Serving the People of Boones Mill, "Together!"

Over the past eight years, the Town of Boones Mill has made steady and meaningful progress toward strengthening its infrastructure, improving day‑to‑day operations, enhancing community spaces, and building lasting partnerships. Through thoughtful planning, responsible management of public resources, and a strong focus on collaboration, the Town has worked to address long‑standing needs while positioning Boones Mill for a stable and sustainable future.

One of the most significant areas of progress has been in water and sewer infrastructure. The Town was losing money on its water and sewer system due to years of neglect and rising operational and maintenance costs. In 2018, the Town entered into a three-year agreement with the Western Virginia Water Authority for operation and maintenance of the system. This agreement included important sewer line repairs and the creation of detailed mapping of the Town’s water and sewer infrastructure. The Town also worked with the Authority to connect the Town's water system to the regional system, thereby lowering fire insurance rates for residents and businesses. These efforts strengthened system reliability, improved emergency response capability, and ensured long‑term service for residents. Due to the continued rising operations and maintenance costs, the Town Council voted to sell the system to the Authority in 2021. As a result of the sale, water and sewer rates for Town residents were reduced nearly by half, while also eliminating approximately $420,000 in water and sewer debt service from the Town’s obligations.

Boones Mill 2040, The Town's Comprehensive Plan, was adopted in 2023, along with the Downtown Revitalization Plan, following significant public input. The two plans provide guidance for the town's future growth and specific action items to be implemented. Adoption of these plans demonstrates the Town’s long‑term vision for preserving, enhancing, and reinvesting in the heart of the community.

Boones Mill has also demonstrated strong stewardship of public assets. The Boones Mill Railway Depot is now a local community gathering place for events, meetings, and private gatherings, preserving an important piece of the Town’s history. Strategic property sales, along with cleanup efforts on Town‑owned properties, have improved the Town’s appearance and reinforced fiscal responsibility. The Town leases part of its property to businesses, thereby increasing economic activity and improving the Town's well-being. One of the leased spaces was subdivided and sold to a company that reinvested in the property and has located their corporate headquarters there.

A Special Events Ordinance now provides clearer guidance for residents, organizations, and businesses seeking to host a large event in Boones Mill, ensuring the Town is protected and compensated for services provided during the event.

The Town began in 2018, working closely with legal counsel to ensure that town policies, ordinances, and procedures are clear, consistent, compliant, and actionable based on our small size. Legal representation is critical in today's culture, and protecting the Town and the taxpayers is a priority!

Investments in general technology, law enforcement technology, and records management have enhanced efficiency and transparency. The Town upgraded its information technology systems by adding new, more efficient computers, improving digital file organization, and implementing secure backup practices it had not previously had. Improvements to the Town website have made information more accessible and easier for residents to find, supporting open communication, transparency, and public engagement.

Enhancing quality of life has remained a key priority. Continued improvements and maintenance at the Maurice Turner Recreation Area and Carter Park provide residents and families with safe, welcoming spaces for recreation and gatherings. These community assets contribute to the health and well‑being of the Town and help foster a sense of connection among residents. The Town worked with Appalachian Power Company to convert all the streetlights in town to LEDs, saving taxpayers money on electric costs. The Town completed its first-ever Flood Mitigation and Drainage Study in 2025, the first step toward applying for flood mitigation construction funding.

Boones Mill has also focused on strengthening its identity and supporting economic vitality. Participation with Virginia’s Blue Ridge has helped promote the Town as a destination and strengthen regional partnerships. The installation of Town entrance signs and the development of a wayfinding plan support community pride while helping visitors navigate the area.

Strong relationships and intergovernmental coordination have played a critical role in the Town’s progress. The Town has worked closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation on transportation and signage needs. Town staff worked closely with regional VDOT staff to get the downtown streets repaved in late 2023, a much-needed improvement.  The Town has fostered strong relationships with the Boone's Mill Volunteer Fire Department and Franklin County Public Safety to support emergency services and coordination. The Boones Mill Police Department’s access (which it previously lacked) to the Virginia Criminal Information Network and the National Crime Information Center, through the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police, has further strengthened public safety operations and communication. The implementation of body and car cameras for officer safety and evidence gathering was a major 2022 investment, made possible by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Throughout the past eight years, Boones Mill has emphasized collaboration, accountability, and forward thinking. Improving relationships — both within the organization and with regional partners — has helped the Town address challenges more effectively and pursue opportunities that benefit the community as a whole.

These accomplishments reflect a shared commitment by Town leadership, staff, and community members to protect what makes Boones Mill special while preparing for the future. As the Town looks ahead, it remains focused on responsible growth, strong partnerships, and continuous improvement to ensure Boones Mill remains a welcoming, resilient, and vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

Grants Awarded: 2018 to Present

Since 2018, the Town of Boones Mill has secured grant funding to support key projects, improve local services, and invest in long‑term community needs. The grants listed below reflect successful partnerships with state and regional agencies and demonstrate the Town’s ongoing commitment to responsible planning, fiscal stewardship, and community improvement.



