What does it take to make a place not just livable, but irresistible?
At EO, we believe the answer lies in how we care for people, grow opportunity and build community. It’s about designing systems that help people not only stay here, but truly thrive here.
That’s what we’re exploring at nexEO, a regional gathering for bold ideas, innovation and collective momentum. On Oct. 2 and 3 in Abingdon, leaders from business, government, education, philanthropy and the community will come together to tackle some of the most urgent challenges facing our region. We’ll surface next-generation solutions, test bold ideas and lift up emerging voices.
But make no mistake: This event is about more than conversation. It’s about building a future worth staying for.
Across our region, we are facing real headwinds. More than 75% of counties in Southwest Virginia are projected to lose population over the next two decades, reshaping the demographics of our communities and threatening long-term vitality. Career pathways remain unclear or inaccessible for many in some localities. The cost and availability of childcare continue to put strain on families and employers alike. And in too many zip codes, people are living shorter, harder lives than their neighbors elsewhere in the state.
These challenges are complex, but they are not fixed. And they are not separate.
They are all part of one shared story: the story of whether this region can be a place where people live well, stay longer and build brighter futures.
That’s where EO comes in. EO is short for the Latin word “eo,” meaning “to go.” That’s what we do: We move big ideas into action. Our mission is to increase quality of life by connecting people to the resources they need to learn, work and thrive. We do that by researching, piloting and scaling solutions that address deep, systemic issues from early childhood and workforce innovation to regional infrastructure and community health.
We believe thriving communities are built on strong foundations. That starts with early childhood care and education, because no parent should have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their child. It grows through workforce innovation, because young people deserve visible, connected and supported paths to meaningful careers. And it is sustained through community belonging, because talent is mobile, but belonging is rooted in place.
That is the thread running through our work and through nexEO itself.
We are not here to identify the problem. We are here to build solutions. To listen deeply. To move forward together.
Last year, we took a major step forward with the opening of the EO Regional Workforce and Child Development Hub. This 87,000-square-foot center is already becoming a national model for regional innovation. But it’s more than a building; it’s an anchor. With the capacity to serve up to 300 children on site and support over 200 childcare providers across the region, the Hub also introduces thousands of students to local career opportunities and connects sectors that too often operate in silos. Most importantly, it proves what’s possible when we design systems around the people they are meant to serve.
Because real progress takes more than programs. It takes places. It takes partnership. It takes purpose.
And it takes all of us.
The work of building thriving communities cannot be outsourced. It must be done by the people who live here, raise families here, employ people here and believe in what this region can become.
At EO, we believe the future of Southwest Virginia is not something we have to wait for. It is something we design and build together.
That future starts now. Join us on Oct. 2 and 3 to be part of what’s next.
Travis Staton is president and CEO, EO Companies.