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Harvesting New Ideas in Peanut Country

Nestled in the Southeastern portion of Virginia lies a hidden gem rich in agricultural heritage: Peanut Country. From quaint storefronts offering a variety of gourmet peanuts to sprawling farms where generations have perfected their craft, this area has solidified its spot as an important part of Virginia’s agricultural economy thanks to its continued commitment to one of America’s favorite legumes.

But as our Community Conversations team learned on a recent trip to Southeastern Virginia, the pull between maintaining a rural, small town feel and embracing the potential benefits of urbanization hangs in the balance. On this trip, the team experienced two very different Peanut Countries, one working to make a comeback, and one working to preserve its rural identity amidst an appetite to expand.

During this trip, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin was joined by Regional Executive Renee Haltom and Community Development Manager Jarrod Elwell to better understand the strengths and challenges of these two very different Southeastern Virginia communities.

Greensville County and Emporia: Reversing Historic Disinvestment

Formerly a booming town at the crossroads of I95 and Route 58 toward the western end of Virginia’s Peanut Country, Emporia has felt the effects of decades of historic disinvestment and, ironically, disconnection from the rest of the Commonwealth. The city is undergoing a transformation fueled by grassroots efforts and strategic partnerships.

“Leadership of the City of Emporia and Greensville County are collaborating in unprecedented ways to increase the supply of quality housing, improve the district’s schools, recruit jobs with livable wages, improve the area’s infrastructure, and increase visitation and tourism,” recalls Elwell after a recent visit. In fact, the day before our team arrived, Emporia announced an exciting new partnership to create a new sports and events arena in downtown Emporia.

Emporia and Greensville County have also been making major strides in improving their schools. In 2023, the Virginia Board of Education recognized Greensville Elementary and Belfield Elementary with the Continuous Improvement Award as part of the state’s Exemplar Performance Awards.

A pivotal collaboration with Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation (SCDHC), the oldest continuously Black-led community development corporation in Virginia, signifies a beacon of hope for Emporia. Together, the city and the SCDHC are spearheading a mixed-income housing initiative complemented by comprehensive support services ranging from rental and pre-purchase counseling to foreclosure prevention, workforce development training and homeownership opportunities. SCDHC was recently awarded a performance contract through the Fannie Mae Sustainable Communities Innovation Challenge to help advance their work in Emporia.