Vacant lots are a problem for towns throughout Appalachia, but in Radford, Virginia, city leaders have brought life back to two empty pockets of the community. The Carson’s Drug Store building stood in the heart of downtown Radford for nearly a century. A fire in 1992 turned the site into a heap of burned-out debris.… Continue Reading Season Six, Episode Six
Tag Archives: job creation
Pennington Gap, Virginia – Season Wrap-up
Take a look back over the past year of progress in Pennington Gap, Virginia.
Season 4, Episode 8
We close out season four of Save Our Towns with a visit to Huntington, West Virginia, the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary about the opioid epidemic in Appalachia, to see what the city has done to combat the crisis. Our monthly visit to Pennington Gap highlights the hard work of its community volunteers, while in… Continue Reading Season 4, Episode 8
Season 4, Episode 6
In this month’s Example of Awesome, we take a look at Pikeville, Kentucky. Envisioning a future beyond strip mining, city officials took a risk on building a new industrial park — and filled it within just 10 months. The Pennington Gap update delves further into the study performed by researchers from Virginia Tech’s Institute for… Continue Reading Season 4, Episode 6
Season 4, Episode 3
In this month’s episode of Save Our Towns, we visit Vinton, Virginia, where a brand new library is boosting business downtown. Meanwhile, town leaders in Pennington Gap, Virginia, discuss how critical it is for the hospital to reopen in Lee County. In Maxwell’s Number, we learn some eye-opening facts about coal’s decline, while author Jo… Continue Reading Season 4, Episode 3
Season 3, Episode 7
Princeton, West Virginia, sets an example for other small towns by embracing artists, while we meet the new mayor of Cleveland, Virginia. Graduate Maxwell Vandervliet schools us on the prevalence of women farmers in Southwest Virginia, while Anthony Flaccavento encourages town leaders to think about what work their towns need. In addition, we are introduced… Continue Reading Season 3, Episode 7
Season 3, Episode 6
The city of Lexington took a major risk by giving tax breaks to a local developer, and the gamble paid off, while Cleveland gives its downtown area a face lift. In Maxwell’s number, we hear about the Virginia Emerging Drone Cluster project which will take off in five Southwest Virginia counties, and John McGee, a… Continue Reading Season 3, Episode 6
Season 3, Episode 1
Season Three opens with a bang, featuring a profile of Independence, Virginia, and an introduction to the town of Cleveland. Jim Brooks of the National League of Cities offers up an expert tip for town leaders, while we hear about the work of Virginia Tech faculty member Stephen Schoenholtz, the director of the Virginia Water… Continue Reading Season 3, Episode 1
Episode 8
In this month’s Example of Awesome segment, broadband leads to industry in Lebanon, Virginia, and we ask three questions of mayor Tony Dodi, who praises the virtues of technology in his tiny town. Our look at St. Paul brings sad news with the passing of young business owner Brock Funk. Funk and his wife, Terri,… Continue Reading Episode 8
Episode 6
In this month’s Example of Awesome, we highlight the resilience of Pulaski, where a group of local investors bought vacant buildings in hopes of revitalizing the downtown area. Our faculty interview comes from Reed Kennedy of the Pamplin College of Business, whose students drew up business plans for one Pulaski entrepreneur, and we ask three… Continue Reading Episode 6
