ABINGDON, VA – The Friends of Southwest Virginia announced today the roll-out of a brand-new communications strategy and upcoming plans for a “Southwest Virginia Spring Break Blitz.” The Friends of Southwest Virginia has been undergoing a major reorganization over the past 8 months, since the hiring of Executive Director, Chris Cannon, in June of 2017. The Friends of Southwest Virginia represents 19 counties, four cities, and 54 towns in Southwest Virginia and introduces a different side of Virginia to residents and visitors alike.

“The SWVA Team (Friends of Southwest Virginia and the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation) are hitting the road to visit all 19 counties and four cities of the region over two weeks!” said Chris Cannon, Executive Director for the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Friends of Southwest Virginia. “The Spring Break Blitz will bring each community in Southwest Virginia important updates on tourism, community and economic development initiatives across SWVA coming in 2018 and how they can be better connected to the work of the Friends.”

“The blitz will be the launch a new communications program for Friends focused on connecting communities with the important regional work happening every day through regular in-person meetings, a new website, new email communications, new social media and more!” said Jenna Wagner, PR & Marketing Director for the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Friends of Southwest Virginia. “Check out your community’s stop on the blitz and come for a gathering of Friends!”

The Friends of Southwest Virginia will be in each community on the following dates:

• Thursday, April 26^th
  • Pulaski County / City of Radford {Draper Mercantile – 12:00 PM}
• Friday, April 27^th
  • Giles County {19th Hole at Castle Rock – 9:00 AM}
• Monday, April 30^th
  • Grayson County {Historic 1908 Grayson County Courthouse – 10:00 AM}
  • Patrick County {Stuart Rotary Club – 2:00 PM}
  • City of Galax {Rex Theater – 5:00 PM}
  • City of Norton / Wise County {City of Norton Council Chamber – 5:30 PM}
• Tuesday, May 1^st
  • Lee County / Scott County {Pennington Gap Community Center – 11:00 AM}
  • Franklin County {The Franklin Center – 2:30 PM & 6:00 PM}
  • Bland County {Bland County Library – 3:00 PM}
  • Carroll County {Carroll County Governmental Center – 9:30 AM}
• Wednesday, May 2^nd
  • Floyd County {Hotel Floyd – 9:00 AM}
  • Dickenson County {Clintwood Community Center – 11:00 AM}
  • Montgomery County {Holiday Inn Christiansburg Blacksburg – 2:00 PM}
  • Buchanan County {Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce – 3:00 PM}
  • Tazewell County {Painted Peak Brewing – 3:00 PM}
• Thursday, May 3^rd
  • Smyth County {Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts – 2:00 PM}
• Friday, May 4^th
  • Wythe County {Wytheville Meeting Center – 9:30 AM}
  • Russell County {Russell County Government Center – 2:00 PM}
• Monday, May 7^th
  • City of Bristol {Bristol Station Brews & Taproom – 4:00 PM}
• Friday, May 11^th
  • Washington County {Heartwood – 10:00 AM}

For more information and to RSVP for each event, check out the Friends of Southwest Virginia’s Facebook page.[/text]Download Press Release[clear by=”15px” id=”” class=””]