We are pleased to report that The Center for Rural Virginia (The Center) continues to build on recent successes and had a very impactful year. It has been an exciting time for our organization as we completed the second year of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) and congratulated 28 graduates who went onto complete their community impact projects within their respective rural communities. VRLI is the Commonwealth’s first and only leadership program that was created by the Center with the goal of retaining and attracting the best and brightest in our rural communities.

In addition to the launch of VRLI, the Center continued to serve as an educator, convener and facilitator of programs and initiatives that work towards making our rural communities thrive. The Executive Director at the Center continues to serve as statewide spokesperson on issues pertaining to Rural Virginia. In addition to her duties of running the organization, the Executive Director continues to place a large focus on fundraising to ensure that the Center’s programming can move forward, including VRLI.

This past year the Center celebrated many successes, including the graduating class of 2023 Virginia Rural Leadership Institute, the 2023 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity in Blackstone, the 2023 Rural Caucus Reception, and served as staff to host and organize regular meetings of the Virginia General Assembly Rural Caucus during the 2023 General Assembly session.

The Center remains committed to serving as a leader in retaining and attracting our best and brightest in rural Virginia, promoting rural economic development opportunities, helping create innovative workforce solutions, promoting broadband deployment, and ensuring that small businesses have an opportunity to thrive in our small and rural towns.

Enclosed in this report, you will find a summary of the Center’s activities throughout this operating year. It has been a privilege to work and meet with many of our rural friends as we traveled around the state visiting rural communities throughout Virginia. We sincerely appreciate the dedication and hard work from The Board of Directors at the Center for Rural Virginia. We are grateful to have an incredible Board of Trustees that care deeply about the success of rural Virginia and remain dedicated to ensuring the Center’s success.

Warm regards,

/s/ Kristie Helmick Proctor
Executive Director