Vinton’s Planning and Zoning Director Anita McMillan has been awarded the prestigious 2026
Bluebell Award that recognizes Virginia’s Equity and Inclusion Advocate of the Year. The
award is presented annually by the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA
Virginia).
The Bluebell Award recognizes an individual who exemplifies community-driven, inclusive, and
equitable planning practices that strengthen opportunity and quality of life across the
Commonwealth.
For more than three decades, McMillan has demonstrated that equitable planning is achieved
through sustained commitment, intentional investment, and a focus on the needs of residents who
have historically faced barriers to opportunity.
When she began her tenure, the Town of Vinton was a post-industrial community grappling with
aging infrastructure, recurring flooding, limited economic growth, and the lingering impacts of
segregation– particularly in historically Black neighborhoods, such as Glade Town and Midway.
McMillan approached these challenges with a steadfast equity-first mindset and spent the next 30
years quietly transforming the town’s trajectory. Her work has delivered targeted stormwater
solutions that reduced long-standing flooding, expanded greenways and public spaces that
reconnected neighborhoods, and supported downtown revitalization efforts that strengthened
economic opportunity.
Projects including Walnut Avenue Bike/Pedestrian Improvements, Wolf Creek and Glade Creek
Greenway expansions, and multiple crosswalk and intersection enhancements reflect her
consistent commitment to mobility equity, particularly for residents who rely on walking or
bicycling.
Her leadership also advanced environmental justice through the Midway Community Flood
Mitigation Project, Woodland Place Stream Restoration, and brownfields assessments that made
reinvestment possible in historically underserved areas.
McMillan’s work demonstrates how equity can be advanced in small communities through the
strategic use of grant funding, phased implementation, and cross‑sector partnerships. Her efforts
have produced safer streets, improved environmental conditions, and expanded access to
recreation and transportation.
Today, residents can walk along corridors that once lacked sidewalks, cross busy streets safely,
and travel through Vinton’s neighborhoods with dignity and confidence. Her work has elevated
Vinton as a regional planning partner and contributed to the early development of the Roanoke
Valley Greenway system.
Guided by a belief that planning should reflect the needs of those most affected, McMillan has
consistently directed investments toward improving safety, accessibility, and quality of life for
all residents. Her work has strengthened neighborhood connections, expanded recreational
opportunities, and created a more accessible and inclusive community.
Beyond physical improvements, McMillan has built public trust through collaborative
leadership, regional engagement, and mentorship. By turning long-range community goals into
tangible results, she has demonstrated the value of planning while inspiring future professionals
and fostering a culture of inclusion within the planning field.
“Anita McMillan’s career shows how equity is advanced through consistent, thoughtful action,”
said Julie Chop, APA Virginia Vice President of External Affairs. “Her work demonstrates the
power of planning to uplift communities, expand opportunity, and ensure every resident is
considered in the decisions that shape their future.”
The planning awards were presented at the chapter’s annual conference on Tuesday, July 28, at
the Caesar’s hotel in Danville.
The mission of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association is to make great
communities happen in Virginia by offering continuing professional development and other
valuable services to planners that will enable them to excel in their practice. They are committed
to raising awareness about the many benefits that planning offers as a foundation for effectively
addressing the physical, economic, and social changes that take place in Virginia, and to
providing effective leadership in planning advocacy reflective of a diverse geography and
population.
~Submitted by APA Virginia
