The Clinch River Valley Initiative (CRVI) is a collaborative effort to improve the economy and environment of the Clinch River Valley region through 2020. Since 2010, CRVI has worked towards goals like developing a state park, improving access to the river, enhancing downtown areas, and environmental education. It functions through a steering committee, action groups, consensus-based decision making, and tracking progress indicators. The inclusive, trust-building approach and coordination provided by facilitators have contributed to CRVI's success in making progress on its goals. While more work remains, CRVI's vision of the region as a global destination is becoming closer to realization.

1. Defining and Designing Collective
Placemaking Impacts
Christine GyovaiChristine Gyovai
Dialogue + Design AssociatesDialogue + Design Associates
Alexandria SentillesAlexandria Sentilles
University of Virginia, Institute for Environmental NegotiationUniversity of Virginia, Institute for Environmental Negotiation
NEXT GENERATION RURAL CREATIVE PLACEMAKING SUMMIT
Iowa City, IowaIowa City, Iowa
October 13, 2016October 13, 2016

2. Downtown Crozet Initiative - Engage
• Dialogue + Design facilitated,
coordinated and provided design
assistance for a community-driven
design effort in Crozet, Virginia
for the transformation of a
twenty-acre in downtown Crozet
in 2015
• Goal for the effort was to
transform this former industrial
site into an accessible, successful
and vibrant center for downtown
Crozet through through public
meetings, design coordination,
and planning
• Crozet is 1 of 7 growth areas in the
Charlottesville/ Ablemarle area

3. DCI - Design

4. • Trust building takes time
• Over-planning in Crozet?
• DCI committee continuing work
• Landscape design for plaza
underway
DCI - Reflect

5. Clinch River Valley InitiativeClinch River Valley Initiative

6. By 2020, the Clinch River Valley will
be a global destination based on its
unique biodiversity, natural beauty,
cultural attractions, and outdoor
opportunities.
This collaboration will bring
measurable economic,
environmental, & social benefits to
the region’s communities while
protecting the Clinch’s globally
rare species.
RVI VISIONRVI VISION

7.  The Clinch River is one of the most
biodiverse rivers in North America
 Significant collaboration & investment
in region
 Diverse stakeholders and interests
 Strong grassroots effort with
enthusiasm and momentum (6 years in!)
OverviewOverview

8. OverviewOverview
1. Multi-year planning effort to build local
economies around a special asset
2. Began in September 2010
3. Open quarterly meetings and active
action groups
4. Building on resources that can’t be
outsourced
5. A coordinated system of unique
communities
6. Supporting local community visions
7. Part of integrated economic
development strategy building on our
natural and cultural assets
8. Many federal, state, regional and local
active partners

10. CRVI GoalsCRVI Goals
1.Develop a Clinch River State Park.
1.Develop and Integrate Access Points, Trails, and
Campgrounds.
1.Enhance Water Quality in the Clinch River.
1.Develop and Enhance Environmental Education
Opportunities for all Community Members in the Clinch
River Watershed.
2.Connect and Expand Downtown Revitalization,
Marketing and Entrepreneurial Development
Opportunities in the Clinch River Valley.

11. NextNext
StepsSteps
• Steering Committee meeting monthly and
CRVI meetings quarterly
• Continued action to implement goals
• Long-term project implementation and
organizational development
• Increased community involvement and
resilience

13. WaterQuality
Access P
oints
R
evitalization
D
owntow
n
Sta
te Park
ClinchRiverValleyInitiative
3 D e s i g n a t e d
H o m e t o w n s
o f t h e C l i n c h
9R e c r e a t i o n a l
G u i d e s &
O u t f i t t e r s
Clinch River
Valley
Campgrounds
$ 2 . 5 Min Funding from
General Assembly
Environmental
Education
T o t a l
A c c e s s
P o i n t s
4 2 . 0 1
T o n s o f T r a s h
R e m o v e d
28C l i n c h R i v e r
C l e a n u p s
2016IndicatorsofProgress
7 5 0 1V i s i t o r s a t
W e t l a n d s E s t o n o a
A n n u a l C l i n c h R i v e r
E n v i r o n m e n t a l E d u c a t i o n
S y m p o s i a
16
www.clinchriverva.com * Progress tracked since 2010
5
4
1 4 . 2 %
I n c r e a s e i n M e a l
T a x R e v e n u e
1 1 . 4 %
I n c r e a s e i n
T r a v e l
E x p e n d i t u r e s
WaterQuality
Access P
oints
R
evitalization
D
owntow
n
Sta
te Park
ClinchRiverValleyInitiative
3 D e s i g n a t e d
H o m e t o w n s
o f t h e C l i n c h
9R e c r e a t i o n a l
G u i d e s &
O u t f i t t e r s
Clinch Valley
Campgrounds
$ 2 . 5 Min Funding from
General Assembly
Environmental
Education
T o t a l
A c c e s s
P o i n t s
4 2 . 0 1
T o n s o f T r a s h
R e m o v e d
28C l i n c h R i v e r
C l e a n u p s
2016IndicatorsofProgress
7 5 0 1V i s i t o r s a t
W e t l a n d s E s t o n o a
A n n u a l C l i n c h R i v e r
E n v i r o n m e n t a l E d u c a t i o n
S y m p o s i a
16
www.clinchriverva.com * Progress tracked since 2010
5
4
1 4 . 2 %
I n c r e a s e i n M e a l
T a x R e v e n u e
1 1 . 4 %
I n c r e a s e i n
T r a v e l
E x p e n d i t u r e s

