The Story So Far A Look at Danville’s

Resurgence

There is a song on Black Sabbath’s Vol.4 record called “Changes.” Ozzy Osborne sings, “I’m going through changes.” The significance of this song is in the title (and chorus). It marks a change in style for the band. It’s a heartfelt ballad where most of its songs had been sludgy, heavy metal.

It’s a beautiful song. And change can be beautiful.

Danville is going through changes, and they are shaping up to make our city more beautiful, more accessible, and more inviting.

Our revitalization story is still in its first act. The community should be excited to see where this story goes.

City’s Remarkable Resurgence Continues

It was a mild winter day in mid-January as City Manager

Ken Larking stood before state and local leaders and dozens of others from the community who had gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony for the iconic White Mill in Danville’s River District.

“Thank you so much for being here to help celebrate this exciting chapter in Danville’s story,” Larking said as he began his speech. “When I came to Danville nearly 10 years ago, I was excited to be part of a community that wanted to build something better for itself and future generations. Yes, declines in the tobacco and textile industries were a tough part of Danville’s narrative. But that was never how this story was going to end.”

As evidence, a new identify was announced that day for the White Mill, where construction is underway that will transform the structure from its original role as part of a sprawling textile operation along the Dan River into a community hub with a mixture of complementary uses including housing, office, and retail, nestled within a planned new riverfront park to be enjoyed by all.

“Dan River Falls” was unveiled as the site’s new identity. The name is a nod to Dan River Fabrics, the textile powerhouse of which the White Mill was a part; Wynne’s Falls, the name of the first settlement along the river that became Danville; and the use of the Dan River, the banks on which the mill building sits, as an economic engine.

Larking said the project is an example of a city seeing what is possible and being ready to make it happen.

“From today forward, this building will be the backdrop for a story about hope and the clearest evidence yet that Danville is experiencing a remarkable resurgence,” he said.

Also, consider the following events and activities (to name a few):

• Economic development: In 2022, the community celebrated the opening of the AeroFarms Danville facility, which the company says is the world’s largest aeroponic smart farm. The Center for Manufacturing Advancement opened and will drive innovation in manufacturing, including automation, robotics, and information technology. The U.S. Navy launched its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence to develop new technology for submarine and aircraft parts. Also, the expansion of an accelerated training program for defense manufacturing was revealed. In 2023, Engineered BioPharmaceuticals has announced it will expand its pharmaceutical engineering and manufacturing operation in Danville. Construction continues at the Tyson Foods facility outside Danville, and it will open later this year, creating 400 jobs. Also, the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill, which is located just west of the city limits and is the state’s largest megasite, is positioned for its first tenant.

• Resort casino: Hiring is underway by Caesars Virginia for its resort casino that will open in late 2024 at the former Dan River Mills site in the city’s Schoolfield neighborhood. Caesars is looking to fill hundreds of positions. The company plans to open a temporary casino at the Schoolfield site by the middle of the year.

• Tourism: Efforts continue to tap the city and region’s full tourism potential to promote existing tourism assets such as area racetracks, Smith Mountain Lake, the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex, and when it opens, the resort casino. Additional staff are being, and in May, the Danville Office of Economic Development and Tourism will unveil a tourism brand for the community, and launch a tourism website and social media accounts.

• Recreational opportunities: Construction will soon begin on a new riverfront park downtown that will include playgrounds, a main lawn area for events and concerts, a pier overlook that extends onto the river, and a splash pad fountain. Proposals are being solicited to convert the former Dan River Mills bridge into a pedestrian bridge that would tie into the redevelopment of the White Mill building and the planned riverfront park. A splash pad is under construction off North Main Street, with construction soon to begin on a splash pad at Doyle Thomas Park on the south side, and later this year, on a splash pad at Ballou Park. Finally, the “Heart the Park” campaign continues to engage citizens on ways to improve neighborhood parks throughout the city, and Parks and Recreation staff continue to maintain three regional parks and the nearly 12-mile paved Riverwalk Trail.

• Public schools: In 2021, Danville voters approved a 1% sales tax increase to pay for school construction projects that will define the school system for the next 50 years. That work is underway and includes renovations at George Washington High School, a new G.L.H. Johnson Elementary School, and later down the road, renovations at John M. Langston School. Also, renovations are almost complete for the track at George Washington High School.

• Electric substation upgrades: Danville Utilities continues to aggressively upgrade its electric substations in the city and county to increase reliability and reduce outages. The new equipment will last for 30-plus years. In 2022, an upgrade was completed at the Westover substation in Danville. In 2021, the Kentuck and Whitmell substations in Pittsylvania County were upgraded. In 2020, the Riverside and Schoolfield substations in Danville were upgraded. This year, Danville Utilities will complete an upgrade to the Southside substation in Danville, and begin an upgrade to the Airside substation in Danville, expand the West Fork substation in the Brosville community, and build new substations for the Cyber Park and resort casino. The West Fork expansion will add a fourth delivery point from Appalachian Power.

So, while the groundbreaking ceremony for the former While Mill, now “Dan River Falls,” provided the first opportunity to celebrate in 2023, many more opportunities lie ahead.

