Small town, big dreams

By The Daily Progress

Published: July 27, 2008

Hats off to Dillwyn.

The Buckingham County town will not give up and accept the slow decline that is killing many small towns in Virginia.

Dillwyn has obtained $148,000 from the Virginia Department of Transporta-tion for pedestrian crosswalks and a pedestrian plaza. There’s even a new clock that plays music.

Next will come lighting, more crosswalks and sidewalk improvements.

Another $35,000 from the Virginia Department of Housing and Communi-ty Development is going toward planning and consulting costs. The first ideas generated by this process will be presented this week to town councilors, business owners and property owners.

Whatever those ideas are, they must offer useful ways to keep commerce downtown and attract more business.

Over the last few decades, commerce has moved away from small towns. Residents have moved to bigger towns and cities for work, and even people who still live in small towns or rural areas have increasingly headed for the cities for shopping.

Buckingham may be able to better capitalize on the tourist value of the Buckingham Branch railroad, which runs about 25 excursion train trips through the area each year. But if it is to survive, much less thrive, Dillwyn will have to attract and hold the business of area residents as well.

And who knows how the changing economy will affect such plans?

Sky-high transportation costs may compel more people to move toward the cities, even closer to jobs and mass transit options.

Or, if not too burdensome, transportation costs may spur a kind of renaissance in small downtowns. People who prefer small towns may be able to continue living there, while also preferring not to travel long distances for goods and services. The days of driving to Richmond or Charlottesville may be curtailed. Small-town residents may want to do more of their shopping locally, and be willing to give up the convenience of wide selection for the convenience of shorter trips.

Ironically, the two scenarios for Dillwyn’s renaissance — tourist dollars or local commerce — are somewhat at odds. Tourism depends on visitors being willing to get in their automobiles and drive some distance to enjoy the town’s offerings. Local commerce depends on residents being unwilling to get in their automobiles and drive elsewhere to enjoy some other town’s tourist or shopping attractions.

In fact, a healthy economy is not dependent on any single source of revenue. Dillwyn will need a mix of attractions to be truly successful, and will need to appeal to local residents and visitors alike.

Whatever the final plan may turn out to be, Dillwyn deserves applause for its willingness to take on a tough issue.

We wish the town every success. We’re rooting for Dillwyn not just to survive, but to thrive.