14. Monthly Steering
Committee Conference Calls
Quarterly In-Person
Meetings
Bi-weekly Newsletters
Active Action Groups
Consensus-Based
Decision Making
Active Website and
Social Media Presence
3CRVI Meeting Summaries | www.clinchriverva.com
HOW CRVI FUNCTIONS
Since its
inception in
2010, CRVI has
been tracking
the progress of
the initiative
using specific
indicators. As
seen in the
infogrpahic to
the right, CRVI
is successfully
working towards
accomplishing its
vision.
W
ater
Q
u
a
lity
A c c e s s P
o
in
ts
R
ev
ita
liz
ation
D
o
w
n
tow
n
S
ta
t e
P a r k
ClinchRiverValleyInitiative
3 D e s i g n a t e d
H o m e t o w n s
o f t h e C l i n c h
9R e c r e a t i o n a l
G u i d e s &
O u t f i t t e r s
C l i n c h V a l l e y
C a m p g r o u n d s
$ 2 . 5 Mi n F u n d i n g f r o m
G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y
E n v i r o n m e n t a l
E d u c a t i o n
T o t a l
A c c e s s
P o i n t s
4 2 . 0 1
T o n s o f T r a s h
R e m o v e d
2 8C l i n c h R i v e r
C l e a n u p s
2016IndicatorsofProgress
7 5 0 1V i s i t o r s a t
W e t l a n d s E s t o n o a
A n n u a l C l i n c h R i v e r
E n v i r o n m e n t a l E d u c a t i o n
S y m p o s i a
1 6
w w w . c l i n c h r i v e r v a . c o m * P r o g r e s s t r a c k e d s i n c e 2 0 1 0
5
4
1 4 . 2 %
I n c r e a s e i n M e a l
T a x R e v e n u e
1 1 . 4 %
I n c r e a s e i n
T r a v e l
E x p e n d i t u r e s
THE CLINCH RIVER VALLEY
INITIATIVE MODEL
www.clinchriverva.com

15. INCLUSIVE TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS
BUILDING TRUST AND LEGITIMACY
ACTIVE ACTION GROUPS
Since the beginning, CRVI members have
created a space where a wide variety
of stakeholders can work together.
The group decided to form a widely
representative Steering Committee and
continues to welcome new members
at the meetings and to the effort.
Steering Committee members and facilitators
have built trust with one another and
within the broader CRVI community over
time, strengthed networks, and made the
effort to make personal connections with
citizens, outreach to Clinch River comunities,
elected officials, agency representatives,
and other interested members over time.
CRVI has five Action Groups, each with a
Chair or Co-Chairs and all active volunteers
working on each CRVI goal. Action Groups
meet consistently and plan their activities
in conjunction with the rest of the Initiative.
List of Stakeholders
List of Steering Committee Members
5 Action Groups
The CRVI model has been pointed to as a notable success; other
communities have often asked "What lessons can be replicated
from CRVI? What information can be shared that is useful to other
groups working in similar circumstances?" We believe the following
six elements have significantly contributed to the success of CRVI:
THE CRVI MODEL
5
FACILITATION AND COORDINATION
CONSENSUS BASED DECISION-MAKING
TRACK PROGRESS OVER TIME
The Institute for Environmental Negotiation
(IEN) at the University of Virginia and
Dialogue + Design Associates facilitates
and coordinates CRVI through addressing
differences as they arise, identifying funding
with the Steering Committee, maintaining the
CRVI website and social media, sending out
bi-weekly newsletters, facilitating calls and
meetings, and developing meeting summaries.
In the decision-making process, each
Steering Committee has equal status
and voice about CRVI operations.
Decisions about overall actions are made
by consensus. This means that all members
can live with and support a decision.
The Steering Committee has developed a
logic model to track the progress of each
Action Group and the overall Initiative with
indicators. IEN works with CRVI members
to highlight the accomplishments of the
initiative and to do outreach in areas of key
progress.
IEN Website
Overview of the Consensus Process
CRVI Accomplishments
Through the hard work of numerous community members, CRVI has made
substantial progress since its inception in 2010. While substantial progress
hasbeenmadealongalltheCRVIgoals,thereisstillalongwaytogo.Through
the work of the Action Groups, facilitiators, CRVI members, the CRVI vision
is coming close to being realized by 2020.
www.clinchriverva.com 6

16. Visit our website to view the Action Plan, the How CRVI Works document, Photos and more!
www.clinchriverva.comwww.clinchriverva.com
Christine:Christine: christine@dialogueanddesign.comchristine@dialogueanddesign.com
Alex:Alex: ams3jv@virginia.eduams3jv@virginia.edu
434-982-6464434-982-6464