Upcoming Events for 2010:
May 27, 2010
Annual Workshop
Downtowns and the Creative Economy
Martha Washington Inn, Abingdon, VA
Join us in beautiful and historic Abingdon, where we will focus on developing and strengthening the creative economy in your community. Located in the heart of the Crooked Road and Round the Mountain trail networks, Abingdon is leading the way in promoting musicians, performers, artists, and artisans in Southwest Virginia. In-depth sessions will feature topics including the role of artists and artisans in the creative economy, fostering the performing and visual arts downtown, using renewed interest in “slow food,” local food, and farmers’ markets as an economic development tool, and how to design buildings and infrastructure to spark growth of your downtown’s creative economy. We’ll also learn about the dramatic transformation that has taken place in the town of Floyd, where previously empty parking lots and storefronts have been turned into performing arts venues. Through the hard work and cooperation of old-timers and newcomers to the community, the county seat of Floyd County has become a significant tourist attraction.
Our workshop will take place in the stately Martha Washington Inn, which opened as a hotel in 1935. We would like to invite you to come early and get a true taste of the Abingdon area by participating in a bike ride on the Virginia Creeper Trail, a walking tour of downtown Abingdon, and an evening welcome reception on Wednesday. We’ll see you in Abingdon!
On Wednesday May 26th, DHCD in partnership with the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission will be hosting a Southwest Virginia Downtown Interchange. The afternoon will gather input on the specific challenges small, rural towns in the region face and how DHCD can best support revitalization activities taking place downtown. There will also be a special announcement concerning the Southwest Virginia Web site and how Southwest Virginia towns can be featured on it through a competitive process. There is no registration fee for the Downtown Interchange, but registration (separate from the VDDA Workshop) is required (click here). Contact Joy Rumley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (276) 676-5471 for more information.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING A SCHEDULE
Sponsored by the Town of Abingdon
August 19, 2010
"Hot Topic" Luncheon
'Traditional Downtowns in a World of New Urbanism'
Magnolias at the mill
198 North 21st Street, Purcellville, Virginia
Thursday, August 19, 2010
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Followed by a Walking Tour.
This VDDA Hot Topic Luncheon is planned in cooperation with the Town of Purcellville. Participants will also enjoy a professional networking luncheon as well as a walking tour of Downtown Purcellville immediately following the program. We will begin the walking tour at Magnolias at the mill.
For more information, contact VDDA at (804) 754-4120 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Coming to Purcellville?
Bike or walk the W & OD Trail, visit more than 30 wineries in the Purcellville area, shop dozens of small shops, and enjoy fine restaurants. Take a walking tour of Downtown Purcellville and learn about the history of the town and have the opportunity to see first hand how a town grows and works.
Speaker - Kennedy L. Smith
Kennedy Lawson Smith is one of the nation's foremost experts on commercial district revitalization and development, independent main street businesses, and economically and environmentally sound community development.
After graduate school in architecture, Kennedy directed the downtown revitalization program in Charlottesville, Virginia, where her small business development work led her to create a retail market analysis methodology specifically for older commercial districts that is now used in downtown revitalization programs throughout the US. She joined the staff of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center in 1985, and in 1991 she became its director, a position she held for 13 years.
In 2004, Kennedy co-founded the Community Land Use and Economics (CLUE) Group, LLC, a private consulting firm that blends downtown development, land use management, and historic preservation disciplines into a cohesive approach to solving community development challenges. The CLUE Group helps civic leaders and developers craft dynamic retail development strategies, cultivate locally owned businesses, strengthen community development programs and policies, and improve main street revitalization efforts.
November 4, 2010
26th Annual Conference
Walkability & Sustainability in Historic Downtowns
Downtown Mall
Charlotttesville, VA
