Operating Budget 2025-2026

COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE

NARRATIVE

The Community Relations Office (CRO) creates consistent and informative messaging that promotes town initiatives and accomplishments; encourages citizen engagement; and works collaboratively on communication strategy across town departments. Through numerous programs and partnerships, the CRO also works to champion Blacksburg’s reputation as a warm and inviting university town, rich in cultural amenities, and prime for business opportunities. FY 2024-2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Successfully executed the project goals tied to our 3-year Communications Work Plan. o Launched an interactive, public-facing projects map, and nearing completion of graphics to demystify the development process. o Redesigned the public hearings web pages and content structure. o Designed development application summary sheets for the web. o Worked with staff and consultants to execute an education and engagement campaign for the Tom’s Creek Basin planning project. o Launched Blacksburg in Focus, a 60-90 second Facebook Reel highlighting the town and community happenings. o Launched the TOB Connects campaign highlighting the diversity of communication tools used to engage the town citizenry. o Finalized improvements to At Your Request system.

FY 2025-2026 OBJECTIVES

• Begin website redesign project. • Collaborate with local organizations on a potential rebranding project. • Continue to focus on work plan initiatives.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

2022/2023 Actual

2023/2024 Actual

2024/2025 Adopted

2024/2025 Projected

2025/2026 Proposed

Facebook Followers Twitter Followers

11,406 10,800 34,184

11,827 10,660 43,037

15,000 11,200 40,000

12,627 11,200 55,000

13,127 11,200 60,000

YouTube Views

YouTube Subscribers

714

812

825

920

1,000

YouTube Uploads/Live Streams Council Meeting Website Views Planning Commission Website Views Channel 2 Programming Hours

22

52

60

78

50

Not Available Not Available

6,739

Not Available Not Available

10,000

10,000

351

650

500

1,512 4,514

1,335 5,174

1,550 5,300

1,350 5,200

1,400 5,400

Citizens Alert Subscribers Citizens Alerts Issued

412 292

470 340

460 350

470 330

480 350

At Your Request Inquiries – Resolved

Annual Web Site Sessions

1,110,175**

453,612

1,500,000**

218,625 22,400

470,00 22,450

Let’s Talk Blacksburg Total Visits Let’s Talk Blacksburg Engaged Visitors Let’s Talk Blacksburg Informed Visitors

- -

- - -

22,300

1,200 5,200

1,300 5,300

1,500 5,500

-

** Google (GA4) no longer collects page views as measured in 22/23 and 24/25. New numbers reflect website sessions with improved accuracy. 44