Meet Stacy Garrett

New Downtown Lynchburg Association Executive Director Stacy Garrett brings a resident’s perspective, a servant’s mindset, and a vision for a cleaner, more vibrant Main Street

“I was a military child, so I’ve lived all over the world, but I lived in Virginia the most growing up—Virginia feels like home the most to me,” Stacy Garrett, Executive Director of the Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA) said.

Garrett stepped into the role in July 2025, following more than 20 years at Miller Home for Girls. The Downtown Lynchburg Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, works to create a strong and welcoming downtown through marketing, business support, beautification, placemaking, and events.

A downtown resident for more than a decade, Garrett considers herself more than an administrator—she’s a stakeholder.

“People my age are often talking about retirement, not new positions,” Garrett laughed. “But I live downtown. I’ve been here for 12 years. I’ve seen the revitalization and the energy. I get to live here and be part of the voice and pulse—the behind-the-scenes and the inside-the-scenes.”

It’s this personal investment in the downtown footprint—which stretches from the Riverfront to Clay Street and up 5th and 12th Streets—that shapes her leadership.

“On my walking commute to work, I see new businesses opening and it excites me,” she shared. “I was saying yesterday that you could tell it was 50 degrees out because people were everywhere. It’s fun to see people out and about, visiting shops, walking trails, strolling Main Street.”

Garrett believes that loving downtown means caring for it. Often seen with a trash bag in hand, personally picking up stray pieces of litter, Garrett is passionate about advocating for a cleaner and safer downtown—and that begins with her personal efforts as a resident. She believes that downtown Lynchburg residents are stakeholders in the community and should be encouraged to shop from local retailers, eat at local restaurants, champion the cleanliness of the bustling streets, and encourage friends and family to do the same.

“We are also adding banners and flower baskets to make the downtown more welcoming this spring—to remind people of just how beautiful downtown Lynchburg really is,” she said.

According to Garrett, increasing visitors to downtown Lynchburg directly impacts the City of Lynchburg’s revenue, reiterating that “when downtown thrives, the whole city benefits.”

In fact, according to the DLA’s 2024 Annual Report, Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk generated an estimated $930,000 in local economic impact over its six-week winter run—just one example of how events ripple outward.

Garrett sees room for even more.

“Festivals are a big part of fostering community connection,” she said. “Whether it’s Books & Brews, Loft Tours, Bright Nights, the international festival, the fireworks—we have the large events, but also we need to collaborate with local restaurants and retail about smaller events. We need to fill the downtown with joy.”

But she’s quick to note that sustaining that momentum requires shared investment.

“With any nonprofit, it’s finding people who will sponsor, who will give their time, who want to invest in the legacy,” she said. “Whether it’s sponsoring a flower basket or a volunteer clean-up, it’s about people choosing to make downtown a great place overall.”