Reimagine Chatham homepage.

A Perspective

The consultant contract is effective as of Monday, April 29. As we move into the real meat of this Growth and Renewal effort, now is a good time to step back and look at the forest rather than the trees. I want us to remind ourselves why we are doing this and what is at stake.

The development of a growth and renewal plan for the town and adjacent areas, hopefully with broad community input, is the goal. But within that goal lies the real promise of this effort. It is under the plan that future grant opportunities await. The foundations and trusts, as well as governmental grant programs, offer the opportunity for hundreds of thousands of dollars for business and community development in both the short term and over the long haul. Other communities are leveraging these opportunities and Chatham cannot afford to be left behind. The charitable organizations have money to give, they have annual objectives for spending the funds entrusted to them. If we do not get our share, someone else will. It is just that simple.

This effort is volunteer driven and is costing the local taxpayers nothing. It is an opportunity that our community cannot allow to slip by. As a recipient of this bulletin mailing, you have indicated an interest in helping to make our community better for now and the future. By mid-May, there will be an opportunity to attend the first public input session to meet the consultants, learn more, and start sharing your thoughts on how we can collectively begin shaping the vision for Chatham’s coming years.

Joe Rogers
Chairman, Steering Committee — Reimagine Chatham

Press Release: Consultant Selected

Reimagine Chatham is pleased to announce that it has hired a design team to conduct the Growth and Renewal Study for the town and adjacent area. Funded by a grant from a local Trust, the process of picking a company to develop the plan has been underway since early February 2024.

After requesting and reviewing proposals from three qualified firms, the Steering Committee narrowed the field to two. Following face to face interviews, the committee then selected the finalist. The committee voted to contract with Hill Studio of Roanoke, Virginia in partnership with the firm Arnett Muldrow & Associates of Greenville, South Carolina. The contract will be effective on April 29 and the work is currently scheduled to take about six months to complete.

Hill Studio has been in business for 35 years and has conducted over 60 strategic and similar master plans throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Customers have ranged from cities to communities as small as Floyd, Virginia. A notable example of their work is the recent plan for Stuart, Virgina which has brought many positive changes there, including access to grant funding for local development. Arnett Muldrow is a frequent partner with Hill and, though located in South Carolina, has worked extensively in Virginia, including this region. Together, they bring capabilities and depth of experience in planning, architecture, landscape design, historic preservation, economic evaluations, business development, and strategic planning to the Reimagine Chatham effort.

In their response to the RFP issued for the work, the consultants showed a good understanding of the intent of the growth and renewal effort as well as the unique aspects and assets of Chatham. During a driving tour of the town, they described Chatham a “hidden gem” and spoke of the concepts to bring more business traffic into town, such as possible branding and signage along Highway 29. They were quick to identify many positive aspects of the town as well as areas that could benefit from improvement.

The study area is generally defined by a circle with the town in the center, extending south just past Tightsqueeze and north to the Old Dominion Agricultural Center. The first several weeks of the work will involve data gathering and familiarization with the community. Later in the study process, input from the public will be sought. People interested in keeping apprised of progress and information on public meetings can sign up at ReimagineChatham.org. A Facebook page has also been created and will be used primarily to post information and updates from the consultants as the study progresses. Public awareness and outreach efforts will be an important aspect of the study. In additional to digital media, efforts will be made to reach as many people as possible who lack access to the internet.

Minutes of Reimagine Chatham Steering Committee Meeting — April

Date: April 18, 2024

Background: With the signing of a contract with the consultant imminent, a meeting was called on short notice for those who could attend in order to begin working on Task #1, Information Gathering and Background Review. The contract is scheduled to be effective on April 29, 2024. Task one is scheduled for a duration of three weeks.

The meeting was held at Chatham Presbyterian Church and convened at 5:30 pm.

Attendees: Joe Rogers – Chairman, Dick Camp – Vice Chairman, Janet Bishop, Deborah Haymes, Donna Yeatts, Phil Mauger, Langhorne Jones.

