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Interview

Dr. Scott Davis

Farmville’s New Town Manager

Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN FARMVILLE AND WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU REMEMBER NOTICING ABOUT THE AREA?

A: “I started working here in October of 2017, and I had a transition period before we actually moved here. As part of the job of assistant town manager, I was required to live in the town limits. And so we actually closed on a house and renovated a little bit of it. I started living here in May of ’18. My family moved in the following month in June, when school was out where we were living before.

So, I’ve been here employment-wise a little over two-and-a-half years and living here almost two years.

I had been to Farmville as a college student visiting friends who had gone to Longwood, but I hadn’t really been back probably since that time, maybe passing through. One of the first times I came back was when I was being interviewed for the position of assistant town manager and looking at the town. What I noticed is, a lot of small towns in America don’t have as prosperous and aesthetically pleasing downtown as the Town of Farmville does. When you come in and you see that type of vitality, it really captures your attention.”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FARMVILLE MEMORY?

A: “I don’t think it’s really one in particular. My first one is my wife and I bringing the kids to town for the first time and letting them see different things. We took a picture in front of the ‘LOVE’ sign. My son is on my daughter’s back, like piggyback.

And probably our first Christmas tree lighting. We got to be a part of that and part of a community event within two months of starting here. Seeing how people come together to see the tree being lit for an occasion like that, that’s a memorable event.”

Q: HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FARMVILLE GROW OR CHANGE IN THE FUTURE?

A: “I think what we have a real opportunity of growth in is entrepreneurship in a town like this. We have the opportunity to try to continue to have students attracted to the town from Longwood University or Hampden-Sydney and potentially entrepreneurship-type programs which can help our economic impact in the community and also keep a different generation in town and draw new growth from that. Being a two-college town I think we have a lot of opportunities of economic growth in certain areas of town. There are some things that are untapped that we have the opportunity to collaborate with them further and look at how we enhance our economic interests together.”

Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PEOPLE OF FARMVILLE AND YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH THEM?

A: “From the very beginning, as far as business owners to citizens to other partners in the community, everyone has been very welcoming to me and my family. I think that’s the part of being in a close-knit, small town is that you have the ability to meet people relatively easily and quickly. Fortunately, the positive part of that is that people have been very welcoming.”

Q: IF YOU HAD TO LEAVE FARMVILLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST?

A: “I would probably miss the aspect of visiting locally-owned businesses, whether it’s retail or whether it’s the restaurants. I like the ability that we have choices here, and that we are locally-owned businesses. I like to spend money with people are reinvesting in the community.”

Q: IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A PICTURE AND SHOW IT TO SOMEONE, WHAT PICTURE WOULD YOU TAKE TO REPRESENT FARMVILLE?

A: “I think it would have to be an aerial viewpoint for a lot of it to show how you can have a whole community of people in one picture. From the retail shops of downtown, to include all the different storefronts of Green Front to the recreational opportunities we have of High Bridge right there together with lodging opportunities, eating opportunities to one of the other economic engines in our area in the middle of town of Longwood University. You can see a little bit of all that makes up the town.”