Press Archives - Friends of SWVA

12 Sep Press Release: Visitor Spending Reached $1.38 Billion in Southwest Virginia in 2024

Posted at 10:25h in Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ryan Vaughan Marketing Manager Friends of Southwest Virginia marketing@myswva.org Visitor Spending Reached $1.38 Billion in Southwest Virginia in 2024 Tourism generated $35.1 billion in visitor spending in Virginia, marking a nearly $2 billion increase over 2023. ABINGDON, Va. (Friday, September 12, 2025) – Tourism continues to drive growth across Southwest Virginia,...

10 Sep Press Release: Friend of Southwest Virginia Announces Completion of Regional Outdoor Recreation Plans

Posted at 09:28h in Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ryan Vaughan Marketing Manager Friends of Southwest Virginia marketing@myswva.org FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF REGIONAL OUTDOOR RECREATION PLANS The multi-year roadmaps will boost nature-based tourism, foster job creation and economic growth, and improve quality of life in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge and Powell & Clinch...

28 Jul Press Release: Virginia Business honors Kim Davis for advancing Southwest Virginia’s creative and cultural economy.

Posted at 08:05h in Press, Regional News

CONTACT: Ryan Vaughan Marketing Manager Friends of Southwest Virginia marketing@myswva.org Friends of Southwest Virginia Executive Director Named 2025 Women in Leadership Honoree by Virginia Business ABINGDON, Va. (Monday, July 28, 2025) - Virginia Business has named Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia, 'Round the Mountain Artisan Network, and the Southwest...

09 Feb Press Release: FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA RELEASES CREATIVE CATALYSTS: SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION PLAN

Posted at 11:42h in Press

CONTACT: Olivia Bailey Director of Marketing Friends of Southwest Virginia obailey@myswva.org (276)-698-9676 FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA RELEASES CREATIVE CATALYSTS: SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION PLAN This dynamic guide identifies Southwest Virginia’s strides in the creative economy & provides future opportunities for regional and multi-state initiatives. ABINGDON, Va. Friends of Southwest Virginia and regional partners announce the...

07 Dec Press Release: ‘Round the Mountain Announces Fall 2023 Jury

Posted at 13:20h in Press

'Round the Mountain Announces 2023 Fall Jury Acceptance Artisans representing various mediums will now be featured in The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace galleries ABINGDON, Va. (Friday, October 13, 2023) - 'Round the Mountain hosted a successful fall jury sessions, in which jurors selected 12 submissions for approval....

23 Oct Press Release: Made in SWVA Event

Posted at 13:14h in Press

The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace Will Host Made in SWVA on November 4 More than a dozen artisans will provide displays and demonstrations The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace in Abingdon is hosting a Made in SWVA event where more than a dozen artisans...

Kim Davis is the executive director of Friends of Southwest Virginia.

12 Oct PRESS RELEASE: Friends of Southwest Virginia Executive Director Appointed to the Southeast Tourism Society Board

Posted at 12:59h in Press

FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPOINTED TO THE SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY BOARD ABINGDON, Va. (Thursday, October 12, 2023) – Friends of Southwest Virginia Executive Director Kimberly Davis was recently appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Southeast Tourism Society. The Southeast Tourism Society...

Two kayakers on the Clinch River in the summer

29 Sep PRESS RELEASE: Visitor spending reached $1.2 billion in Southwest Virginia in 2022

Posted at 08:59h in Press

Virginia reached $30.3 billion in visitor spending, returning to pre-pandemic levels ABINGDON, Va. - (Friday, September 29, 2023) – Visitor spending in Southwest Virginia reached $1.2 billion, a nearly 10 percent change over 2021. Tourism-supported jobs in Southwest Virginia totaled 11,499 while local tourism-related taxes were...

Front cover of the Outdoor Economy Plan featuring Breaks Interstate Park

10 Jan PRESS RELEASE: Friends of Southwest Virginia Releases The Cumberland Plateau Outdoor Recreation Economic Analysis and Development Plan

Posted at 12:47h in Press, Regional News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Olivia Bailey Director of Marketing Friends of Southwest Virginia 276-492-2400 obailey@myswva.org ABINGDON, Va. (Tuesday, January 10, 2022) – The Friends of Southwest Virginia and regional partners announce the release of The Cumberland Plateau Outdoor Recreation Economic Analysis and Development Plan. [embed]https://vimeo.com/781237470[/embed] Project partners include the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission,...

16 Dec PRESS RELEASE: Friends of Southwest Virginia & Regional Partners break ground on the High Knob Destination Center in Norton, Virginia

Posted at 14:55h in High Knob, Press, Regional News, Uncategorized

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2022 CONTACT: Olivia Bailey Director of Marketing Friends of Southwest Virginia obailey@myswva.org HIGH KNOB DESTINATION CENTER CELEBRATES GROUNDBREAKING Friends of Southwest Virginia & Regional Partners break ground on the High Knob Destination Center in Norton, Virginia [caption id="attachment_8150" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (photo credit: Jana Brickett)[/caption] (NORTON, Va. – Dec. 16,...