  1. Chairman Rogers provided an update on the contract status and reason for the short-notice meeting. A copy of Task #1 data requests from the consultant was reviewed. The attendees worked through the document and discussed assignments of committee members for specific items in the request.
  2. The following assignments were made. For those not present, Joe Rogers will email them and request they work toward gathering the information identified in the email. Not everything listed in Task #1 will be available and we just need to get what we can and anything else that might be of use to the consultant. Data may be in the form of hard copies, digital files, or internet links. Info will be sent to Joe Rogers who will archive it and provide it to Phil Mauger to place on a web page accessible to the consultant but not the public (at this time).
    1. Town of Chatham – Janet Bishop will coordinate the request.
    2. Pittsylvania County – Dick Camp
    3. Planning District – Frank Fox
    4. Chatham First – John Harris
    5. Chamber of Commerce – Delilah White
    6. Local Schools – Joe Rogers
    7. Historical Society – Langhorne Jones
  3. Awareness and Outreach. – Due to the number of members present, this agenda item was not discussed and deferred to a later meeting, perhaps one involving the consultant. Phil suggested we consider have a table at one of the 4th Saturday cruise-ins. The first of the season occurs on April 27. If anyone is interested in helping staff a table there of an hour or two, please let Joe know.

Joe Rogers
Chairman, Steering Committee – Reimagine Chatham

Informational Update #2

  • As stated in our first Informational Update of March 1, 2024, Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) were sent to three well qualified firms as part of the process of hiring a consultant to conduct the Growth and Renewal Study. All three firms responded by mid-February. The consultant proposals were provided to the steering committee members for comment. Comments received were consolidated and returned to the respective firms along with other information deemed helpful, such as tasks accomplished by the steering committee that they may not be aware of. Such tasks were the development of a logo, brand, and website.
  • After receiving the final replies, the steering committee met on March 21 to make the selection. During the meeting, two firms came to the forefront but there was divided opinion on which may be the best match for our community. A decision was made to conduct face-to-face interviews with each firm.
  • Face-to-face interviews were held the first week of April. A vote was taken at the end of the week and a company was selected as the #1 candidate. Negotiations are underway with that firm as of the date shown and are expected to be completed by the end of this month. If for some reason they are not successful, negotiations will be opened with Firm #2.
  • Once a contract is in place, information on the firm will be made public through the Reimagine Chatham website, press releases and newly created Facebook page. The information will also contain a definition of the study area and a project schedule so that the community may know how the work is planned to progress.
  • Awareness and outreach remain important actions for the success of this effort. A Facebook page has been created. It will be used primarily to provide information and progress updates from the consultant as the work proceeds. The steering committee will be working with the consultant on this aspect of the project and will be developing a process to reach as many people as possible in the study area, including those who do not have internet access. Awareness and outreach efforts are intended to make as many people as possible aware of opportunities to provide input into what the community wants to see Chatham become.
  • The overall process is currently proceeding as expected. Any delays , such as a pause for the interviews, are considered time well spent because they better clarified the experience and plans of the companies being considered and gave the committee members a feel for the people they would be working with.
  • There is no specific deadline to complete this study. We expect the process to take about six or eight months after the contract is in place.

Minutes of Reimagine Chatham Steering Committee Meeting — March

Date: March 21, 2024

The meeting was held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chatham and convened at 5:30 pm.

Attendees: Joe Rogers – Chairman, Dick Camp – Vice Chairman, Frank Fox, Janet Bishop, Deborah Haymes, Delilah White, Donna Yeatts, Phil Mauger, Langhorne Jones, Marylin Waller, Anita Royston, and Dean Rogers. Margie Richardson attended as a non-voting member in place of Kell Stone. A quorum was present.

