Project Summary

This ACRI research project gathered all the economic development comprehensive plans for Appalachian Virginia (referred to as Southwest Virginia or SWVA) for 13 counties (Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Wise, Carroll, Grayson, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Bland, Washington, Wythe), 3 Cities (Norton, Galax, and Bristol), the affiliated 3 planning district commissions, 2 Regional Industrial Facility Authorities (RIFAs), and 2 Regional Economic Development Organizations with the aim of identifying the region’s top assets, economic development priorities, and possible impact investing opportunities. In all, we analyzed 27 plans and over 3000 pages of content using Claude Code and human review. In addition, our research team conducted 16 in-depth expert interviews with economic development staff in the region and conducted site visits with economic development staff in the towns, cities, and counties of Virginia’s Co Virginia Region 1.
 
This report, pitchbook, and its accompanying website present a synthesis of that research in one convenient location for regional economic development officers to use as a supplemental resource when showcasing the region’s assets to potential investors and private sector leaders and as a reference point for their ongoing strategic planning processes.  Investors need to understand not just the assets of a county they are thinking of opening business operations or investing in, but the immediately surrounding counties and the broader region as well. This research aims to provide that broader opportunity map.