Friends of Southwest Virginia (Friends), in partnership with the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission, Buchanan County, and Dickenson County, is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to provide outdoor recreation planning and marketing services for the project known as: Gateways to Adventure: Buchanan & Dickenson Counties Outdoor Recreation Development Initiative.

This initiative will deliver a coordinated set of tools to accelerate outdoor recreation development and investment across the Cumberland Plateau. The project will produce county-specific outdoor recreation development master plans for Buchanan County and Dickenson County, establish regional alignment around priority projects, and define clear implementation pathways supported by realistic funding strategies. The effort will also generate county-level marketing plans and unified regional brand and messaging alignment with Visit SWVA to ensure communities move forward with clarity and consistency. All work will build upon prior Appalachian Regional Commission investments and existing outdoor economy strategies already underway across Southwest Virginia

The project is funded through an Appalachian Regional Commission Area Development award with additional support from the Thompson Charitable Foundation. Friends of Southwest Virginia will serve as the grantee and contracting entity.

View the RFP and apply HERE: https://friendsofswva.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3.20.-2026-FinalDraft-Buchanan-Dickenson-PlanRFP-1.pdf