A Creative Culture Authentic, Distinctive, Alive

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2 Connecting the String of Pearls Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission The communities and cultural assets of Southwest Virginia are connected through The Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission. Established by the General Assembly in A coordinating body for the blend of cultural heritage tourism and economic development efforts fostering Southwest Virginia s new economy. Twenty-three appointed members and an executive director. Provides vision, guidance and resources to sustain and grow the economy through cultural heritage ventures and initiatives related to tourism and other asset-based enterprises.

3 Connecting the String of Pearls The Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission Senator William C. Wampler, Jr., Chair Senator Phillip P. Puckett Delegate Terry G. Kilgore Delegate Charles W. Carrico, Sr. Delegate Joseph Johnson Jim A. Baldwin David A. Barrett Nathaniel L. Bishop Diana Blackburn Jennifer L. Braaten, Ed.D. Lee Chichester Lucius F. Ellsworth Charles McConnell French Moore, D.D.S. Mark K. Reeter Betsy K. White Glenn DuBois - VA Community College System F. David Wilkin - VA Highlands Community College Joe Wilson - The Crooked Road Woody Crenshaw - Round the Mountain William C. Shelton - VA DHCD Alisa Bailey - VA Tourism Corporation Rachel Fowlkes - SWVA Higher Education Center

4 Developing a Creative Economy Placing the Focus on: High Quality of Life Sense of Place Community Development Access to High-Speed Telecommunications The Creative Economy supplements the manufacturing, industrial, tobacco and coal-based industries of the past with a new, sustainable economy that capitalizes on the unique cultural heritage of Southwest Virginia.

5 Our Objectives 1. Attract & develop high tech businesses & high-end entrepreneurs through our unique quality of life. 2. Promote Southwest Virginia as a superior place to live for: Relocatees Retirees College educated returnees 3. Attract visitors/tourists through our vibrant cultural heritage, stories and natural assets.

6 Creating and branding a distinct region Economic Development Branding & promoting Southwest Virginia as a unified destination. Heartwood: The Gateway & Cultural center. Southwest Virginia Website: The virtual presence to the world. Coordinating & developing a comprehensive cultural assets, image, and capital improvements plan for the entire region.

7 The Process dentify, preserve & enhance our cultural assets. conomic restructuring. owntowns as cultural centers. ell the stories.

8 The Process dentity of our own/branding to the world. ove and grow who we are. elcome outsiders who respect/embrace and add new life to our communities & culture. ospitality and acceptance of visitors, relocatees from other places and cultures.

9 Comprehensive Long-Term Economic Restructuring Heartwood Heartwood will serve as a focal point and portal to all heritage tourism efforts in SWVA. $17 million facility will be a gateway to Southwest Virginia. Crooked Road music store, artisan displays, organic food restaurant, internet bistro. Will connect tourists to regional artisan studios, music venues, craft trails, outdoor recreation and more throughout the region. Expected to draw more than 270,000 visitors and produce $2.2 million in revenue each year from the sale of crafts, food, and beverages.

10 Comprehensive Long-Term Economic Restructuring The Crooked Road Virginia s Heritage Music Trail Economic development through branding and marketing Southwest Virginia s unique and vibrant music traditions. In 2008 The Crooked Road contributed $23 million in economic impact to the counties it serves, drawing 264,000 visitors to the region. The Crooked Road has increased lodging revenues more than 90 percent in the Town of Floyd since 2003 and more than 232 percent in the City of Galax since The Crooked Road has seen more than 100 new businesses emerge along its route within the last four years, creating hundreds of new jobs for the area.

11 Comprehensive Long-Term Economic Restructuring Round the Mountain Southwest Virginia s Artisan Network Promotes sustainable economic development by focusing on a place-based economy. Provides artisans with marketing, educational, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Serves as a connection between tourists and artisans, farms, restaurants, bed & breakfasts, and points of interest.

12 Comprehensive Long-Term Economic Restructuring A Region Wired Nearly universal community access to highspeed telecommunications Robust high-speed telecommunications enables Entrepreneurs drawn to the quality of life unique to Southwest Virginia to create hundreds of jobs in the region. Tuck Engineering, Big Stone Gap Crenshaw Lighting in Floyd. TEDS Inc., Marion, VA Golden Gallery of Galax. (International Antiques Dealer)

13 Regional Identity, Synergy, and Collaboration They are visiting a culture and a region not a county! Make yourself an interesting part of the picture & story. You need your neighbor and your neighbors neighbor to complete the whole experience. Get out and see your neighbors! They are not only interesting and somewhat different but they have a lot in common and a lot to offer you!

14 Ensuring Sustainable Success State and Local Government Support Each year local governments throughout SWVA contribute to fund and support The Crooked Road and Round the Mountain. The Cultural Heritage Commission is inventorying assets throughout the region. By capitalizing on the unique Sense of Place that visitors experience when touring our region, Southwest Virginia utilizes its cultural and natural assets to build a comprehensive, longterm, sustainable economy. The Commission is charged with stewardship of the region s assets, aggregated funding requests, community and economic development, and a capital improvement plan for developing future assets into viable attractive destinations.