By Eleanor Kennedy
Lynchburg economic development officials launched a new website this week designed to offer current and prospective business owners a centralized source for a wide range of economic information.
“It was very much a response to a request from the business community that we don’t have a single aggregated resource for business services throughout the Lynchburg area,” said Brian Gleason, economic development coordinator for the city.
Content at opportunitylynchburg.com ranges from commercial real estate listings and data on the area’s median incomes to information on various economic incentives offered to business relocating here. The site was developed by the city’s Office of Economic Development and the Lynchburg Economic Development Authority
While building the site, Gleason said, the organizations used input and feedback from local business owners to include the information they wanted most. Since launching Monday, Gleason said they already have received suggestions for content to add, including requests for job postings and information for nonprofits.
“It’s intended to be dynamic, so it’s going to be hopefully constantly shifting to address the business needs in the community,” he said. “That’s what this site is intended to do.”
Gleason said the website will highlight programs not only coordinated by his office, but by other area organizations connected to economic development. One of its goals, he said, is to “break down the silos” in the Lynchburg business world.
“We’re just as happy to promote the city of Lynchburg and our services as we are to promote the chamber, and the business development association and Region 2000,” he said.