Page 47 - High Knob Master Plan

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Establish strategies to leverage regional outdoor resources for business and economic development by connecting to Friends of Southwest Virginia, Opportunity SWVA, local communities and other partner agencies.
1. Compile a Regional Business Wishlist- Use the updated market research to identify region-wide businesses opportunities. This would be part of a coordinated development strategy to help recruit target businesses to the appropriate gateway communities, limit competition between towns, and connect regional offerings that better meet the needs of the market.
2. Expand Lodging Offerings Throughout Region- Coordinate efforts among communities, businesses and property owners to collectively market non-traditional lodging opportunities on sharing platforms like HomeAway and Airbnb. Create start-up manuals and management guidance to encourage the private sector to develop lodging product.
3. Consider Pitch Lodging Incubation- Create a strategy to grow pop- up lodging solutions. Similar to pop-up retail, establish lodging infrastructure that could be mobile through multiple communities. Identify grants through High Knob Regional Initiative (HKRI) and Opportunity SWVA to purchase mobile lodging such as trailers, shastas, yurts, etc. to share across the region.
4. Develop a Hospitality Training Program- Brand a unified hospitality strategy called the “High Knob Welcome” to build customer service programming and tourism readiness tools. Model this tourism readiness assessment similar to Abingdon CVB’s method of identifying destination and business needs based on staffing, signage, seasonality, pricing, etc.
5. Consider “Venture-UP” Entrepreneurial Challenge- Partner to implement an outdoor entrepreneur challenge geared towards recreation-based businesses. The effort could be modeled after other programs such as Rally SWVA, with a focus on business planning and training for outdoor businesses. It could be coordinated through UVA Wise and Mountain Empire Community College.
6. Pursue Funding and Risk Mitigation- HKRI could also partner with Opportunity SWVA to provide business training and startup funding strategies through its Rally SWVA and KIVA programs.
7. Establish Tourism Zones- Consider opportunities to establish tourism business development zones in localities within the region as allowed by state statutes, offering business tax credits and deductions to tourism-related and outdoor businesses. Communities establishing tourism zones would need to adopt a Tourism Zone ordinance.
High Knob Welcome Hospitality & Tourism Readiness
Venture UP
Outdoor Entrepreneur Program
HIGH KNOB REGIONAL INITIATIVE
CHAPTER 7: THE HIGH KNOB BRAND 47
PITCH Pop-up Lodging