About Virginia's aCorridor

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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