Recognizing the work of leaders in small-town Appalachia, Virginia Tech's Outreach and International Affairs is rolling out Save Our Towns, a monthly Internet video series designed to guide and inspire those who are working hard in Appalachia to build strong communities.

Scheduled to launch Aug. 1, Save Our Towns episodes will be emailed to mayors and managers in 25 counties in Virginia. 

In a segment tagged "examples of awesome," Whitney Bonham of the Office of Economic Development will report on stories from towns such as Big Stone Gap and Glade Spring. The efforts of Mayor Kyle Fletcher of St. Paul will show up as a continuing feature, and each month the work of a Virginia Tech faculty member will be highlighted. A short tip from an expert is also part of the Save Our Towns package.

A minute-long preview can be found in this YouTube video:

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