  1. Chairman Rogers welcomed latest members Anita Royston and Langhorne Jones and introduced Marylin Waller and Margie Richardson.
  2. Chairman Rogers announced that the purpose of the meeting was to vote on the selection of a consultant to conduct the growth and renewal study. He referred committee members to previous internal emails about the process and requirements for confidentiality. He again explained the process and confidentiality needs. The winning firm’s name will not be released until a contract is signed. The award amount and other firms’ names will remain confidential.
  3. Members were reminded of the procurement actions to date. Proposals were received from three firms. These were provided to committee members for review, review comments were consolidated, and the comments were provided to the firms for final proposals. The comments were accompanied by information developed by the steering committee during the proposal preparation, such as the development of ReimagineChatham.org brand and web site, a logo, and other actions that might influence their final submittal.
  4. Each member was offered the chance to comment on the responses of the three firms. After the initial comments, the field was reduced to two. Further discussion revealed that members could generally support either firm but there was a rather even divide between those who preferred either the larger firm or the smaller. In the interest of trying to obtain the best evaluation possible, the committee decided to invite each firm to provide a presentation on how they would approach the project and to participate in a question-and-answer session.
  5. Dick Camp will contact the two firms and set up possible dates for the interview sessions. Dates will be provided to the committee for comments to select the one that best suits the majority of members. The hope is to conduct the interviews within the next two weeks. The delay in the award schedule is deemed justified.

Respectfully Submitted,
Joe Rogers – Chairman

Informational Update #1

If you are reading this update, you have accessed it through ReimagineChatham.org. A summary of this local initiative is presented there. If the objectives of this initiative are achieved, the effort has the potential to provide sustained funding for grants and studies for projects to help improve our community for the betterment of everyone. Here is where the effort stands as of the first of March.

  • Background: Chatham Rotary Foundation, Chatham First, and the Rotary Club of Chatham teamed up to apply for a grant from a local Trust to develop a growth and renewal plan for Chatham and the adjacent area. The philanthropic Trust’s specifically focuses on business development and community improvement by promoting partnerships with community organizations and local government. The growth and renewal plan will be developed by a consultant expert in the process. The applicant was approved and the funding was received early this year, Then the work began. As defined in the application to the Trust, the grant will be administered by a steering committee comprised of the applicants, town of Chatham representatives, businesses, and other local interests.
  • The Plan: The plan is intended to be a roadmap toward improving the business environment and quality of life in the town and immediate area. It is not about specific projects, such a walking trail. Rather, its adoption will create an “umbrella” or Vision/ master plan, under which desired improvements and specific projects may be undertaken. In most cases, these improvements can best be brought to success by a coalition of the Town of Chatham, civic groups, local foundations and trusts, and citizen involvement. Building out the Vision will be a long-term process. However, there is reason to believe that ongoing grant funding to help support these initiatives will be supported.
  • Organizing: In late December, the organization of the steering committee began. The committee duties have been defined and staffing is essentially complete.
  • Hiring an expert: Concurrent with organizing the committee, an RFP (Request for Proposal) describing the work to be done was completed. RFP’s were provided to three qualified firms in early January 2024 and replies /proposals were been received as of mid- February. A review of the proposals is currently underway with an objective of having the committee select a firm and have them under contract by the end of March.
  • Public Information: Another critical aspect to success has begun. That aspect is public information. The success of this effort depends on broad and diverse public input. The study process will provide opportunities for obtaining public input addressing what people desire as a vision for Chatham’s future. This will be through focus groups and public meetings. It is important to understand that the plan is not the committee’s plan. The committee is simply there to administer the contract, support the independent work of the consultant, and facilitate their effort however needed.

    In addition to the current information being disseminated through the Reimagine Chatham site, posters and cards have been developed and will be distributed through local businesses, member organizations, and other means. QR codes on the posters and cards will direct people to ReimagineChatham.org , where they can sign up for email updates and progress reports, like this one. Two press releases have been issued to The Star Tribune and Danville Register and Bee. The first was published in late December and the other in late February. A diligent effort will be made to reach as many people as possible within the community. For those who lack access to the automated information, the consultant will develop a process to notify as much of the local population as possible, perhaps though a mass mailing.
  • Going Forward: Once a consultant is under contract, they will develop a study schedule and begin the data gathering necessary to develop a draft of the Growth and Renewal Plan, a collective consensus Vision for Chatham’s future.

Minutes of Reimagine Chatham Steering Committee Meeting — February

Date: February 8, 2024

Attendees: Dick Camp, Frank Fox, Janet Bishop, Deborah Haymes, Delilah White, Donna Yeatts, Phil Mauger, Joe Rogers. A quorum was present.

