Cooperative Community Efforts

Montgomery County citizens, businesses, and governments have a rich heritage of working together to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations of county residents. Some selected cooperative activities are briefly described below and indicate the interest in and extent of community involvement in Montgomery County.

Business/Economic Development

New River Valley Economic Development Alliance
Economic development and government leaders in the New River Valley generated and sustain a major valley-wide effort to create a regional economic development marketing organization. Responsible for bringing economic development prospects to the New River Valley, the Alliance recruits industry locations for the counties of Giles, Floyd, Pulaski, and Montgomery and the city of Radford.

Montgomery Regional Economic Development Commission
The Economic Development Commission was created by the Board of Supervisors to coordinate economic development efforts among the jurisdictions, and to serve as a conduit for information exchange between organizations in the county. The thirteen appointed directors representing business and government as well as educational institutions, meet monthly for the purpose of maintaining a superior quality of life for all Montgomery County citizens.

Chambers of Commerce
The Blacksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Christiansburg and Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce have rallied community support for such efforts as the creation of the Montgomery Regional Economic Development Commission, the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance, the Montgomery County Education Foundation, and the development of recreational parks and facilities. These chambers are also co-sponsors of an annual six week intensive leadership training program, Leadership New River Valley, to identify and prepare future community leaders.

Beautification

Adopt-A-Highway
Virginia's Adopt-A-Highway program has received strong support in Montgomery County. This program seeks to control litter along primary and secondary highways by encouraging community groups to get involved and "adopt" highways - an agreement to pick up trash along a two-mile stretch of roadway at least four times a year.

Broomin' & Bloomin'
The county and two towns sponsor an annual spring cleanup called Broomin' and Bloomin.' Community volunteers help clean up public roads, rivers and streams, and other areas to improve the appearance of the county.

Huckleberry Trail
Another example of cooperative community efforts is the Huckleberry Trail. When completed the trail will connect the Blacksburg Bikeway and Walkway System to Christiansburg. The trail runs over an abandoned railroad bed, which at one time provided passenger service between Blacksburg and Christiansburg.

Education

Parent-Teacher Associations
PTA's are active in all the county schools. In addition, the County Council of PTA's shares and coordinates ideas and formulates policy guidance for the school board and the Board of Supervisors.

Gerontology Research and Education Center
Virginia Tech's Center for Gerontology, Radford University's School of Nursing, New River Community College, and Warm Hearth Village Retirement Community, have established an agreement to work together sharing research information and solicit research money for age-related issues. This cooperation between the retirement community and the three colleges and universities has several benefits. It offers a unique learning experience for students, allows Warm Hearth residents to benefit from the research and additional care givers, and provides for information sharing between other colleges and social service agencies throughout Virginia.

Volunteer Investment
Montgomery County residents participate wholeheartedly in the education of the county's children through the contributions of their time, talents and resources. Children also serve as volunteers in peer tutoring programs and as aides with multi-handicapped children. The Educational Partnerships program was recently initiated through the work of the area chambers of commerce and the Montgomery County Education Foundation to encourage long-term relationships between local businesses and industries and the schools. Literacy Volunteers of America, New River Valley Chapter, is very active in this area to assist adults in overcoming functional illiteracy.

Human Services

County Human Service Commission
This commission provides opportunities for all public and private agencies to share resources and identifies gaps in services for Montgomery County citizens.

Volunteer Action Center
The purpose of the Volunteer Action Center of Montgomery County, Inc. is to increase public awareness and involvement in community service activities. The center also provides support and technical assistance for new and existing volunteer programs. Services offered by the Volunteer Action Center include training for volunteer program coordinators, consultations on program development, a transportation program, Christmas parties for underprivileged children, and The Youth Action Program, a summer volunteer program for ages 11-18.

United Way of Montgomery County and Radford
The United Way of Montgomery County and Radford responds to the needs of the community through 32 partner agencies which provide adult companionship, medical services, safe homes for disadvantaged children, housing to poverty level families, growth opportunities for persons with mental retardation, and safety for battered women.

Other organizations launched by local citizen action groups include: Blacksburg Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, Friends of the Library, Homeless Intervention Program, Humane Society, Self Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE), Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and the Wildlife Shelter.

Montgomery County Christmas Store
The Montgomery County Christmas Store is one of the best examples of a county-wide community effort. The store requires months of planning and volunteer work and provides a means for low income families to have a nice Christmas. New clothing, household items, toys, and food are donated and exhibited in a store atmosphere where low income families shop by spending points (determined by income level) for what they need most.

Organizations

Some of the many civic, social, and professional organizations active in Montgomery County are listed below and indicate the diversity of interests in this area.