Blueprint

More muscle is being added to the effort to improve downtown Harrisonburg.

On July 1, Eddie Bumbaugh will begin his job as the first executive director of the group Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance.

He was selected from 55 applicants, and was the assistant director of the Community Mediation Center for the past 13 years.

Bumbaugh was born in Rockingham County and graduated from James Madison University. He received his masters from Virginia Commonwealth University in social work.

Bumbaugh says a lot of resources are working together to create a revitalized downtown.

"In addition to Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, we have the Children's Museum downtown, Greenway project underway, the Arts Council that's active, and a series of other organizations and initiatives that are coming together at the same time."

The non-profit organization will receive $80,000 from the city and plans to raise $20,000 on its own.