  1. Chairman Rogers welcomed new members Deborah Haymes and Dellah White and introduced them to other members.
  2. After a motion by Phil Mauger, seconded by Frank Fox, the minutes of the December 20, 2023 meeting and agenda for this meeting were approved.
  3. Dick Camp and Joe Rogers provided a briefing and update on actions taken to date and answered questions regarding status of the committee’s efforts. Dick explained that RFP’s had been sent to three firms and that he expected proposals from each. Proposals are due February 16, 2024. Members should anticipate a meeting being scheduled soon thereafter.
  4. Results of the input to the internal committee survey of local strengths, weaknesses, and personal “wish lists” were discussed. These are summarized in an email of February 7. Raw data will be provided to the consultant when discussing the scope of work so they may get a feel for the type of input that may be expected from a public input session. It was noted that town assets include a designated Historic District. A map was shown of the areas involved. The economic benefits for development in the historic and additional merits of having portions of town designated an Enterprise Zone, were discussed. The consultant will be asked to evaluate the merits of both. Any initiative for the designation of enterprise zoning would need to be led by the Town of Chatham.
  5. Phil Mauger briefed on the status of the web site, ReimagineChatham.org. Email lists are being developed to keep interested citizens updated on the status of the grant work. To solicit broader interest and expand the email lists, posters and cards with QR codes linking to the website were proposed. There was concurrence on Phil’s design but Delilah White recommend a few edits, which were agree to be made before printing. By a motion by Frank Fox and seconded by Donna Yates the committee authorized an expenditure of up to $250 from the administrative budget to procure the materials. One hundred posters and 2000 cards will be purchased. Further discussion needs to be held regarding how best to distribute the materials throughout the remainder of the community after the most obvious groups and locations are covered.
  6. Committee members may propose informational items pertinent to the work to be posted on the website. (For example, a related newspaper article, etc.) Articles should be sent to Joe Rogers as single contact point for screening and approval before being posted. The website is designed to inform but is not interactive in the sense of an online chat. (If anyone else would like to perform this review function, contact Joe)
  7. Joe will use the article prepared for the March edition of The Lantern and edit it for the committee’s second press release, which will be issued during February.
  8. Delilah White informed the group of a training session on racial equity being sponsored by the Danville/Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce to be held February 20 from 10 am-3:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Danville. Registration is available at the Chamber’s web site.

Joe Rogers — Chairman

Press Release #2

As announced in a press release in early January 2024, a partnership of local civic groups has received a grant from a regional trust to acquire the services of a consulting firm to conduct a study aimed at identifying initiatives for growth and renewal in Chatham and the adjacent area. The Chatham Rotary Foundation, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Chatham and Chatham First, Inc. applied for the grant in September 2023 and received notification of an award in early December. Subsequently, the effort has been branded Reimagine Chatham. This press release provides a status report on the efforts to date.

Reimagine Chatham is a collaborative effort aimed at developing the growth and renewal plan for Chatham and the adjacent area based on a broad consensus of community needs, desired improvements, and amenities. The grant is being administered by a steering committee composed of designated members of the aforementioned civic organizations plus representatives of the Town of Chatham Council and local businesses. The plan will be developed by a consulting firm expert in the subject, and the process will involve opportunities for public input to help define the community vision for the future. Once adopted, the study will serve as the basis of future initiatives to develop and implement the plan’s specific recommendations for improving the business environment and quality of life in town.

The steering committee, as presently constituted, is comprised of the following:

  • Joe Rogers, Committee Chairman – Chatham Rotary Foundation
  • Richard Camp – Vice Chairman – Chatham Rotary Foundation
  • Phil Mauger – Treasurer – Chatham Rotary Foundation
  • Frank Fox – Chatham First
  • John Harris – Chatham First
  • Donna Yeatts – Chatham Rotary Club
  • Marilyn Waller – Chatham Rotary Club
  • Langhorne Jones – Pittsylvania Historical Society
  • Janet Bishop – Town of Chatham Council
  • Irvin Perry – Town of Chatham Council
  • Dean Rogers – Local Business, Callands Coffee
  • Delilah White – Local Business – Executive Director, Off Season
  • Deborah Haymes – Local Business, Studio 29 & Pruden and Main

In mid-January 2024, Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) were sent to several firms to ascertain their interest in developing the plan. Responses to those proposals are scheduled to be received by mid-February. Responding firms will be evaluated by the committee, and the hope is to have someone under contract by early March.

