Pound, Virginia is slowing rebounding. (Photo by Megan Schnabel, Cardinal News) |
The news that Pound might cease to exist moved some townspeople to buckle down, fight for what was good in the town, and fix past mistakes. "Leabern Kennedy was elected to the town council in 2021 on a platform of changing the status quo, is now the vice mayor and a driving force behind Pound's revitalization," Schnabel writes. Kennedy told Schnabel: "I think we have shocked the world because I don't think anyone expected us to come back. I'm OK with that."
Map by Robert Lunsford, Cardinal News |
The town's budget is small, and every penny counts as town leaders work to set finances right alongside developing tourist attractions along the scenic Pound River. Debbie Hale, a town volunteer, has worked on grant applications. "Hale won a grant to buy four GRIT Freedom Chairs, which look something like a cross between a mountain bike and a wheelchair and allow people with limited mobility to explore off-road. . . . Pound is still dealing with some issues that send up red flags for state and federal grant programs. . . . One problem is capacity. . . . Another challenge: the town’s fiscal history."
"One source of help during the turmoil, and still today, was the Virginia Municipal League. Its executive director, Michelle Gowdy, spoke on Pound’s behalf during legislative hearings over the town’s future," Schnabel writes. "She and her team have helped Pound’s leaders get trained on budgeting, Freedom of Information Act compliance and other municipal matters. . . ."
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