The sale of the Town’s water and sewer system generated $200,000 in cash and eliminated $420,000 in outstanding debt, bringing the total value of the transaction to $620,000.

When the $200,000 in cash proceeds is added to the previously reported total of $1,498,994.96, the Town has received $1,698,994.96 in direct financial benefit over the past eight years.

This figure reflects only funds and debt relief directly attributable to specific actions and does not include balances or activity within the Town’s general fund.

Grants Applied For – Pending Award

The Town of Boones Mill has submitted grant applications to support priority projects and future investments in the community. The applications listed below are currently under review by funding agencies. While awards have not yet been announced, these efforts reflect the Town’s proactive approach to planning, resource development, and long‑term community improvement.

$1.3 Million EPA Cleanup Grant - Applied January 2026

$215K Flood Mitigation Property Acquisition Grant - Applied June 2025

Western Piedmont Planning District Commission Multi-Jurisdictional Generators for Critical Facilities  Grant

(Boones Mill Town Hall/Emergency Shelter Generator) - Applied June 2025

(Multi-jurisdictional generators for critical facilities are primarily funded through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants, which support the installation of backup power for infrastructure like police stations, hospitals, and water treatment plants.)

How Boones Mill Compares to Similar Small Virginia Towns With a Population Under 1,000

Analysis conducted by Microsoft 365 Copilot, April 2026

1. Water & Sewer Decisions - Better than Average

Boones Mill’s approach

• Transitioned operations to Western Virginia Water Authority (2018)
• Divested the system entirely in 2021
• Cut resident bills nearly in half
• Eliminated ~$420,000 in utility‑related debt [townofboonesmill.org]

How this compares

• Across Virginia, small municipal water systems often raise rates annually to keep up with infrastructure costs; statewide averages show 3–7% yearly increases over the last decade [vaco.org]
• Many peer towns retain ownership and struggle with deferred maintenance, limited staff capacity, and regulatory compliance

✅ Assessment:
Boones Mill’s decision to regionalize and sell is financially conservative and resident‑protective, and not common among towns this small. Most similarly sized towns absorb rising debt and increase rates instead.

2. Grant Capture & External Funding - Significantly Above Average

Boones Mill

• Secured dozens of grants since 2018
• Funding sources include FEMA, DHCD, VDH, DCJS, DEQ, VSP, VOF, NHTSA
• One Downtown Revitalization construction grant alone: $860,438
• Active pipeline of multi‑six‑figure pending applications [townofboonesmill.org]

Peer town norm

• Many towns under 500 population:
• Rely on 1–2 grants per decade
• Focus primarily on CDBG planning grants ($25k–$50k)
• Lack staff or grant‑writing continuity
• Statewide DHCD data shows competitive downtown grants going to only a handful of small towns per year [dhcd.virginia.gov]

✅ Assessment:
Boones Mill’s grant success rate places it in the top tier of small towns statewide for capacity and follow‑through.

3. Downtown & Economic Development Strategy - Ahead of the Curve for Its Size

Boones Mill

• Adopted both:
• Comprehensive Plan (Boones Mill 2040)
• Downtown Revitalization Plan
• Leveraged plans directly into construction‑level grant funding
• Converted underused properties into leased and sold economic assets [townofboonesmill.org]

Typical peer towns

• Many small towns:
• Have no current comprehensive plan
• Prepare plans only when grant‑required
• Struggle to move from “plan” → “construction funding”

✅ Assessment:
Having two adopted planning documents in active use is uncommon for towns with fewer than 300 residents and signals strong governance capacity.

4. Public Safety Investment - Strong for a Town Its Size

Boones Mill

• Police department access to VCIN and NCIC
• Body‑worn and in‑car cameras funded via ARPA
• LPR cameras through VSP grants
• Strong intergovernmental coordination [townofboonesmill.org]

Peer town reality

• Many towns this size:
• Contract law enforcement to counties
• Lack technology upgrades due to cost
• Depend solely on volunteers for emergency response

✅ Assessment:
Maintaining a technologically modern police department at this scale is above average.

5. Infrastructure Risk Planning (Flooding, Drainage) - Proactive vs. Reactive

Boones Mill

• Completed first‑ever Flood Mitigation & Drainage Study (2025)
• Positioned to apply for FEMA construction funding [townofboonesmill.org]

Typical peer towns

• Address flooding only after major events
• Often lack the engineering studies required to qualify for FEMA grants

✅ Assessment:
Proactive flood planning is rare among towns under 500 residents.

6. Technology, Transparency & Administration - Above Average

Boones Mill

• Modernized IT, records, and backups
• Rebuilt and expanded website functionality
• Actively revises ordinances with legal counsel [townofboonesmill.org]

Peer norm

• Paper records
• Minimal digital backups
• Websites with outdated or static information

✅ Assessment:
Administrative modernization is comparable to that of towns 5–10× the size of Boones Mill.

7. Bottom Line

For a town of ~250 residents, Boones Mill is operating like a much larger locality in terms of:

• Financial management
• Grant competitiveness
• Planning discipline
• Infrastructure foresight

Where many small towns are reactive, Boones Mill has been strategic and preventive—which is exactly what state and federal funding agencies reward.