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Creating a sustainable, smart, and creative community-led vision
 to further enhance 
historic downtown Galax

Plan Renderings

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Galax Grove
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Galax Grove - Grayson Street Stage
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Rex Lane
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Mixed Use Development

Plan purpose 

To create a community-led, 15-year vision that will guide future development in the historic downtown district of the City of Galax.

The Action Plan is led by the City of Galax and the Galax Main Street organization with funding from the Virginia Main Street Program.

Through a community listening process, the Plan will establish a shared community mission and vision for the downtown Main Street organization. In addition, specific projects, enhancements, and priorities will be established in accordance with community direction. Grants and other sources of funding will be identified to help implement transformative projects.

This shared vision will ultimately increase the social and economic vitality of downtown, help grow the visitor economy, further create a “sense of place”, and improve quality of life for local residents.

Plan Goals

Assets

Inventory quality-of-life assets and buildings within the historic downtown district and evaluate their current condition and ability to create a sense of place, drive economic development, and provide a quality experience for all.

Partners

Engage government, the public, and community leaders to identify projects currently being planned and developed that will enhance quality of life for locals and visitors.

Gaps

Identify new, compelling infrastructure projects to enhance quality of life, promote the downtown economy, create a sense of place, and drive private investment.

Unity

Identify projects that also help achieve broader community goals, such as connecting downtown to outdoor recreation assets, maximizing the local art and music talents, linking past with present and future, and sustainable development.

Visual

Create a 15-year Action Plan that generates community interest and casts an inspiring vision by creating compelling renderings, site master plans, 3-D illustrations, and other graphics to effectively communicate recommendations.

Strategy

Provide the steering committee and their partners with clear strategies and a prioritization schedule for implementing the plan recommendations.

Plan Process

01

Research and Preliminary Analysis

The consultant team will conduct a direction-setting meeting with the steering committee to discuss key opportunities and constraints, develop a database of existing downtown assets, and assess existing resources and assets.

02

Stakeholder and Public Engagement

Conduct a series of interviews and focus groups with government and community leaders. Disseminate an online community survey to capture input from citizens. Produce a project website that serves as a portal for sharing information throughout the planning process.

03

Plan Development

With guidance from the steering committee, stakeholders, and citizens, the consultant team will create a plan framework that features preliminary recommendations for improving and expanding quality-of-life assets. The consultant team will then conduct another round of public engagement.

04

Final Plan

The final 15-year Action Plan will include all recommendations, a phasing schedule, an estimate of probable cost, and an outline of grant funding sources. Copies of the plan will be available for the public to view on the project website.

Project Coordinator:

Hailey Ryan
City of Galax
Main Street Director
276-237-6935
mainstreet@galaxva.com

Consultant:

Eric Woolridge
President, Principal Planner
Destination by Design
(828) 386-1866
eric@dbdplanning.com

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Focuses on building a strong foundation for the program by fostering partnerships, securing funding, and engaging the community. This committee works to recruit volunteers, build relationships, and promote the mission of Main Street.
Responsible for marketing the downtown district to residents, visitors, and investors. This includes organizing events, developing a brand identity, and highlighting the area's unique assets to drive foot traffic and community pride.
Enhances the physical appearance of the downtown through building improvements, streetscape enhancements, public art, and historic preservation. The goal is to create an attractive, welcoming environment that reflects the community’s character.
Strengthens and diversifies the local economy by supporting existing businesses, recruiting new ones, and encouraging investment. This committee also focuses on market analysis, business retention, and property development.

Board of Directors, President

Position Summary:
The Board President serves as the chief VOLUNTEER leader of Downtown Galax Grows, responsible for ensuring the Board of Directors functions effectively, collaboratively, and in alignment with the organization's mission. The President provides leadership to the board, builds strong relationships with stakeholders, and supports the Executive Director and committees to achieve strategic goals. This is an unpaid VOLUNTEER position with a 501(c)(3) organization.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit, civic, or community-based setting.
- Strong organizational, communication, and facilitation skills.
- Passion for community development, downtown revitalization, or local entrepreneurship.
- Ability to build consensus, motivate volunteers, and guide diverse groups toward shared goals.
- Familiarity with Galax and the surrounding region is a plus.

Board of Directors, Secretary

Position Summary:
The Board Secretary is a key officer of the Downtown Galax Grows Board of Directors, responsible for ensuring that accurate and timely documentation of board activities is maintained. This role supports organizational transparency, compliance, and communication by managing records, meeting minutes, and official correspondence. This is an unpaid VOLUNTEER position with a 501(c)(3) organization.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong organizational and written communication skills.
- Experience with meeting facilitation, minute-taking, or administrative support (nonprofit or civic board experience a plus).
- Attention to detail and ability to manage deadlines.
- Comfortable using shared digital tools (Google Drive, email, basic spreadsheets or docs).
- Commitment to the mission of Downtown Galax Grows and to community involvement.

Apply Here