRVPDC and consortium partners to enhance capacity in the region around community engagement strategies.

This project offers a strong match for PlaceMatters’ mission and methods, and an opportunity to tailor our process to meet the needs of a suburbanizing rural region that has a wide range of opinions and needs that must be addressed to create a sustainable, vibrant regional future.

Image: "Rush Hour in the New River Valley of Virginia" by Tina Merritt.  Accessed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinainvirginia

For more information

Contact Jocelyn Hittle