In the words of Mayor Alonzo Jones, “This is going to be one of the most exciting years that the city of Danville, I believe, has ever seen.”

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Danville Public Schools: Focused on Investing in Bright Futures

For Danville Public Schools, the past two years have been productive as we continue the work to improve our school division. We are focusing on creating an environment that leads to the success of all students academically, socially, and emotionally, and we are looking forward to many exciting developments for our division in the future.

In recent years, we have introduced exciting new programming, such as our I.W. Taylor Virtual Academy and our Early College Program. Earlier this year, we announced new and reimagined STEM and Career programming. This includes added career exploration at every grade level K-12, as well as the Activ8 STEM and Career Academy for grades 3-5 for a deeper dive into these concepts. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, this STEMfocused program will provide students with an intensive, integrated approach to science, English/language arts, mathematics, and social studies. Additionally, students will explore career opportunities and career skills through local partnerships. Through hands-on learning, students will be able to investigate the world around them in order to make connections to life outside of the school walls. Our mission is to provide the building blocks to support the development of 21st-century global citizens that are criticalthinking problem-solvers.

In addition, DPS announced reimagined career academies, which organizes new and existing Career and Technical programs into Academies and associated pathways for students to follow as they continue into middle and high school. The Innov8 STEM and Career Academy, planned for 2025 at the renovated Langston campus, will provide a state-of-the-art laboratory facility for middle school students so they can further explore STEM and career pathways.

One of the most significant and exciting achievements for our district over the past few years was the passing of the one-percent sales tax, and the accompanying bond referendum, to go towards school construction needs. The November 2021 election results showed that approximately 60 percent of Danville voters backed the sales tax.

To date, DPS has received $127 million in bonds, which will be paid back with the sales tax, to go towards construction and renovation projects, including George Washington High School (GW). Beginning in April, renovations to GW will include improvements to the Career and Technical Education building, the media center, gymnasium spaces, athletic fields, classrooms, technology infrastructure, and more.

A new elementary school will also be constructed on the same property as the current G. L. H. Johnson Elementary School, and the J. M. Langston Campus will be renovated to allow for the relocation of Galileo Magnet High School, as well as the central office.

In addition, the GW track, which has been under construction since March 2022, is expected to be complete by May 2023. This 8-lane NCAA certified track and field facility will be home to the GW, Galileo, and Averett University track programs.

As we continue this important work to transform our school division, we appreciate the community’s partnership and support. We are looking forward to even more growth and milestones to celebrate.

Danville Parks and Recreation: Our Parks Are Getting More Playful

Danville Parks and Recreation is celebrating recent accomplishments and future activities in 2023 and beyond. The department is groundbreaking on several projects and preparing plans and funding for more improvements to the park system in the upcoming years. Third Avenue Park is now under construction. Its splash pad will be the first in Danville and will come with a new playground, restroom facility, and parking lot. Doyle Thomas Park is going through similar renovations and will be updated with a splash pad this year as well. Ballou Park is also slated to host a large-scale splash pad and is in the design process now.

Danville’s newest regional park, Riverfront Park, will break ground this spring. In the River District and adjacent to the Dan River, the park will include an event space, otter play feature, splash area, small stage, connection to the Riverwalk Trail, kayak launch, and parking.

Westmoreland Neighborhood Park is also breaking ground this year. For over five years, residents have been working with local organizations, the City, and other community partners to design and fundraise for the park. Their hard work has laid the groundwork for how others in the community can advocate for a new park and work with Danville Parks and Recreation to align their vision with existing park plans and capacity. Westmoreland residents continue to fundraise as they work towards completing later phases of park implementation.

Many existing neighborhood parks are tagged for improvement and last year, Doyle Thomas Park, Pumpkin Creek Park, and Coates Park went through a residentled design process. Residents played a leading role in identifying park strengths and weaknesses, envisioning ways in which the park could support their community, and choosing specific amenities and design elements that were formally drawn into plans. This year, the process will continue with three different parks: Camilla Williams Park, Camp Grove Park, and Cedar Brook Park. The department will continue to work alongside community partners and residents to implement and support last year’s designs.

All neighborhood park projects are part of a plan that resulted from the 2021 Neighborhood Park Evaluation. The evaluation included data about parks’ usage, meaning, and potential for development, with much of the information coming directly from residents living in areas around the parks and attending park and community events. As Danville Parks and Recreation implements the plan, they are working with local partners to build a widespread network of Park Ambassadors and Neighborhood Park Groups that Continued to Page 14

Continued from Page 13 will continue to make a difference in their communities through park activities.

Danville Parks and Recreation is excited about what the future holds for the Danville community in the way of parks and recreational amenities. Those wishing to join the Park Ambassador program or assist in park planning efforts can contact Dr. Stephanie Lovely at stephanie. lovely@danvilleva.gov. Danville Parks and Recreation also continues to offer programming and events for all ages to those living in and around Danville. For all information on available programming and how to receive the Play Danville VA magazine via mail or email, contact Brittney Ham at hambn@danvilleva.gov.

