Which Localities Does the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission Serve?

The Mount Rogers Planning District Commission (MRPDC) serves eight member localities in southwest Virginia: the Counties of Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe, plus the Cities of Bristol and Galax. The commission summarizes this as “Eight localities, one region,” and has served that footprint since it was established in July 1969 under the Virginia Regional Cooperation Act.

The full member list

That is six counties and two cities, for a total of eight jurisdictions.

What the service area means in practice

MRPDC is one of 21 planning district commissions in the Commonwealth. Within its eight-locality region, it provides technical assistance in economic and community development, public management and administration, and cartography. Its stated mission is to help member localities plan for growth, connect people to opportunity, and make the most of every regional dollar.

Because the district is defined by membership rather than by a single county line, a practical rule applies: if a project, funding question, or planning matter concerns one of the six counties or two cities listed above, it falls within MRPDC’s region. If it concerns a locality outside that list, it belongs to a different planning district commission.

Where to confirm details

The commission’s site (mrpdc.org) lists the member localities in its navigation and on its home page, alongside sections for planning, transportation, community development, housing development, and meetings. For jurisdiction-specific questions, the Member Localities and Staff Directory pages are the most direct places to check current contacts.