The New River Valley Regional Commission (NRVRC) recently announced Montgomery County Administrator Craig Meadows as a recipient of the 2021 Champion of the Valley award, along with Lydeana Martin of Floyd County. The NRVRC also awarded Dr. Noelle Bissell, New River Health District, and Chief Anthony Wilson, Blacksburg Police Department, as Heroes of the Valley; and recognized Shelley Fortier, Habitat for Humanity of the NRV, and John Dooley, Virginia Tech Foundation, as Citizens of the Valley. Pictured here are Kevin Byrd, NRVRC Executive Director; Dooley; Meadows; Martin; Fortier; Bissell; Wilson; and NRVRC Chair, Michael Maslaney. This photo is courtesy of the NRVRC.
As Montgomery County Administrator since August 2009, Meadows has led the county through significant growth and even a few tragic events with grace and strength. He has facilitated over 20 new construction and renovation projects in our community to address education, public safety, recreation and key infrastructure needs. He also continues to focus on economic development and growing and expanding existing businesses in our community.
Meadows has been involved in several regional organizations and initiatives over the years that have had a significant impact on our community. He helped establish and continues to support the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority with the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Montgomery County, and Virginia Tech. In addition, he worked with his counterparts in the Roanoke Valley to organize an unprecedented regional forum in the summer of 2019 for government, university, and healthcare leaders to open a dialogue about how localities can be part of the planning and anticipated growth of Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech. He also helped to facilitate a regional conversation surrounding a possible trail system connecting the Roanoke and New River Valleys. All of these activities have increased exposure and efficiency for each locality and greatly expanded and improved services to citizens throughout the region.
Currently, Meadows serves in leadership roles on the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority; the New River Valley Regional Water Authority; the New River Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board; the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority; the Montgomery County Economic Development Authority; the Montgomery Regional Tourism Board; the Montgomery County Public Service Authority; the Greater Montgomery Liaison Group and County/School Liaison Group; and the Fire and Rescue Commission. In addition to his local service, Meadows serves in leadership roles with state and national organizations to include the Virginia Association of Counties; the Virginia Local Government Management Association; and the International City/County Management Association.
In addition, Craig has had an active role on the New River Valley Regional Public Health Task Force since its inception in March of 2020. The New River Valley Public Health Task Force is a regional collaboration of community leaders to include public and private health officials, first responders, educational leaders, and local government representatives who have been working together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since joining Montgomery County, Meadows has been and continues to be a true Champion of the New River Valley.
To learn more about the NRVRC, visit https://nrvrc.org/.