As indicated, the consultant will be asked to identify initiatives focused on town growth and renewal. The consultant will evaluate the town and business environments and make recommendations to improve local quality of life. The evaluation will include pertinent elements of the Town’s 2023 Comprehensive plan. During the process, public meetings will be held to offer the opportunity for broad public input into what local citizens and businesses would like to see the town become. Simply put, the objective is to form a consensus vision for the community, specific aspects of which to be developed in the coming years. The final study, which is planned to be complete in late spring 2024, will establish as basis for future initiatives, including grant requests, dedicated toward community improvement based on the past successes of partnerships between businesses, civic groups, and the Town. This type of community teamwork is an objective of the Town’s 2023 Comprehensive Plan which established goals for the town to:

  1. Reach out to service groups to find ways to improve life in Chatham Citizens.
  2. Encourage residents to participate in the Chatham Community.

Though the process is focused on desired changes in the community, an overarching objective is to preserve local shared values, historic character, scenic beauty, and sense of community, yet sustain a prosperous and vibrant economy.

Concurrently, the steering committee is working to provide tools to promote broad community awareness of the effort. A web site has been developed and is live. The site can be found online at ReimagineChatham.org. There, anyone can find basic information on the study and sign up for periodic email updates on progress, as well as opportunities to become personally involved. Also, posters and cards will soon be available within the community. Individuals will be able to scan the QR code on these materials and be directed to the web site.

The Steering Committee believes this is a unique opportunity for our town and adjacent area. It offers a chance to transform the area in the coming years. However, they want to emphasize that this is intended to be a collaborative community-wide effort. Therefore, the committee urges citizens, businesses, civic groups, and town leaders to avail themselves of opportunities to become a part of the process, so that the final effort truly represents a broad community consensus and vision. That involvement can begin at ReimagineChatham.org.

Minutes of Growth and Renewal* Grant Steering Comittee — Organizing Meeting

Date: December 20, 2023

Attendees: Dean Rogers, Frank Fox, Irvin Perry, Phil Mauger, John Harris, Donna Yeatts, Richard Camp – Vice Chairman, Joe Rogers – Chairman. Mayor Davis attended as an observer. (See Transparency below)

