VISION 2025
The VISION 2025 Initiative is about working together to provide jobs and opportunities for residents of Virginia’s Alleghany Highlands while enhancing tourism and our quality of life.
This multi-pronged community-led effort is supported by a partnership between the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and The Alleghany Foundation.
Initiatives
Achieving the vision will be based initially on five initiatives, each supported by an Action Team with a team coordinator, vision, strategy, and schedule to get started. Over time, each initiative will develop, and it is expected that others will be added. The first five working groups are listed below:
Alleghany Highlands Web Store and Small Business Support
Corridor Curb Appeal, Gateway, and Main Street Enhancement
Community Landscaping and Destination Gardens
Destinations and Trails to Showcase Historic Heritage & Natural Beauty
How It Began
The effort began with a community meeting facilitated by John Rhodes of Moran, Stahl, and Boyer in February 2013 that was designed to help all of us better understand principles of economic development, historical trends in our area, and future trends. Later that spring, participants from the first community meeting plus other interested stakeholders gathered to identify action steps to help implement a vision for revitalization over the next twelve years.
Below are the reports from those two initial meetings:
- Economic Trends in the Alleghany Highlands March 2013 [PDF]
- VISION 2025 Working Groups Overview May 2013 [PDF]
A community meeting took place in March 2014 to review progress during the first year. Below is a copy of the overview presentation.