Business View City & Municipal | August 2022

92 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 g, Virginia T he city of Lynchburg, Virginia is shaking things up. Set at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, winding along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg has much to offer when it comes to recreation. There are more than 40 miles of trails for walking, biking, hiking, and running, as well as 17 parks to take in some fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and relaxation. “The river and its relationship to the mountains, together with the rail trails and the overall quality of life is something that, in my opinion, is unrivalled,” says Wynter C. Benda, Lynchburg’s City Manager. And while its natural beauty brings a lot to the table, the city of 79,000 was ready for some big changes to its social, administrative, and infrastructural landscape. First, they hired Benda to be the new City Manager. Benda came to the city from Norfolk, Virginia with a desire to listen to what the Lynchburg City on the move