“The effort is called “Livable Roanoke Valley,” the latest initiative designed to gather and collate opinions on what people in the Roanoke Valley want to see done in order to make the area a better place to live, work and play. What’s different this time said Jake Gilmer, Project Manager for Livable Roanoke Valley, is that for the first time “a regionally coordinated plan of this fashion very much focused on issues of livability” may result.

Promoting greater economic opportunity and a greater quality of life is the goal; Gilmer looks for follow-up public meetings in the months ahead as the input gathered is fashioned into a plan and perhaps a final document in the next year or so. More than 50 organizations, including local governments, nonprofits, businesses and educational institutions are already involved in the effort.” – The Roanoke Star