Partnership for Progress, a collaborative initiative addressing shared challenges and opportunities in the New River Valley is inviting community members to provide input through an online survey.

The initiative, which includes representatives from Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Virginia Tech, and the New River Valley Regional Commission, has announced a survey on a new website, www.partnershipforprogress.org. 

The survey asks for perspectives on local topics such as housing cost and availability, employment, healthcare, transportation, recreation, and cultural amenities. The project’s steering committee will use information from the survey, community interviews, and focus groups to shape recommendations on how members of the Partnership can respond to the community’s shared challenges and opportunities.

"This is an exciting time for the initiative, as we move this important work into our communities," said Tanya Hockett, Partnership for Progress Steering Committee and Christiansburg Town Council member. "I encourage everyone to take the survey and help us understand our shared priorities."

Survey results and other initiative updates will be shared on the Partnership for Progress web page, where visitors can also subscribe to receive updates on news and events.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the survey results and sharing them with our residents," said Michael Sutphin, member of the steering committee and Blacksburg Town Council. "Transparency and public engagement are essential for our success."

The collaborative effort of Partnership for Progress aims to create a visionary, actionable roadmap for the region’s future by addressing shared challenges and opportunities in parts of the New River Valley. That includes housing availability and affordability, recruiting and retaining talent, including teachers and childcare providers, growing and retaining new businesses, and improving the quality of life across the region. Its steering committee includes representatives from the Town of Blacksburg, Town of Christiansburg, Montgomery County, New River Valley Regional Commission, Virginia Tech, the region’s business community, non-profit and economic development organizations, and K-12 education.

The survey will be open until mid-February. For additional information, email the Partnership for Progress project team at p4p@linkpsp.com.