Marketing a region of 200,000
Virginia’s aCorridor represents
a population of nearly 200,000 in six counties and two cities in
the Mount Rogers region of southwestern Virginia.
Stretching from the City
of Bristol to the City of Galax along Interstates 81 and 77, the
aCorridor includes the two cities and Washington, Smyth, Wythe,
Grayson, Carroll and Bland counties.
The Mount Rogers Development
Partnership Inc. was created in 1989 to promote Virginia’s aCorridor
as a location for new and expanded business. The aCorridor consolidates
marketing and presents regional demographics, and works with local
governments to enhance their economic development programs.
Virginia’s aCorridor is
financed by a $1 per capita assessment in the represented counties
and cities plus private funding. It is served by a board of directors
with representatives from county governments, regional businesses
and educators.
Marketing Virginia’s aCorridor
as a region:
- Collects and analyzes regional demographic data
- Generates prospect activity
- Enhances communication in the region
- Coordinates prospect visits
- Generates marketing materials with a regional focus and emphasis
Learn more about
the aCorridor:
Mission
Statement
The purpose of the Mount
Rogers Development Partnership, Inc. is to support the creation
of job opportunities, a broadened tax base and an improved standard
of living for the citizens of Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington
and Wythe counties and the cities of Bristol and Galax, by attracting
and encouraging national and international businesses to locate
and invest in the region; and by assisting existing companies to
create or retain jobs.
Board
of Directors
Mount Rogers Development
Partnership, Inc. is directed by a 27-member board of directors.
Eight directors are appointed by the participating county and city
governing bodies, eight are appointed by the participating county
and city Industrial Development Authorities, eight directors-at-large
are appointed to represent the private sector of Virginia’s aCorridor,
and a representative of the Ninth District Board of Directors of
the Virginia Economic Development Partnership is also appointed.
In addtion, the executive
director of the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission and the
presidents of Wytheville Community College and Virginia Highlands
Community College are appointed as ex officio members.
The Board of Directors
includes:
Suzanne B. Jennings, Chair
Executive Director
Smyth County Community
Foundation
Danny C. McDaniel,
Vice Chairman
Wythe County Board of Supervisors
John P. Montague,
Secretary
Retired, Appalachian Electric Power
Claude W. Blankenship,
Treasurer
Bristol, VA City Council
Tom Elliott
Executive Director, Virginia ’s aCorridor
Dan L. Adams
Appalachian Electric Power
Keith Holland
City Manager
City of Galax
Dorothy I. Cochran
External Affairs Manager
- EMBARQ
Michael L. Coomes
Director, Galax IDA
David E. Dillow
Director, Bland County IDA
C. Farnham Jarrard
Bristol, VA Economic Development Committee
Jacqueline K. King
Business Leader
Gary Larrowe
County Administrator,
Carroll County
Thomas M. “Mike” Maynard
Grayson County Board of Supervisors
Russell U. Owens
Director, Washington County IDA
Marvin R. Perry
Smyth County Board of
Supervisors
A. Carole Pratt, D.D.S.
Ninth District Board of Directors
Virginia Economic Development Partnershp
Kenneth O. Reynolds
Washington County Board
of Supervisors
Carl J. Richardson
Director, Grayson County IDA
Cindy Rudy
Controller
The Nautilus Group, Independence, Virginia Division
Clarence F. ‘Con’ Smith
Director, Smyth County IDA
Dr. William F. Snyder
Vice Chairman, Joint IDA Wythe County, Wytheville, & Rural Retreat
Jonathan D. Sweet
County Administrator, Bland County
Dr. Charlie White *
President
Wytheville Community College
Dr. F. David Wilkin *
President
Virginia Highlands Community College
David A. Barrett *
Executive Director
Mount Rogers Planning District Commission
* Ex Officio Member
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