Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

102 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 Ballad Health is an integrated community health improvement organization serving 29 counties of the Appalachian Highlands in Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Southeast Kentucky. We’re dedicated to improving the health of the people we serve. Our system of 20 hospitals, post-acute care and behavioral health services and a large multi-specialty group physician practice works closely with an independent medical community and community stakeholders to improve the well-being of close to 1 million people. By leading in the adoption of value- based payments, addressing health- related social needs, funding research and committing to long-term investments in children and families, Ballad Health is striving to become a national model for rural health and healthcare. We’re completely invested in our communities because we’re your neighbors, and this is our community, too. Good health is about more than healthcare – it’s about the story of our lives. When you choose to tell your story to us, you’re giving us a sacred trust, and it is essential we listen. We’ve started this journey together as a community, and we’re going to work together to write the next chapter of our story together. Learn more at www.balladhealth.org . BRISTOL , VI RGINIA Rhythm and Roots and Other Popular Events As a twin city, Bristol straddles the state line with Tennessee, a unique feature that allows a person to stand in both Virginia and Tennessee simultaneously. Mack Chapman, Bristol Economic Development Specialist, portrays, “It’s a very unique place. You can get a little taste of the South, by technically still being in the north, being in Virginia. As a community, we’re welcoming to everybody. That’s why we host so many different events.” The much loved Rhythm and Roots Country Music Festival is a signature event in Bristol, drawing thousands of visitors annually. “Both cities close off their downtown. We have many stages, and many acts throughout the whole weekend. It benefits our restaurants, our hotels, and it brings in a lot of tax revenue,” Chapman shares. The Bristol Motor Speedway also hosts a popular music festival, known as Country Thunder, hosting major acts such as Eric church, Brooks and Dunn and Jelly Roll. “Events like that create a lot of excitement for this area, and it shows people that we are willing to bring stuff in,” he adds, noting that the Hard Rock Casino will be adding an entertainment component when they are fully opened in 2024. Economic Development and Growth Bristol is experiencing a wave of economic development and expansion. The city has successfully attracted new businesses, with notable mentions like the upcoming Bristol is experiencing a wave of economic development and expansion. The city has successfully attracted new businesses