The
Gap Partnership
was formed in 2008 from the
merger of two separate
community development
organizations, Bridging
The Gap and The Gap
Corporation.
Both boards realized
the need for the two groups
to work together, in
partnership, to better the
community of Big Stone Gap.
Originally, The Gap
Corporation was the
business organization of Big
Stone Gap and operated the
101 Car Tourist Information
Center. For over 25
years, the Gap
Corporation
has guided many projects in
the community. Some of
these include: the annual
Christmas Parade,
preservation of the 101
Interstate Railroad Car, the
annual Business and Citizen
of the Year Awards Banquet,
support of recruiting
business to Big Stone Gap,
support of liquor
by-the-drink for local
restaurants, among others.
Bridging The
Gap
started as a community
development project under
the auspices of The Brushy
Fork Institute at Berea
College. Bridging
The Gap worked under the
"Tupelo Model" developed by
Vaughn Grisham. Some
of the beliefs from this
model include:
-
Civic engagement is
positively related to a
strong economy and good
government.
-
Cooperation among
citizens can make, or
break, a community…if
communities are badly
divided it is impossible
to find a common
direction and achieve
goals.
-
Our greatest asset is
our people.
One of the outgrowths of
Bridging The Gap was a
renewed discussion and
emphasis on developing the
community from many of the
town's stakeholders.
The group brought speakers
from Tupelo, Mississippi and
Point Pleasant, West
Virginia to Big Stone Gap to
discuss models for community
development. Also,
community leaders began an
on-going dialogue with
novelist and Big Stone Gap
native, Adriana Trigiani, to
support the filming of her
movie, "Big Stone Gap"
in the community.
The formation of The Gap
Partnership brought two
strong groups together to
work on behalf of Big Stone
Gap. The group is
working hard "To develop
Big Stone Gap as the
'Community of Choice' to
reside in, within the region
of far Southwest Virginia."
You are invited to join
these efforts!
