Heather Lyne is an experienced community development professional with a passion for people, small towns, urban and rural anthropology and sociology, nature, and taking the road less traveled. She assumed our Director position in July of 2020.
“I began 2020 living oceans away and serving in the Peace Corps in the (Republic of) Georgia. However, as it did for many, the pandemic threw a curveball and dropped me back in my home state of Virginia. Life keeps you on your toes. Upon evacuating back to the United States, I made an inner promise to take a beat – for at least a month. However, life, once again, had other plans. I came across a posting for the Executive Director role with the Hopewell Downtown Partnership (HDP) and was immediately intrigued by its connection to the National Main Street Center. My father is from Richmond so I also felt a personal connection. Hopewell is a fascinating microcosm of the American story – and has a way of pulling you in. The rest is history, as the saying goes.
I accepted the Executive Director position because I believe in Main Street’s grassroots approach, the Board, and you – the Hopewell community. While growing up across the bridge from Lynchburg in Amherst County, I witnessed the resurgence of the Lynchburg Downtown Historic District from an area that many perceived as “unsafe” with only a few restaurants and shops open to a destination that is topping national charts for “best places to live.” Lynchburg was an early adopter of the Main Street program. Main Street was established as a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980 as a way to address the myriad issues facing older and historic downtowns during that time. Working with a nationwide network of coordinating programs and local communities, Main Street has helped over 2,000 communities across the country bring economic vitality back downtown, while celebrating their historic character, and bringing communities together. Within the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) Program is managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
The Hopewell Downtown Partnership (HDP) itself is no spring chicken. With roots in 2007 and nearly 12 years as an Accredited/Advanced Main Street organization, the active individuals who make up the Hopewell Downtown Partnership have proven themselves to be as resilient and dynamic as the Downtown they care so deeply about. It is with great pleasure that I now stand beside them, the business owners, organizations, property owners, developers, nonprofits, civic leaders, and City staff who are passionate about cultivating an energetic and authentic Downtown. While the past several years have certainly been trying and unprecedented, I am optimistic about the future.
As a leader, I promise to meet the emerging needs of the Hopewell community to the best of my abilities. Revitalization work is a constant dialogue that requires dedication, determination, boots on the ground – and thick skin. Change doesn’t happen overnight but with a dose of grit and your support as neighbors and stakeholders, Downtown Hopewell can become the vibrant place that you as community members deserve. Together, I am confident that we can promote local ownership, commerce, a sense of place, and an inclusive, welcoming environment in Downtown Hopewell. “
Let’s Roll,
Heather Lyne
Biography
Heather Lyne has designed, funded, and implemented community and economic development projects and large events across the state of Virginia, in Colorado, and abroad through her work for Embrace Richmond, Virginia Tech, the City of Roanoke’s Arts and Cultural Office, SBG Productions, Inc., Telluride Arts, and the Peace Corps. She is Certified in both Group Dialogue Facilitation and Grassroots Organizing through VT Intercom, Virginia Organizing, and VT Action, respectively. Heather earned a B.A. in Anthropology from her alma mater, the University of Georgia, and then spent several years in Colorado pursuing her passion for music, the arts, the outdoors and community. She returned to Virginia and earned a Master’s in Public and International Affairs and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Virginia Tech from 2015-2017. Heather follows the principles of the asset-based community development movement which, simply put, proposes building on “what’s strong” in a community instead of focusing on “what’s wrong”. When she is not working, you can find her running, playing volleyball, reading books, enjoying live music, or exploring new places. She tries to find joy in ‘the every day’ and feels fortunate to be growing with the Hopewell community.
