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The City of Danville is engaging the community to create a vision for the historic Mechanicsville neighborhood in the River District. This process is called Plan Mechanicsville.

Mechanicsville has a nationally recognized historic district with significant ties to the Civil Rights movement and the city's history of building, manufacturing and processing of various products. Plan Mechanicsville aims to revitalize the area, building upon the success of the River District and other economic development efforts in the Danville region.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in this survey (open throughout the month of September). YOUR input is essential to creating a vision for Mechanicsville that is inspiring and forward-looking, and also firmly rooted in its history and culture.

To complete the survey, click HERE.

To learn more, visit www.OurMechanicsville.com.

Save the Date: Community Workshop on September 25

The City of Danville and the River District Association are working with the community to plan a bright future for the historic Mechanicsville neighborhood in the River District.

Join us on September 25, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at High Street Baptist Church to learn about the planning efforts to improve Mechanicsville and the latest projects in the area.

Come and share your ideas for improving the area like arts and culture, development and beautification!

The River District Association in Danville, VA is seeking our next Executive Director. 

Danville is a proud 2023 Great American Main Street Award [GAMSA] recipient, and we are looking for a passionate, strategic, and experienced non-profit professional to lead our impactful work in downtown and business district revitalization.

This individual will exhibit a wealth of Main Street knowledge and experience, boast a proven track record of collaboration, and share our vision of creating a lively place for all while driving meaningful social and economic development throughout the greater region.

Learn more about this exciting opportunity by viewing the Leadership Profile here.

The River District Association (RDA) is excited to announce a call for proposals from professional muralists and painting contractors to help create a signature mural at one of Danville's most prominent locations.

The project will transform the gateway wall at the intersection of North Main St. and Riverside Dr., creating a vibrant welcome to visitors and residents entering Danville's River District and the North Main St. Business District. 

The RDA invites qualified artists to submit their proposals for this high-visibility project. Interested parties can download the complete Request for Proposals by clicking here. 

For additional information or questions regarding the proposal process, please contact Lashawn Farmer, director of design and expansion for the River District Association at lashawn@riverdistrictassociation.com or call 434-791-0210.

For more information, contact:                                                                 

Diana Schwartz, RDA CEO

208 N. Union Street, Suite 101                                                                                          
P.O. Box 853                                                                                                                               

Danville, VA 24543

Phone: 434.791.0210

Email: Diana@riverdistrictassociation.com

River District Association Announces New Director of Promotions and Communications

For Immediate Release

DANVILLE, Va. (April 15, 2025) – The River District Association (RDA) has appointed Shane Brogden as the new director of promotions and communications, effective April 14.

Brogden will manage the organizational communications, including website management, social   media engagement and press releases. He will create promotional content highlighting River District businesses and attractions, coordinate specialevents and serve as the primary  communications liaison for businesses in the River District Association.

"We are thrilled that Shane has chosen the River District Association to utilize his vast  knowledge of communications, marketing and promotions,” said Diana Schwartz, River District Association CEO. “Telling the story and promoting events and information about our community, businesses, stakeholders and our organization is one of our most important functions that RDA serves, and Shane brings a great deal of expertise to accomplish this very important work.  We are thrilled that he is now part of our RDA team."

A native of South Boston, Virginia, Brogden graduated from Averett University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a concentration in journalism. He began his career at God’s Pit Crew, where he started as promotions and media coordinator from 2014-2017, then served as marketing director from 2017-2023. Most recently, he served as development marketing and communications specialist at Averett University.

“When I moved to Danville in 2017, the view from my apartment windows on Main Street was the iconic Home sign. I quickly fell in love with the River District everything it has to offer,” Brogden said. “I am honored and excited to bring my skill set to the RDA team and contribute to the ongoing revitalization, growth and promotion of all businesses and events here in Danville’s River District.

For more information about the River District Association, or if you have any questions, please visit www.riverdistrictassociation.com

About River District Association

The River District Association was organized in 1999 as the Downtown Danville Association and rebranded in May 2015 to complement the City’s River District brand. RDA is an accredited Virginia and National Main Street Community. 

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Whether you live in the River District or own a business downtown, we want to hear from YOU! Take our survey, in partnership with the River District Association and lead the change you want to see in our region!
Click here to voice your thoughts on housing, entertainment, retail options, and more in the River District: https://forms.office.com/r/VjxdwcUE05