The newly formed Foundation for the Advancement of Southern and Southwest Virginia has hired Deborah Gosney as its executive director, according to an announcement Thursday by the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.
Gosney was the executive director of the Southside Planning District Commission for 38 years before joining the foundation, which was formed by the tobacco commission in May.
“My career has been rooted in helping communities identify opportunities, strengthen local capacity, and improve the quality of life for the people we serve. I look forward to bringing that same commitment, experience, and passion to FASS-VA as we continue advancing its important work across the Tobacco Region footprint,” Gosney said in a statement.
Over the course of her career, Gosney has worked with local governments, planning district commissions, and state and federal agencies to secure funding for infrastructure, business growth and community revitalization. She is from Mecklenburg County.
“Economic development, especially in the rural regions of the Commonwealth the Commission covers, requires a team effort, and Deb has a long track record of successful leadership and partnership in that area,” Del. William Morefield, R-Tazewell County, said in a statement. Morefield serves as chair of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.
The commission met in Floyd in mid-May to adopt a budget and approve 38 funding requests. Among those dozens of requests was one to create the nonprofit foundation.
The commission had learned, through outreach in Southwest and Southside, that the biggest barrier to progress faced by localities and organizations in seeking government grant money was a lack of capacity, Jordan Butler, spokesperson for the commission, said in May. The overall goal of the new foundation is to help those localities and organizations in the grant application process as they seek federal, state or private philanthropic funding — something the commission can’t do as a political entity.
“Deb’s wealth of experience working with the same communities and organizations means she is ready to hit the ground running. I encourage anyone with an idea that could help build an even brighter future for our counties, cities, and towns to reach out to Deb to see how FASS-VA might be able to help,” Jeff Haley, chair of the foundation, said in a statement.
