New River Valley Regional Commission Update

August 2026 Update

2026 Annual NRVRC Awards Nominations Are Open!

Help us recognize the people who make an impact in the New River Valley! We need you to nominate worthy candidates for this year's awards program. The Commission is accepting nominations for our regional awards until August 14th. Award recipients will be honored at our annual reception event in the fall. Please click on the links below to nominate candidates for Champion of the Valley (elected/appointed official), Citizen of the Valley, and Friend of the Valley (outside the region).

Champion of the Valley-Elected/Appointed Official

Citizen of the Valley

Friend of the Valley

NRVRC Board Member Transition

The Regional Commission welcomes a new member, Ms. Lara Ramsey, a citizen representing Pulaski County. Ms. Ramsey is the President and CEO of the National Bank of Blacksburg.

Partnering on the Wytheville Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The New River Valley Regional Commission is pleased to work alongside our neighboring Planning District Commission in Mount Rogers to support the development of the Wytheville Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The NRVRC's expertise in community engagement was tapped this summer to help raise awareness of the planning effort and gather public input. The project team hosted tabling activities at several community events such as the Chautauqua Festival, the Summer Concert at Withers Park, and the Fourth of July celebration. More than 150 residents visited the tabling events to share ideas on the future of parks and recreation in the community.

For more information contact Aphi Fancon afancon@nrvrc.org.

Crab Creek Beautification Phase II Applications Now Open

Applications are now being accepted from property owners in the Crab Creek watershed that would like to install a best management practice (BMP) to help improve water quality. Crab Creek is identified as an impaired waterway due to elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria and high sedimentation levels. Property owners can apply for project funds to cover from 70% to 100% of project costs depending on the BMP selected. Examples include removing impervious surfaces, installing rain gardens, and purchasing rain barrels. To learn about eligibility and make an application, please visit https://engagenrv.org/crab-creek-beautification/inquire-today

For more information, contact Will Shelburne wshelburne@nrvrc.org.

Legacy on Main Project

Board members from the NRV HOME Consortium and NRV Housing Fund as well as Board and Council members from around the region met in July for a tour of the Legacy on Main apartments in the Town of Blacksburg. Developed and owned by Community Housing Partners (CHP), this 56-unit affordable rental project is the result of years of planning and a strong collaborative relationship between the Town of Blacksburg and CHP.

Guests heard from CHP staff and Blacksburg Town Council about all that goes into making a project like this happen, both the challenges and successes, and took a tour of several units. The $24M project was made possible, in part, with over $2M in local funding from the HOME Consortium, NRV Housing Fund, and Blacksburg ARPA funding. Legacy on Main is nearing the end of construction and resident application review is underway.

For more information, contact Jennifer Wilsie jwilsie@nrvrc.org.

AM2 Partners Join Senator Warner for Advanced Manufacturing Discussion in Danville

On Monday, June 29, 2026, AM2 partners supported a visit with Senator Mark Warner at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville to highlight the region’s advanced manufacturing strategy and the work now moving forward through the GO Virginia implementation award. The meeting included a brief overview of AM2, the $4.2 million GO Virginia investment, and the submitted EDA Tech Hubs supplemental funding request that would further expand the initiative’s capacity across the region.

The visit brought together manufacturers, regional economic development organizations, planning district commissions, higher education partners, and other members of the AM2 consortium for a focused discussion on the needs and opportunities facing advanced manufacturers. Conversation centered on workforce development, technology adoption, commercialization support, and the importance of helping small and mid-sized manufacturers access the technical assistance and innovation resources needed to grow.

The meeting helped elevate AM2 with federal leadership and reinforced the value of continued investment in the region’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem. It also provided an opportunity for manufacturers and partners to speak directly about the challenges they are seeing and the types of support that would make the greatest difference as AM2 moves from planning into implementation.

To learn more about Virginia’s AM2 initiative and the regional work underway to strengthen advanced manufacturing, visit am2virginia.org.

ReNew the New

The ReNew the New annual Fall Into the New river cleanup returns this fall on August 29th, 2026. Go to https://renewthenew.org/ to register.

New River Watershed Roundtable

On Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The New River Watershed Roundtable hosted its third roundtable of the year! Justin Chen and Kati McCall from the Department of Environmental Quality Office of Water Supply delivered an informative presentation regarding drought monitoring, response and water supply planning. This was followed by a great discussion of current water conditions, as well as the multiple events and programs going on around the region. For more information on The New River Watershed Roundtable or to get involved please visit https://www.newriverwatershed.org/

For more information contact Will Shelburne (wshelburne@nrvrc.org).

Partner News

Friends of Southwest Virginia has launched Destination Southwest Virginia, a regional initiative focused on strengthening the economy by building on the region’s tourism, outdoor recreation, arts, culture, and heritage assets. Community input will help shape a 10-year strategic plan for future investment, collaboration, and destination development. Visit the website to learn more about the initiative and take the survey and share your voice.

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