Initiative to Revitalize Downtown with Comprehensive 5-Year Action Plan

The Blacksburg Partnership, in collaboration with the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, and Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. (DBI), recently completed a comprehensive 5-Year Retail and Downtown Action Plan designed to strengthen and revitalize downtown Blacksburg as the economic and cultural heart of the community.

The strategic plan, developed through a partnership with Retail Strategies, provides implementable, market-driven strategies across four key focus areas: Policy & Administration, Design, Tourism & Promotion, and Economic Vitality. Rather than creating another long-term vision document, this action-oriented plan focuses on achievable goals within a five-year timeframe to create immediate and measurable impact. The plan includes stakeholder feedback from the Stakeholder input session and community survey.

Action Already Underway

Several major initiatives are already in motion:

• Façade Improvement Program Expanding: Building on the successful award of matching grants to 18 downtown businesses in 2025, the Town is making this program an annual investment in downtown revitalization
• Retail Incubator Development: The transformation of the former Cook's Cleaners building into a 5,000-square-foot retail incubator and cooperative is progressing toward a Fall 2026 opening
• Infrastructure Investments Continuing: The Town is advancing permanent Draper Road streetscape improvements, including widened sidewalks, enhanced bicycle infrastructure, and outdoor dining areas

Four-Pillar Strategy for Success

The action plan addresses downtown revitalization through four strategic focus areas:

1. Policy & Administration: Creating strong foundations through improved partnerships, streamlined permitting processes, and strategic incentives
2. Design: Enhancing physical and visual assets through engagement features, streetscape improvements, and public spaces
3. Tourism & Promotion: Positioning downtown as the community hub through unified branding, strategic events, and targeted marketing
4. Economic Vitality: Supporting business growth through adaptive reuse projects, historic tax credit promotion, and retail recruitment across the Town

Collaborative Partnership Model

The initiative represents a unique collaborative approach with clearly defined roles:

• Town of Blacksburg: Leading infrastructure development, policy implementation, and regulatory improvements
• Blacksburg Partnership: Spearheading business attraction, economic development, and serving as the central hub for community information
• Virginia Tech: Contributing to gateway projects, student engagement, and academic partnerships
• Downtown Blacksburg, Inc.: Managing events, marketing campaigns, and fostering business collaboration for the Downtown district

Implementation Through Action Teams

To ensure accountability and progress, the partnership has established three (3) Action Teams, using a Project Mapping Workbook and Workshop to guide implementation. These teams are meeting regularly, setting realistic timelines, and maintaining transparency through regular progress reporting to partner organizations.

Economic Impact Focus

The plan emphasizes measurable economic outcomes, including support for existing businesses, attraction of new retailers and restaurants, and creation of entrepreneurial opportunities. The upcoming downtown retail incubator will house approximately 10 new businesses and serve as a hub for small business support programs.

Community Engagement Priority

The plan includes initiatives to engage local residents through targeted events, loyalty programs, and campaigns highlighting downtown as 'home' for all community members.

Next Steps

The partnership has already begun immediate implementation of priority initiatives, with the first Action Team having been launched in early 2025. Regular progress updates will be shared with the community through the Town's communication channels and the Blacksburg Partnership website.

About the Partnership

This initiative represents the largest collaborative downtown development effort in Blacksburg's recent history, combining municipal resources, economic development expertise, university partnership, and merchant organization leadership to create a unified approach to downtown revitalization.

The complete 5-Year Retail and Downtown Action Plan is available here and includes detailed implementation timelines, responsible parties, and resource requirements for each strategic initiative.