Director of Economic Development and Tourism City of Danville, VA

Position Closes May 15 2026

If so the City of Danville is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Director of Economic Development and Tourism to lead the Citys efforts to attract investment support business growth and drive long-term economic vitality. This role ensures the Citys economic development and tourism initiatives are aligned to support job creation and retention build local wealth and expand the tax baseadvancing overall economic health and quality of life. Danville is already gaining national attentionranked among theTop 10 U.S. cities under 100000 population for employers looking to locate or expand (Site Selection Magazine)and this position will play a key role in building on that momentum.

The Community:

Located in south-central Virginia along the North Carolina border Danville is within a days drive of two-thirds of the nations population. The city is home to 42700 residents and is surrounded by Pittsylvania CountyVirginias largest county by land areawhich adds another 60833 people to the region and contributes to its open landscapes and natural beauty.

Danvilles border location makes it a convenient base for exploring destinations such as Richmond Greensboro Durham Charlotte the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Mid-Atlantic beaches. Yet with its rich history outdoor recreation and rolling countryside many visitors find everything they need right here.

Whether your interests include hiking and biking kayaking a river or lake taking in a show or concert or just grabbing a leisurely dinner with friends you will find ample opportunities in Southern Virginia. Consider the fact that your dollar goes further due to our low cost of living and you will find that you can do more of the things you addition with four distinct seasons of moderate weather you will have more time throughout the year to enjoy the things you love. View the Regional Tourism Videohere.

Southern Virginia was built on a foundation of furniture textiles and tobacco manufacturing attracting people from around the world to live and conduct business. However between the 1990s and mid-2000s these industries declined significantly forcing the region to adapt and diversify its response to the loss of over 25000 jobs regional leaders developed a long-term strategy focused on workforce development aiming to create higher-paying jobs and drive economic growth. Over the past two decades this approach has fostered strong partnerships among local governments educational institutions from pre-K to college and businesses. Additionally investments in quality-of-life improvements have enhanced the regions appeal to residents workers and visitors. Since FY 2017 Southern Virginia has seen the announcement of nearly 10620 new jobs and over $4.25 billion in investment across various industries. Today major employers across the region include Goodyear Hitachi Energy Intertape Polymer Group EBI LLC Press Glass SOVAH Health JTI Leaf Services Caesars Virginia Buitoni Food Company EPL America Monogram Foods Litehouse Foods Drake Extrusions Eastman O-I Glass Presto Products and Tyson Foods.

This region has a robust network of healthcare providers including hospitals clinics and urgent care facilities all seamlessly connected to and surrounded by trauma centers equipped with heliports.

Southern Virginia also offers fully accredited public schools that feature STEM high quality career and technical courses Governors School and International Baccalaureate programs. Furthermore the region boasts private schools military academies and some of the nations finest blue-ribbon schools. For those seeking higher education Averett University and Danville Community College provide a range of continuing education and learning opportunities in the region.

Demographically the City of Danville is composed of 52.2% African American 39.1% Caucasian and 5.5% Hispanic residents of any race. The city has a civilian labor force of 18015 with a participation rate of 52.9%. Among individuals aged 25 to 64 in Danville 19.9% hold a bachelors degree or higher compared with 35.1% nationwide. The unemployment rate for Danville was 5.3% as of December 2025. This is higher than Virginias unemployment rate (3.6%) and the national rate (4.4%). The median household income in Danville is $49654 and the median house sale price is just over $150000. Approximately one quarter of Danville households have an income below the federal poverty level. The citys cost of living is 12.6% lower than the national average.

New Development:

Significant and transformative developments are currently unfolding in Danville specifically in three of its historic districts: the River District the Schoolfield District and the North Main District.

In theRiver District the redevelopment of the former White Mill now known as Dan River Falls is a major focal point. This ambitious project is poised to encompass a substantial 147000 square feet of commercial space along with 190 apartments recently completed. Notably when fully developed the project is expected to bring in approximately $110 million in investment.

Adjacent to the Dan River Falls property another exciting project is taking shape: a four-acre Riverfront Park. This park is designed to offer a host of amenities including an urban splash pad that doubles as an artistic fountain a small performance area for cultural events a river overlook for scenic views an all-inclusive playground area and even a whitewater channel anticipated to bring professional rafters and local adventure-seekers out to the river.

