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For decades, the promise of economic revitalization has tantalized Southwest Virginia. The sparsely populated region, once home to booming coal mining and tobacco industries, has had money and resources thrown at it by local, state and federal governments, but it’s still had a difficult time finding its footing.

Young people drove population growth in large cities for decades but have bolted for small towns since 2020 even though COVID-19 has eased.

The database, from the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, also shows a drop in local approvals of solar projects.

A new generation of Virginia farmers faced with rising operational costs are rethinking their goals and changing their business models.