Blacksburg council approves three‑jurisdiction regional tourism agreement

The Blacksburg Town Council voted to authorize the town manager to enter into a regional tourism agreement among Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Montgomery County.

The agreement, introduced by Chris Lawrence, deputy county administrator for Montgomery County and interim executive director of the Montgomery County Regional Tourism Office, sets out the purpose, oversight structure, funding approach, advisory groups and duration for a joint tourism office. “Tourism is very important in Montgomery County. It’s over $279,000,000 a year of, spend direct spending,” Lawrence told the council, citing the office’s economic rationale and noting Christiansburg and the county had already approved the agreement.

Council members had no further public questions after the staff presentation and no members of the public spoke on the item. A council member moved and the council approved the ordinance by roll call vote.

The ordinance establishes a tourism operating board composed of the two town managers and the county administrator and creates advisory groups including a Montgomery County tourism advisory group (with locality appointees) and a sports tourism advisory group comprised of parks and recreation directors. The presentation said the office currently operates from the Old Blacksburg Police Office and that the agreement covers termination procedures, funding, oversight and advisory structures.

The council’s approval makes Blacksburg the final local signatory; Christiansburg approved the agreement in December and the county approved it in January. The council did not place additional conditions on the ordinance during the meeting.

Next steps include administrative execution of the interlocal agreement and appointment of local advisory representatives under the terms described by staff.