  1. General – After welcoming remarks and introductions, Mr. Rogers provided a brief update on the grant process to date. Funds in the amount of $xx,xxx* have been received and deposited by Treasurer Mauger.
  2. Organizing
    1. The committee adopted a quorum. Quorum for any vote involving use of grant funds will be 50% of the permanent committee members.
    2. List of current permanent committee members was distributed. Members were asked to provide any corrections to Joe Rogers.
    3. Chairman Rogers discussed the use of email to reduce the need for meetings. Meetings will be scheduled on an as-needed basis rather than on a fixed schedule due to how the work will be phased. It was agreed that when scheduling meetings, a couple of time/date options will be presented to determine the time suiting the most members. The general preference is for early evening meetings, near 4:30 PM if possible.
    4. Membership – After discussion, it was agreed to invite several additional people to help round out the balance and diversity of the permanent membership, including bringing on board someone from outside the town limits. The following individuals will be contacted as indicated: Dan Lambert by Alisa Davis, Delila White by Dick Camp, and Debra Haymes by Donna Yeatts.
  3. Memo defining Steering Committee Functions – A draft of steering committee general responsibilities was discussed. An item was added to publicize the final report. A final draft will be routed for comment. Though not discussed in the session, a suggested revision is included to make the Treasurer a voting member of the committee. Any comments on the revised draft are requested to be emailed to Joe Rogers by December 28.
  4. Contractor Advertisement/ Selection – The draft RFP was discussed. The following process was developed for issuing the RFP; Provide any final comments to Dick Camp by 29 December, Draft will be staffed with committee if any changes are incorporated. Mail RFP to all six firms listed on the Consultant Contact List. Mail RFP by January 10, 2024. Request responses by January 23, 2024.
  5. A process for keeping the public well informed on the effort as it proceeds was discussed.
    1. An initial press release will be issued with a target date of the first of January 2024. The draft was discussed, and it was recommended committee member names be added. This will be done, and a revised document routed for comment once Mayor Davis informs the Town Council of Mr. Perry’s involvement on the committee.
    2. Web Site and Logo – Phil Mauger talked about the necessity for branding the effort and its importance in clearly providing public information and involvement. He described a web site to provide information and transparency. He suggested the brand name, “Reimagine Chatham” and presented a draft logo. After some discussion, the committee settled on “Imagine Chatham”. The committee supported the concept, but Dick Camp asked for an estimate of costs before proceeding. Phil will develop a cost proposal to establish and administer the site. Phil’s firm will operate any site but will not develop content. Among other content, the intent is to provide access to basic documents related to committee functions and the grant solicitation and procurement process, as well as progress reports as the work develops. Items suggested for inclusion will be sent to Joe Rogers as the single point of contact (POC) for staffing with the group before being added to the site.
    3. Transparency – To help ensure committee actions are transparent, the group decided that meetings will be open to any member of the organizations represented on the steering committee. (Later in the process, there will likely be public meetings.) In some instances, the meetings will be closed and limited to only permanent members. Such instances might include discussion of financial matters and evaluation of consultant qualifications during the selection process.
  6. Coordination with County Study – concurrent with this effort, Pittsylvania will be conducting a county-wide planning study. A limitation on capability has prevented using the same firm to conduct our Chatham area plan. However, the committee agreed that there needs to be awareness of the county effort and that some type of liaison is needed. A process for this will be discussed in a subsequent meeting.

Joe Rogers – Chairman

NOTE: Following the meeting and after further review into the recommended logo and brand name, it was decided to proceed with the original proposed logo using “Reimagine Chatham” as the brand name.

* Minor changes have been made to the original minutes for this public draft where indicated by “*“ to comply with grantor requirements for anonymity of the foundation name and award amount.

Danville Register & Bee Features Project

Study asks community: What do you want to see in Chatham’s future?

After receiving a recent grant, Chatham organizations are embarking on a process aimed to both grow and renew the small Pittsylvania County town.

But first, they need to find out from the community exactly what that entails.

Those civic groups — Chatham Rotary Foundation, Rotary Club of Chatham and Chatham First — have united to identify priorities and then figure out how to move forward with solutions.

Press Release: Civic Partnership Receives Study Grant

A partnership of local civic groups has received an anonymous grant to acquire the services of a consulting firm to conduct a study aimed at identifying initiatives for growth and renewal in Chatham and the adjacent area. The Chatham Rotary Foundation, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Chatham and Chatham First, Inc., applied for the grant in September 2023 and received notification of an award in early December.

An initial action toward beginning the study will be the formation of a steering committee to select the consultant and to manage and support the effort until its completion. The steering committee will include representatives of the civic groups mentioned above plus representatives for the Town of Chatham and local businesses. The committee will be chaired by the Rotary Foundation.

The consultant will be asked to identify initiatives focused on town growth and renewal. The intent is to include pertinent elements of the Town’s 2023 Comprehensive plan plus evaluate the business environment and make recommendations to improve local quality of life. During the process, public meetings will be held to offer citizens the opportunity to provide broad public input into what local citizens and businesses would like to see the town become. In effect, the hope is to form a consensus vision for the community to be developed in the coming years. The final study, which is planned to be complete in late spring 2024, will establish as basis for future initiatives dedicated toward community improvement based on the past successes of partnership between businesses, civic groups, and the Town. This type of community teamwork is an objective of the Town’s 2023 Comprehensive Plan which established goals for the town to:

  1. Reach out to service groups to find ways to improve life in Chatham Citizens.
  2. Encourage residents to participate in the Chatham Community.

The steering committee has an objective of organizing and soliciting study proposals from qualified firms by early January 2024. Concurrently, they will be working to provide tools that allow the community to be routinely informed on progress and alerted to opportunities to provide input and ideas.