The Friends of SWVA Development team focuses on sustainable creative economy development by facilitating and implementing innovative economy strategies, collaboratives, and projects.
- Collaboration with partners organizations, including The Crooked Road and ’Round the Mountain
- Facilitation for creative economy development in all eight anchor areas
- Sustainable creative economy development (arts, music, outdoor recreation, agritourism, community development)
Creative Economy Definition:
The Creative Economy is defined as innovative business development techniques finding success based on novel, imaginative qualities that no longer rely on the limited resources of land, labor, and capital.
Area served by Southwest Virginia
Idalina Walker
Director of Outreach and PartnershipEngage with us:
Helping community advocates identify opportunities to enhance their communities
- Anchor area collaboratives
- Anchor area engagement
- Capacity building and community engagement strategies
- Business collaborative strategic support through Opportunity SWVA
- AIR Shift program facilitation
- Arts Build Business Builds Arts
Networking & Connectivity:
Opportunities for relationship building and continuing education.
- Annual 2 week informational session and networking event
- Bi-annual outdoor recreation networking
- Anchor area quarterly engagement events
Planning:
Facilitating regional collaboratives to develop strategies for sustainable and thriving economies
- Anchor area development and planning
- Hometowns program
- Master planning and strategic development facilitation
- Regional grant development, administration, implementation, and assistance
- Assistance in planning and activating community assets
- Asset-based Planning Services
- Product planning
- Activation strategies
- One-on-one capacity building meetings