2017 Annual Report

Regional Marketing & Branding Future Projects 6. Ongoing maintenance of Southwest Virginia Mountain Brew Trail - The SWVA Mountain Brew Trail was launched in August of 2017. This initative networks 24+ breweries together across all 19 counties in Southwest Virginia. This trail will need maintenance and relationship marketing in 2018 to further develop the trail and market the breweries appropriately. • Project Status: Launched • Project Impact: SWVA region-wide impact • Project Completion Date: Ongoing development in 2018 7. Launch Southwest VirginiaWine Trail - Our organization received a grant to launch a SWVA Wine Trail in 2018. This project will be similar to the beer trail with promotional materials, website and incentive program. • Project Status: Pending • Project Impact: SWVA region-wide impact • Project Completion Date: July 2018 8. Create internal and external public relations strategy for Southwest Virginia and Friends of SWVA - Create a program to begin actively pitching Southwest Virginia and its unique assets to national and local media. • Project Status: Pending

• Project Impact: SWVA region-wide impact • Project Completion Date: December 2018

9. Events & sponsorships - Ongoing promotion of our organization and the Southwest Virginia regional brand through events and sponsorships in Southwest Virginia and surround states.

• Project Status: Pending content calendar • Project Impact: SWVA region-wide impact • Project Completion Date: December 2018