The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for the Lynchburg community, our country and the rest of the world. One thing that has been proven true, however, is the ingenuity and resilience of Lynchburg’s citizens, its businesses and its workers. To celebrate that resilience, the Office of Economic Development & Tourism for the City of Lynchburg will be celebrating three commemorative events throughout the first week of May that revolve around economic development, local business and tourism.
The Week of Extra Appreciation
This year, National Economic Development Week will occur on May 4-9, and National Travel & Tourism Week will occur on May 3-9. The Office of Economic Development & Tourism (OEDT) is combining these into what they are branding the Week of Extra Appreciation. Additionally, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has postponed National Small Business Week, which was also supposed to occur May 4-9, but the OEDT has decided to celebrate anyway. During the week of May 3-9, the OEDT is inviting every member of the community to help them thank and support Lynchburg’s businesses, which sustain the local economy and help make Lynchburg the best small city in America.
“This time of COVID-19 has been so hard on our Lynchburg businesses that we want to take this time to show them a little love and appreciation,” said Marjette Upshur, Director, Office of Economic Development & Tourism of the City of Lynchburg. “We are taking this moment during National Economic Development and Travel & Tourism Week to let our citizens know how important the business community is to the well-being of our local economy and inviting residents to find a way to support at least one local business during this week.”
Organized by the International Economic Development Council, the purpose of National Economic Development Week is to raise awareness of local economies and businesses and how they provide jobs, livelihoods and career advancement opportunities for members of the community. National Travel & Tourism Week is managed by the U.S. Travel Association to celebrate the Spirit of Travel by educating the public about how tourism helps local businesses and economies and promotes personal well-being.
A Virtual Thank You!
Ordinarily, these commemorative weeks would involve in-person visits and events, but it’s necessary now to take these celebrations and thank-yous online. Therefore, the Lynchburg OEDT will be launching an internet campaign dedicated to acknowledging the hard work of economic leaders in Lynchburg and thanking local business owners for all that they do for the community. Residents, local businesses and stakeholders are welcome and encouraged to join in the celebration!
During this week, the City of Lynchburg will have several special events. These include, but will not be limited to:
- A special proclamation from Mayor Treney Tweedy about the importance of economic development and tourism to the local economy.
- The launch of the “I AM Lynchburg” Ambassador Program, which is inviting local employers and residents to become tourism advocates for the City of Lynchburg.
- A celebration of this year’s CO.STARTERS entrepreneur class participants, who are currently finishing their program virtually and will be presenting their final projects in May.
- A social media campaign dedicated to honoring specific parts of the Lynchburg economy for how they have made a difference. Follow Visit Lynchburg on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as Opportunity Lynchburg on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated!
- A celebration of the work done by the Office of Economic Development & Tourism to foster economic growth and progress and advocate for Lynchburg as a travel destination.
- Conducting check-in calls with local businesses to gauge how they are faring during the current crisis.
The Office of Economic Development & Tourism encourages the community to stay tuned and to join in showing appreciation for those who help make Lynchburg the best small city in America!