Community Engagement
Let's work together!
We are committed to connecting the vast resources of Virginia Tech to Southwest Virginia communities and beyond.
We cultivate community partnerships, engage in regional collaborative efforts, and provide exceptional learning experiences to professionals in the region.
We are continuing to identify needs, partner with communities, and work to secure resources to bring positive change. Some recent projects include:
First-ever Small Towns Conference
JUNE 10-11, 2024
Specifically geared toward small-town issues, about 100 elected officials and leadership staff joined us for networking and sharing resources and ideas. Topics included local town governance, placemaking and economic development, strategic planning, housing development, legal issues, and financial strategy.
Presented by Virginia Municipal League and Virginia Tech's Southwest Center, Roanoke Center, and the Center for Public Administration and Policy.
Community Health
We are partnering with Striving Toward Resilience and Opportunity for the Next Generation (STRONG) Accountable Care Community to help improve physical, social, and economic health in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The collaboration will include work with the Virginia Tech Autism Clinic and Center for Autism Research as it deploys its Mobile Austism Clinic to Dickenson, Lee, and Wise counties and surrounding areas.
K-12 Education
We sponsored the Region 7 DECA competition held on Nov. 14, 2023. About 250 students from Tazewell and Wythe counties, Abingdon, and Galax gathered for the marketing competitions.
Have an idea? Email Director Allison Mays.