Press Release: Southwest Virginia Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy Announced
Friends Marketing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Ryan Vaughan
Marketing Manager
Friends of Southwest Virginia rvaughan@myswva.org
Southwest Virginia Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy Announced
ABINGDON, Va. (Monday, Feb. 9, 2026) —Friends of Southwest Virginia, in partnership withPlace + Main Advisors, has completed a nine-month Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy supporting economic development and downtown revitalization in ten Southwest Virginia and neighboring communities. Supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the initiative delivered market intelligence, practical implementation tools, and customized guidance that will help local leaders strengthen downtown districts and diversify economies historically shaped by extractive industries.
Selected through the Virginia Main Street Program, the participating communities include Wytheville, Galax, Pulaski, Martinsville, Marion, Covington, Buena Vista, St. Paul, Bristol, and Tazewell. Each locality received an individualized report outlining priority opportunities, redevelopment pathways, and clear next steps tailored to its assets, market conditions, and leadership capacity.
“After spending the past nine months working alongside ten communities across Southwest Virginia, helping them identify their potential and chart a clear path forward, we are excited by the momentum and hopeful for the future of the region,” said Joe Borgstrom, Principal at Place + Main Advisors.
The project paired detailed data analysis with hands-on fieldwork, including third-party market research, downtown and property tours, Business Opportunities on Main Street inventories, walking vision sessions, and facilitated meetings with local officials, property owners, and economic development partners. By aligning state, regional, and local perspectives, the process ensured that recommendations are realistic, financeable, and ready for action.
Friends of Southwest Virginia served as the regional convener and implementation partner, coordinating stakeholders, aligning the work with broader tourism and community development strategies, and ensuring that results can translate into future investment across multiple funding programs. The effort reflects Friends’ expanding leadership role in providing communities with the tools, partnerships, and technical expertise necessary to compete for redevelopment resources and position their downtowns for long-term success.
“This initiative puts real numbers, real opportunities, and real strategies in the hands of the people doing the work on Main Street every day,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “By combining local vision with expert analysis and regional coordination, our communities are prepared to recruit businesses, bring vacant properties back into productive use, and build downtown economies that serve residents while attracting new visitors and private investment.”
CONTACT:
Ryan Vaughan
Marketing Manager
Friends of Southwest Virginia rvaughan@myswva.org
Southwest Virginia Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy Announced
A view of downtown St. Paul, one of ten localities that participated in the Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy.
ABINGDON, Va. (Monday, Feb. 9, 2026) —Friends of Southwest Virginia, in partnership with Place + Main Advisors, has completed a nine-month Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy supporting economic development and downtown revitalization in ten Southwest Virginia and neighboring communities. Supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the initiative delivered market intelligence, practical implementation tools, and customized guidance that will help local leaders strengthen downtown districts and diversify economies historically shaped by extractive industries.
Selected through the Virginia Main Street Program, the participating communities include Wytheville, Galax, Pulaski, Martinsville, Marion, Covington, Buena Vista, St. Paul, Bristol, and Tazewell. Each locality received an individualized report outlining priority opportunities, redevelopment pathways, and clear next steps tailored to its assets, market conditions, and leadership capacity.
“After spending the past nine months working alongside ten communities across Southwest Virginia, helping them identify their potential and chart a clear path forward, we are excited by the momentum and hopeful for the future of the region,” said Joe Borgstrom, Principal at Place + Main Advisors.
Regional partners and local leaders in each community participated in a collaborative planning process designed to strengthen downtown economies across the region.
The project paired detailed data analysis with hands-on fieldwork, including third-party market research, downtown and property tours, Business Opportunities on Main Street inventories, walking vision sessions, and facilitated meetings with local officials, property owners, and economic development partners. By aligning state, regional, and local perspectives, the process ensured that recommendations are realistic, financeable, and ready for action.
Friends of Southwest Virginia served as the regional convener and implementation partner, coordinating stakeholders, aligning the work with broader tourism and community development strategies, and ensuring that results can translate into future investment across multiple funding programs. The effort reflects Friends’ expanding leadership role in providing communities with the tools, partnerships, and technical expertise necessary to compete for redevelopment resources and position their downtowns for long-term success.
“This initiative puts real numbers, real opportunities, and real strategies in the hands of the people doing the work on Main Street every day,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “By combining local vision with expert analysis and regional coordination, our communities are prepared to recruit businesses, bring vacant properties back into productive use, and build downtown economies that serve residents while attracting new visitors and private investment.”
Friends of Southwest Virginia is a regional community and economic development organization and a division of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Serving 19 counties and four cities, Friends works to advance tourism, strengthen downtowns, support entrepreneurs, and grow the region’s creative economy. Through strategic partnerships, grant investments, and regional collaboration, Friends helps communities leverage their heritage, outdoor assets, music, and artisan traditions to attract visitors, create jobs, and build long-term economic vitality. Major initiatives include destination marketing through Visit Southwest Virginia, support for the ’Round the Mountain Artisan Network, regional outdoor recreation development, and implementation of projects funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission and other state and federal partners. https://friendsofswva.org/
About Virginia Main Street
The Virginia Main Street program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, supports downtown revitalization and economic development in communities across the Commonwealth. Using the nationally recognized Main Street Approach, the program helps localities strengthen small businesses, enhance historic assets, foster community engagement, and build vibrant, walkable downtown districts. Virginia Main Street provides technical assistance, training, and access to resources that position communities to attract investment, support entrepreneurs, and improve quality of life for residents and visitors. https://virginiamainstreet.com/
