In the wake of the 2008 recession, Marion, VA’s historic downtown was suddenly in deep trouble.

For the previous 14 years, Marion (pop. 5,016 in 2019) had been making steady progress. The upswing began in the mid-1990s when local business owners hired Marion native Ken Heath as the town’s first Main Street director. Ken guided streetscape renovations and helped inspire an arts revival that saw the old high school evolve into a thriving downtown arts center. In 2004, after a long citizen-led effort, downtown Marion welcomed the reopening of its historic Lincoln Theater.

Pulaski’s jobs were scarce, and its economy was faltering. Enter two men who saw potential: David Hagan and Steve Critchfield. David bought the Pulaski Yankees in 2014, refurbished Calfee Park, and turned an old warehouse into the popular Jackson Park Inn. Steve saw a beautiful town with dilapidated homes and blighted commercial spaces, yet very unique architecture. He mentored a group of millennials and together they formed West Main Development. They renovated the town’s buildings using initial construction loans, special financing from Virginia Housing, private and community investment, and historic tax credits.