West Piedmont Planning District Commission

06/05/2026

📷 Today we held another photo shoot to showcase more destinations on the Mountain Spirit: Virginia's Moonshine Heritage Trail.

☀️It was a gorgeous day to visit Fairy Stone State Park in Visit Patrick County, VA followed by a scenic drive through backroads to the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum - BRIM in Visit Franklin County, Virginia!

05/27/2026

❤️ Destination Southwest Virginia is a new regional initiative led by Friends of Southwest Virginia to document the areas story, measure its impact, and create a 10-year roadmap for the future of tourism and the creative economy across 19 counties and four cities.

In the WPPDC footprint, Friends of SWVA encompasses Franklin and Patrick Counties and the Town of Rocky Mount.

Learn more and take the survey at www.destinationswva.org.

05/26/2026

📷 Last Friday, we had a photoshoot to capture some of the destinations on the Mountain Spirit: Virginia's Moonshine Heritage Trail. This is a regional partnership between Visit Floyd, VA, Visit Franklin County, Virginia, Visit Patrick County, VA, Discover Rocky Mount, and WPPDC.

🫙Destinations featured in this shoot:
Olde Towne Social House
The Alley Cat
Moonshine Explosion Museum
Twin Creeks Distillery

🔗To find out more on the trail visit https://www.lifeinsova.com/mountainspirittrail/

05/25/2026

Our office is closed today in observance of Memorial Day.

05/21/2026

Check out this weeks Opportunity Tracker!
https://mailchi.mp/62ac8cf074d1/wppdc-opportunity-tracker-9200400

If you'd like to sign up to receive this newsletter click the link below:
https://wppdc.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8be5809d2690abd0ba3f9ab10&id=7f62031f0

Investing in Rural America: Demystifying Capital Investment in Rural Communities Wednesday, May 20th | 1 p.m.  Join The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's Center for Rural Economies for a webinar on the basics of capital investment for rural communities, focusing on how different public and private...

05/14/2026

🎉The West Piedmont Planning District Commission is proud to congratulate our Economic Development Specialist, Kiana Dillard, on being selected as one of the inaugural 40 Under 40 honorees by the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

This recognition celebrates young professionals who are making a meaningful impact through leadership, service, and dedication to their communities. Kiana’s work across Southern Virginia supports economic growth, regional collaboration, workforce development, and community advancement throughout the WPPDC region.

We are excited to see her recognized for the passion, creativity, and commitment she brings to the region. Congratulations, Kiana, on this well-deserved honor!

05/07/2026

📣West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC) received a $20,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC)’s Marketing Leverage Program for its Life in SOVA initiative.

WPPDC will use this funding to strengthen the Life in SOVA initiative through a strategic marketing & development plan, website enhancements, new content and creative assets, and targeted advertising to promote the region’s tourism destinations. Life in SOVA is a regional branding initiative that highlights the cities of Danville and Martinsville, the counties of Franklin, Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania, and the Town of Rocky Mount. At the core of this project is www.lifeinsova.com, a comprehensive digital hub that features the region’s businesses, events, outdoor attractions, and community life.

🔗Full Release: https://westpiedmontpdc.org/2026/05/07/wppdc-receives-virginia-tourism-corporation-grant-for-tourism-marketing/

05/06/2026

🚴‍♀️May is Bike Month!🚴‍♀️

💰If you log even one bike trip (commute or non-commute to a destination) this month, you'll have a shot at winning a gift card valued up to $500!

Visit connectingva.org to download the app today, and get rolling!

RIDE Solutions

05/05/2026

📢 WPPDC is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Regional Stormwater Vulnerability Assessment. Funded by the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Community Flood Preparedness Fund, this initiative seeks qualified contractors and consulting firms to help WPPDC and its member localities better understand, map, and address stormwater and sewer infrastructure vulnerabilities across the region.

🔗For more information: https://westpiedmontpdc.org/2026/05/05/wppdc-issues-request-for-proposals-for-regional-stormwater-vulnerability-assessment/

04/30/2026

Yesterday we attended the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce 2026-Post Legislative Breakfast where we were able to hear updates from our local and state elected officials.

Our Board Chairman, Jim Adams, and Board Treasurer, Kathy Lawson, provided updates for Henry County, Virginia and The City of Martinsville VA.