Hello Hill City readers! This is the first edition of Lynchburg Field Notes, a series that will arrive in your inbox on Wednesdays with miscellaneous news updates from the past week and previews of what’s coming up next.
If you’re looking for bite-sized recaps of local happenings, tips on how to be involved in Lynchburg government and community events, and updates that close the loop when you find yourself wondering “What ever happened to …” — this column is for you.
I primarily cover Lynchburg city proper, but that boundary isn’t rigid when stories in the surrounding counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell come across my desk. My goal is to deliver local news that is meaningful and relevant to you, so tips and feedback from across the Lynchburg region are always appreciated. You can reach me at emma@cardinalnews.org.
Here’s this week’s roundup:
Lynchburg City Council begins school board nomination process
The school board nomination and appointment process is underway in Lynchburg. The nine-member board for Lynchburg City Schools has three representatives from each of its three districts. One term in each district — Christian DePaul’s in District 1, Letitia Lowery’s in District 2 and Farid “FJ” Jalil’s in District 3 — is set to expire this year.
Lynchburg is one of a few places in the state to appoint its school board members rather than elect them. Here, those interested submit an application and speak before the city council in public hearings, and are later appointed to their roles by the city council after interviews and background checks are completed, said Clerk of Council Alicia Finney-Andrews at a city council work session earlier this month.
Only a dozen school boards in Virginia are appointed, while the other school boards in the state’s 132 school divisions are elected, according to city council meeting agenda items.
The first public hearing to collect statements from applicants was held Tuesday night. The names of 15 applicants were read into the record, but no applicants were present to speak. Another public hearing is scheduled for June 9, interviews will be conducted in mid-June, and appointments will be made on June 23. All interviews and council deliberations about the appointments will be conducted in open meetings.
The school board meets on the first Tuesday of every month to oversee school operations, including employment, transportation, educational policies and building and equipment maintenance.
Those appointed to the school board in June will serve three-year terms beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2029.
More information, including a map of each district, an application page and a breakdown of the nomination process, is available online.
Semi-pro sports season kicks off
May was a busy month for semi-professional sports in the Hill City, and there are more games scheduled to keep you cheering this summer.
Lynchburg is now home to Virginia’s highest level of soccer competition south of Richmond with the addition of a new minor league team called Hill City FC. They had their first home match May 16 and are scheduled to compete through July.
All Hill City FC home matches are hosted at City Stadium on Fort Avenue, with a tailgate that starts at 3 p.m. and kickoff at 7 p.m. The next home match is tonight against the Charlottesville Blues.
Lynchburg’s minor league baseball team, the Hill City Howlers, and United Premier Soccer League team, Lynchburg FC, also had a busy month at City Stadium. Their next home games are tonight and June 6, respectively.
Entrepreneurs graduate from Lynchburg business training program
Lynchburg celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its entrepreneur training program, called Co.Starters, this spring, when nine new businesses graduated from the class.
The graduates join a list of about 150 local entrepreneurs who have moved through the program to date, said Marjette Upshur, the city’s director of economic development and tourism.
The Co.Starters program, sponsored by the city’s office of economic development and tourism and facilitated by the local small business development center, provides training and mentorship to entrepreneurs who have a business idea or a young startup that they’re trying to get off the ground.
Co.Starters teaches entrepreneurs how to refine their business idea, identify customers, learn the ins and outs of running a company and build a sustainable business model, according to the program webpage. The 10-week program is collaborative and allows entrepreneurs to test ideas with their cohort.
Among this year’s graduates is Love + Umami, an Asian comfort food pop-up vendor often seen at local markets, breweries and events throughout the Lynchburg region, according to the local economic development authority. The business is inspired by co-owner Amy Nao’s background in chemistry, Upshur said, and menu items blend bold flavors with a creative, experimental approach.
