Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

106 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 focus, and organizations like Explore Bristol, Believe in Bristol, and the Chamber of Commerce play crucial roles in marketing the best attributes of the community. “All of them do an exceptional job at marketing us throughout the country. I believe that’s what’s driving a lot of the interest for this area. We have a lot to offer.” Chapman recounts. He points to the city’s recreation opportunities, such as fly fishing and mountain biking as a draw for outdoor enthusiasts, while the region’s music history brings people from throughout the nation. “If you’re looking for a city that’s built for country music, this is the city,” he boasts. “If you want to get to the roots of country music, you come to Bristol. We have the Country Music Museum that shows you from the beginning how it all started, and how country music has evolved.” Meanwhile, an exciting addition to Bristol’s sports scene is a funding mechanism for these businesses. So, there’s a lot of stuff in place to help our business.” At the state level, Chapman underscores the importance of Bristol’s partnership with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, relaying, “We’ve been on several visits together lately to our manufacturers, to see how we can be of assistance to them. Some good things have come out of those meetings.” He highlights the Tennessee Valley Authority as another valued relationship for the city, saying, “Although we’re in Virginia, we’re still in their footprint, and they’re actually a good partner that helps us with everything from grant funding to recruitment.” Showcasing the city of Bristol to a National Audience Promoting the city of Bristol is another area of