Leadership Lynchburg and Lynch’s Landing are teaming up to improve the community’s image of downtown. Here is a press release from Leadership Lynchburg:

Leadership Lynchburg Class 38’s D.A.R.T. (Downtown Area Revitalization Team) has embarked on a project, in partnership with Lynch’s Landing, to spread the word that revitalization efforts are alive and progressing in Downtown Lynchburg.

The current leadership class is made up of 25 business professionals from a variety of organizations. Six of these students comprise the D.A.R.T.- Tim Birchfield of StarTek, Molly Cousins of Kelly Services, Peter York of James River Day School, Libi Prince of Nationwide, Kate Saunders of V.E.S. and Cheyenne Sheafe of Wiley Wilson.

This group was assigned a topic of “Downtown Revitalization.” They were tasked with analyzing this issue, determining ways in which they could impact that issue and developing solutions. D.A.R.T. conducted a cross-sectional survey of area consultants, including: for-profit businesses, non-profit businesses (both located in DT), residents of downtown, government officials and non-residents. The team also researched extensively the plans already in place on the City’s website. A detailed PowerPoint presentation can be found at http://www.lynchburgva.gove/Index.aspx?page=4201, highlighting the numerous revitalization projects both planned and completed. Additionally, the City has a Master Plan developed to address revitalization projects and city-wide developmental needs, accessible at http://www.lynchburgva.gov/Index/aspx?page-245. As a direct result of researching these documents and the community survey process, the team realized that the plan to revitalize  downtown is thorough, thoughtful and comprehensive. The community’s perceptions of the revitalization efforts, however, were not at all positive. The team determined that the biggest opportunity for impact woudl be to influence overall perception of Downtown Lynchburg.

With an impact area identified, the team reached out to Angela Hamilton of Lynch’s Landing for support and ideas. It was quickly decided that the biggest way the team could help would be to facilitate more communication between the community and Lynch’s Landing. The most immediate ways to accomplish this were:

• Solicit community members to join the weekly email list serve from Lynch’s Landing
• Increase the “friends” base on Lycnh’s Landing’s Facebook page
• Provide area residents and visitors with information on how to make the most of Downtown’s attractions & businesses

“We’re proud of the progress that has been made in Downtown Lynchburg over the last few years,” said Kate Saunders, the team’s spokesperson. “We feel that our community should be very excited about what Downtown has to offer and we’re going to be contagious in our enthusiasm about Downtown!”

D.A.R.T. hosted a booth at the February Winter Cheers Event put on by Lynch’s Landing on Feb. 19. At that booth the team “friended” attendees who have Facebook accounts and collected email addresses from those who would like to join the weekly email blast. All attendees who “friended” Lynch’s Landing or joined the list serve were eligible to win a pair of Gretchen Wilson tickets along with several other door prizes.