In theSchoolfield District a monumental development is now openthe Caesars Virginia destination resort casino.Caesars Virginia is a large world-class resort featuring over 90000 square feet of gaming space with nearly 1500 slot machines dozens of live and electronic table games a World Series of Poker (WSOP) room and a Caesars Sportsbook for sports betting. The property also includes a 320-room hotel tower with panoramic views a full-service spa and pool and 50000 square feet of meeting convention and entertainment space that doubles as a 2500-seat live event venue. Dining and nightlife options in the casino are plentiful including Ramsays Kitchen by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay the 500 Block Food Hall several bars and lounges and other upscale restaurants offering a range of culinary experiences. The Schoolfield District is in the process of creating a neighborhood master plan to guide its growth as both a home for residents and a destination for visitors.

In theNorth Main District the City has recently launched the renovation of a key building kicking off the next stage of the Districts revitalization. The area has a new pocket park and a neighborhood master plan developed by community members in recent months. With a theater restaurant and other activities already in place North Main is poised to become the next arts district in Danville.

These developments are not just reshaping the city but also ushering in a new era of growth entertainment and economic vitality for Danville. Visit to learn more about the City of Danville.

About the Organization Office and Position:

Danville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia operating under a council-manager form of government. With an adoptedFY2026 total operating budget of about $384.5 million the City of Danville employs approximately 1200 workers across 16 departments. The City has updated itsComprehensive Plan PLAN Danville which encourages the continued development of a healthy equitable and resilient community by offering a distinctive vision for the continued growth of Danville. While the Comprehensive Plan represents an ideal of what the City of Danville desires to become over the next 20 years it also provides realistic action steps and outcomes within the anticipated social economic and political constraints.

The City of DanvillesOffice of Economic Development and Tourismworks to grow and strengthen the local economy through business development redevelopment workforce development and tourism initiatives. The team includes ten full-time staff and several part-time positions. As part of the City Managers Office the Office of Economic Development and Tourism takes a citywide view in all of its work collaborating with internal partners to achieve city goals of growth and economic vitality. The Office is committed to creating an environment where small businesses major industries families and community members can thrivereflecting the Citys belief that Home is Here. The Offices work centers on supporting new and existing local businesses attracting new investment and promoting Danvilles unique assets in ways that create jobs build local wealth across neighborhoods and demographics and enhance quality of life for all. Key areas include support for small businesses and entrepreneurs business recruitment retention and expansion redevelopment of strategic properties tourism promotion and coalition-building for workforce development and other projects all aimed at long-term economic vitality and opportunity for every Danville resident.

Reporting to the Assistant City Manager the Director leads the Office of Economic Development and Tourism through visionary strategy development project management tactical work in industrial development and empowering the team to execute on the Citys big vision for economic mobility and local revitalization.

The Director manages six direct reports andtwo related budgets$1.44 million for economic development and $1.01 million for tourismensuring resources are used effectively and aligned with priorities. As the Citys primary point of contact for businesses developers and partners the Director helps position Danville competitively and guides key projects from concept through completion. The Director ensures that projects and partnerships align with PLAN Danville and Citywide priorities while maintaining effective day-to-day operations.

The next Director will have an active role in advancing redevelopment and site readiness including public-private partnerships incentives and financing strategies and coordination with internal departments and regional partners. This position will also oversee small business and tourism initiatives support relevant City boards and authorities and maintain clear communication with the City Managers Office on major projects and emerging issues.

Key Position Priorities:

Qualifications:

A bachelors degree in Public or Business Administration Economic Development Urban Planning or related field and a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) license are required. Prior experience as a local government department manager along with five to seven years of related experience is preferred. A masters degree is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

A valid drivers license and an acceptable driving record according to City criteriaare required.

The Successful Candidate:

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Salary and Benefits: The hiring range is $128198 - $185000 Midpoint (Full range: $128198 - $256397).Beginning salary will be commensurate with experience.The City of Danville provides an excellent benefits package. Learn more byvisiting the Citys website. Residency within City limits is required within a negotiated timeframe.

To apply please visit click on thetitle of Director of Economic Development & Tourism City of Danville VA.

Please note the following:

The City of Danville VA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Developmental Associates LLC manages the recruitment and selection process for this position. To learn more about our selection process visithttps:// select Client Openings and scroll down to Important Information for Applicants.