Case Study

Website Redesign for Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County

Wythe County IDA website redesign case study

Background

A Local Economic Catalyst

The Joint Industrial Development Authority (JIDA) of Wythe County, Virginia, is a local economic development authority strategically located in the I-81 corridor of Southwest Virginia. JIDA’s mission is to drive industrial growth, attract new businesses, and support the expansion of existing businesses within Wythe County and its surrounding areas, including Wytheville and Rural Retreat. 

The organization works closely with state and federal agencies, as well as private sector partners, to create economic opportunities that foster job creation, expand the tax base, and elevate the overall economic health of the community.

Wythe County location on a map

“Our partnership with JIDA was rooted in their commitment to making Wythe County a hub for industrial growth and innovation. Their website needed to reflect this vibrant vision.”

Rick Whittington
Rick Whittington Whittington Consulting

The Challenge

Outdated Website, Limited Functionality, and Missed Engagement Opportunities

JIDA’s old website was holding them back. Despite their proactive, personal approach to economic development, their website was outdated, difficult to navigate, and lacked essential functionality. Specific challenges included:

  • Outdated Aesthetic: The website’s dated design didn’t align with JIDA’s brand or appeal to their target audience, giving a stale first impression.
  • Poor Mobile Responsiveness: With no mobile optimization, the site was challenging to use on smartphones and tablets, limiting access for users on the go.
  • Navigational Issues: Visitors struggled to find information due to a cluttered and unintuitive navigation structure.
  • Slow Load Times: The site suffered from slow loading speeds, a major deterrent for users. Research shows that nearly half of users abandon websites that take more than two seconds to load.
  • Limited Content Management: JIDA’s outdated content management system (CMS) made it difficult for staff to update information, creating bottlenecks and delays in sharing critical information.

In response to these issues, JIDA set clear goals to improve their website’s performance, usability, and aesthetics.

Our Solution

A Strategic Overhaul for Performance and Engagement

To meet JIDA’s goals, we implemented a comprehensive website redesign that addressed both aesthetic and functional aspects of the website:

Wythe County I-81 aerial photo

Revamped Navigation and Structure

We restructured the site’s navigation, organizing information logically to improve user flow. Key resources like site selection details, workforce data, and incentive programs are now easily accessible, helping visitors quickly locate the information they need.

Modern, Engaging Design

The new design features a clean, contemporary aesthetic with a cohesive color scheme, high-quality imagery, and custom icons that highlight Wythe County’s economic advantages. The updated design reflects the region’s appeal as a modern, welcoming rural community for businesses and residents.

WordPress Development and Mobile Optimization

We built the new site on WordPress, a user-friendly platform that supports easy updates and empowers the JIDA staff to manage their own website. Our team optimized the website for mobile devices, ensuring a consistent and enjoyable experience across smartphones, tablets, and desktops.

Enhanced Performance and SEO

We employed advanced coding practices to improve load times and search visibility. 

Client Training and Ongoing Support

To empower the JIDA team, we provided hands-on training and created a reference video for future updates. Staff can now manage content changes independently using a drag-and-drop editor, eliminating the need for external support or coding knowledge.

The Results

A High-Performing, Engaging Digital Presence

The redesigned JIDA website has transformed into a valuable asset for Wythe County’s economic development efforts. Key achievements include:

2459592_WytheIDACaseStudyGraphics_600x412px_090524

Modern, Attractive Interface

The fresh, engaging design with a modern color scheme, custom icons, and high-quality images makes a compelling first impression on potential investors and site selectors.

Enhanced Engagement

With intuitive navigation and optimized user experience, visitors are spending more time on the website and looking at more pages.

Full Mobile Accessibility

The fully responsive design allows users to access the site seamlessly from any device, ensuring they can engage with JIDA’s resources anytime, anywhere.

Empowered Content Management

JIDA’s team now has complete control over content updates, enabling them to regularly add new information without technical support. This capability has streamlined their communication with stakeholders and allowed them to keep the website fresh and relevant.

Top-Tier Site Speed Performance

Thanks to optimized coding and efficient design practices, the site loads quickly and ranks in the top percentiles for performance, eliminating delays that might deter visitors. Our proprietary methods allowed the JIDA website to achieve top-tier site speed rankings, scoring in the 80th percentile for mobile and the 100th percentile for desktop at the time of launch.

Thanks to optimized coding and efficient design practices, the site loads quickly and ranks in the top percentiles for performance, eliminating delays that might deter visitors. Our proprietary methods allowed the JIDA website to achieve top-tier site speed rankings, scoring in the 80th percentile for mobile and the 100th percentile for desktop at the time of launch.

View JIDA's New Website