The River District:

Downtown Living is Getting Cozier

In the Main Street revitalization community, we often say that a city’s downtown is it’s “living room.” When vibrant and alive, it is where the community spends time together, entertains guests, and where residents feel a shared sense of belonging.

Danville’s transformation into the “Comeback City” began in 2009 when a developer visited and seeing an empty, neglected downtown. He left without even considering investing, saying, “If the community is not investing in itself, why would anyone else?” Danville took this message to heart and began to invest in Danville’s River District, the community’s “living room” remodeling it into a space people want to be.

The River District’s transformation into a busy, welcoming downtown is the result of steady, dedicated work by many. Since 2010, the River District has seen $50 million in public investment, $252 million in private investment and almost 1,200 residential spaces downtown that maintain 100% occupancy. A myriad of organizational partners have laid the groundwork to prioritize revitalization through innovation and historic preservation. Among many, this includes the City of Danville, The Danville Regional Foundation, RDA, and most significantly, the businesses who took the risk to invest in the River District, and community members who have decided to be proud of Danville; to work, play and live at HOME.

In 2022, the River District Association was recognized for their work in the River District by becoming one of 8 semi-finalists for the Great American Main Street Award, a national appreciation of excellence in revitalization work. Three winners will be announced at the 2023 National Main Street Now Conference in March, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Because of the strong foundation built by many organizational partners and despite economic challenges and a global pandemic, today if you walk down Main Street or Craghead Street in the River District, you see people walking, shopping, eating and enjoying themselves. In the past 5 years, 60 new businesses have opened in the River District, 17 in 2022 alone. RDA is proud to have contributed to the resurgence of life in the River District. To date, RDA’s Dream Launch Bootcamp has educated 400 entrepreneurs in how to successfully set up and run a business in our region. RDA’s IGNITE Pitch (formerly Dream Launch Pitch) has awarded $375,000 in start-up funds to 18 new businesses. Existing River District businesses were supported through $45,000 in GET Boosted grants, a grant designed to give them a chance to try a new idea, product, or equipment to help boost business. A new program, Start-

Up Slam, modeled after a poetry slam, is a fun communityoriented event where people share a meal, share creative business ideas, and network with other creatives. To date, $141,000 in Façade Improvement Grants have been awarded to River District businesses.

The River District Association looks forward with renewed excitement to the year ahead; a new year with new businesses, new partners, new collaboration and, most importantly, the continued success of Danville, “The Comeback City.”

For more information on the River District Association, visit www.riverdistrictassociation.com.

Credits: City’s Remarkable Resurgence Continues written by Arnold Hendrix, Public Information Officer, City of Danville. Danville Public Schools written by Laney Davis. Danville Parks and Recreation written by Brittney Ham and Dr. Stephanie Lovely. The River District written by Kirsten Aherron, RDA Communications and Events Manager. Renderings provided by Caesars Entertainment, Dan River Falls, Dewberry, and Mcgill.

Hello, I’m Steve Heatherly, and I am thrilled to join the Sovah Health family as Market President and CEO of Sovah Health - Danville.

There were many factors that drew me to Sovah and this community. Chief among them was a philosophy I sensed that recognizes and celebrates a rich history coupled with a forward-thinking and innovative culture. In addition, the diversity that exists here is a strength to be leveraged. Diverse backgrounds and perspectives drive innovation. Different experiences, backgrounds and beliefs, brought together, create an environment in which collaborative innovation can occur. I have seen all of these elements present in this community as I have started my work at Sovah Health and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

My commitment, on behalf of Sovah Health, is to engage with the community and our stakeholders to live out our mission of making communities healthier. Hospitals in rural communities should be central to community life and I look forward to working with our staff, Medical Staff, leadership and community partners to make sure that is the case for Sovah Health and this community. I am grateful for how I have been welcomed here. Each day, I see kindness, care and compassion, inside the hospital and throughout the community. A hospital’s mission is not accomplished through buildings and equipment but, rather, through people who work together in striving to meet the needs of every single patient we have the honor of serving. In that regard, there is a great foundation upon which to build at Sovah Health.

As we look to the future, 2023 will be a year of exciting change at Sovah Health – Danville as we launch three projects aimed at enhancing our ability to serve our community. First, we will start a complete renovation of our emergency department that will create more space and deploy better technology, enabling our talented staff to care for patients in a better environment. Second, we will update our cardiac catheterization technology to continue to be the region’s leader in cardiac care. Finally, we will replace the linear accelerator in our radiation therapy center, which will allow more people to receive the cancer care they need in their own community. These enhancements, coupled with a focus on recruiting new physicians and advanced practitioners to our community will position our hospital to serve more patients close to home, lessening the burden of travel and enabling family members to more fully participate in the care process. Understand that our focus on and commitment to growth is about eliminating barriers for people to receive the care they need in their local community.

As the new Market President of Sovah Health, it is my honor to work alongside a talented team with a singular focus – to serve each person in our community as if they are the person who we love the most, building upon a rich history of caring. I am excited to be here and thank you for allowing me to be a part of the journey that lies ahead.