History and Mission

Our Mission: Tazewell Today is a local initiative to revitalize the Tazewell Main Street community. Our mission is to develop a warm, welcoming center that represents the heart of Tazewell and attracts residents and tourists alike through shopping, dining, working, and playing opportunities. We strive to nurture and share the natural scenic beauty inherent to our town. We plan to restore and maintain the historic landscape of Main Street as a local attraction to engender a thriving commercial and civic area for all to enjoy. ​ Tazewell Today, Then: On September 30th, 2014, residents of The Town of Tazewell began to focus on the Main Street corridor. The initial interest meeting during the Fall of 2014 generated an attendance of over 50 people, and the effort was launched. Local leadership quickly earned the endorsement of local government officials and the support of business owners and landowners on Main Street. The group formed its organization based on the guidance and structure of the National Main Street Center, dividing its effort into four focus areas guided by Main Street Fundamentals. ​ Main Street Fundamentals: The Main Street Approach is centered around Transformation Strategies. A Transformation Strategy articulates a focused, deliberate path to revitalizing or strengthening a downtown or commercial district’s economy. A program’s work on Transformation Strategies should be organized around the Four Points: Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization. A revitalization program’s work and Transformation Strategies must be informed by a solid understanding of local and regional market data and sustained and inclusive community engagement. ​ Main Street America: Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 40 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, that share a commitment to place and building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Tazewell Today, Now: Our efforts paid off. In 2020, Tazewell was named an accredited Virginia Main Street community and has maintained accreditation since then. We have an active Board of Directors and committees. Everyone is invited to participate, whether volunteering at an event or participating in a committee. Without our voluntary board member and member program, we would not have a flourishing organization at Tazewell Today. Our organization's expectations for the year and accolades determine our annual designation as a Virginia Main Street community. This designation allows us to access tens of thousands of dollars in grants with the Virginia Main Street program. In the years following, it could lead to millions of dollars in grant funding. Tazewell Today is currently fully accredited with Virginia Main Street. To maintain our accreditation, we will be evaluated yearly with a report that scores us based on our district’s progress. Tazewell Today Inc. is connected to a community of networks and leaders who help facilitate growth and guidance in our organization. Many players are involved through Virginia Main Street; out board and executive director meet many of these individuals through mandatory meetings throughout the year—specifically, Tazewell Today’s liaison with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD has an individual designated to the Southwest District of Virginia, including many towns along the Clinch River. DHCD has a wealth of information; our primary communication is through this individual. They let their network know how well or poorly we are doing. They point us in the right direction and help us find grant money that benefits our Main Street most effectively.    DHCD Requirements: Employ an Executive Director Work within the Main Street boundary as defined by DHCD Submit Quarterly and Monthly reports to National Main Street Maintain a 501(c)3 Maintain an independent, active volunteer Board of Directors representing downtown stakeholders and the broader community for overseeing the vision, direction, and activities of Tazewell Today Sustainable program funding Continue local program volunteer and staff development in Main Street Approach by attending training as provided by the Virginia Main Street and National Main Street Center Maintain a historic preservation ethic Signed Memorandum of Understanding with DHCD and at least one local government. Incorporate Administrative Systems and Structures Create an annual Budget and Work Plan Complete Annual Bonanza Report with DHCD