Showcasing the investments and achievements of Roanoke County's existing business partners.
Business Partners Newsletter
CHAIRMAN JASON PETERS DELIVERS
STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS 

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jason Peters
In this year's address, county board of supervisors Chairman Jason Peters spent about 30 seconds Tuesday talking about the accomplishments of 2015 and about 20 minutes discussing Roanoke County's economic future.

"The economy goes in cycles," he said. "One business closes, another opens. We are no different than any other community in that regard. Government cannot control these cycles, but we can build a solid economic foundation that allows us to lessen the impacts on our community."

Peters spoke to a crowd of about 250 people after school board Chairman David Wymer at the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual event at the Green Ridge Recreation Center. Economic prosperity has been Peters' top priority during his second year on the board and first year as chairman.

School Board Chairman David Wymer
Click here to read more of Carmen Forman's article in the Roanoke Times.




2015 STATE OF THE TOWN ADDRESS &  
NEW CHAMBER OFFICERS

Each November the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Vinton join forces to reflect on the past year and also to elect officers for the Chamber for the coming year. They sponsor an early morning breakfast meeting for local government leaders, town staff, and local business leaders.

The mayor and town manager generally open the meeting with a Powerpoint presentation on the accomplishments of the past year. This year the Mayor took the podium to the music of "Celebrate" as he said Vinton has much to be joyful about this year.

To read the entire article by Debbie Adams in the Vinton Messenger, click here.



V IRGINIA CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER ADDRESSES CYBERSECURITY
In support of the Cybersecurity workshops offered by Roanoke County, Mike Watson, Virginia's Chief Information Security Officer shares ways to protect your business and your business clients in this four minute video.   
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE
CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING
WITH A RIBBON CUTTING EVENT


Movement Mortgage held its grand opening at 3922 Electric Road on Tuesday, December 8th. The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting event and Roanoke County Economic Development presented a Certificate of Appreciation to David Henry, Loan Officer and Market Leader, on behalf of his colleagues. Movement Mortgage was created in 2008 and has 350 locations in 40 states with 2,200 employees.

Movement Mortgage is known for its 7 day loan process. Last year, Movement Mortgage was recognized by Mortgage Technology Magazine as one of the 50 Top Tech-Savvy Lenders & Servicers and, in 2013, Inc. Magazine recognized Movement Mortgage as the fastest growing mortgage bank in the country. Welcome to Roanoke County!

BLISS STUDIO OPENS
IN THE FORUM SHOPPING CENTER

(L to R) Holly Fox, Lauren Metro, Kristen Rocha, Brandy Moorman, Roanoke County Supervisor Charlotte Moore, Emily Miller, Hope Rolon and Strauss Constructions's Darlene Kennedy.

Roanoke County Supervisor Charlotte Moore presenting the Certificate of Appreciation to Bliss Studio's Kristen Rocha.
A ribbon cutting event was held on November 19 for the Forum Shopping Center's newest tenant, Bliss Studio. To read more about the grand opening, click
here for Frances Roger's article in SWO-CO and to see more photos.

CONGRATULATIONS TO  
NAJI KARIM & COLLEAGUES  AT CARTRIDGE WORLD 
ON THE NOVEMBER 5th
GRAND OPENING OF
THEIR SECOND STORE LOCATED
IN THE KROGER SQUARE
 IN BONSACK

FREEDOM FIRST CREDIT UNION RECEIVES MULTIPLE AWARDS 
  • Freedom First was awarded Affiliate Firm of the Year by the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®.
  • Freedom First received two first place awards in the annual state-level Dora Maxwell and Louise Herring awards sponsored by the Virginia Credit Union League (VACUL).
  • Freedom First received $1 Million from National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.
  • Freedom First won $1.7 Million 2015 Wells Fargo NEXT Opportunity Award to Expand Leading-Edge Consumer Finance Strategies.
SALEM-ROANOKE COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S FOUNDATION
IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE
MID-CAREER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 
 
T o learn more, visit their webpage at
ROANOKE COUNTY PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM WINS 3 SUMMIT AWARDS
Congratulations to the Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department for receiving three Summit Awards which were presented by the Public Relations Society of America's Blue Ridge Chapter for outstanding work in public relations. The department received a gold award in the modest budget category for the 2015 Camp Roanoke Public Service Announcement. Also in the modest budget category, the department received a silver award in print publications for the Recreation Coloring Book. Parks, Recreation and Tourism earned an additional silver award in website development for the new www.RoanokeCountyParks.com redesign. These awards were presented at the annual awards gala at Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center on November 6, 2015.

SBA SEEKS 2016
SMALL BUSINESS WEEK AWARD NOMINEES
 
The U.S. Small Business Administration's Richmond District Office is accepting nominations for the successful small business person who might become Virginia's 2016 Small Business Person of the Year and compete for the national title during National Small Business Week, May 2-6, 2016. Nominees are also sought for Exporter of the Year. The submission deadline is Monday, January 11, 2016.
ROANOKE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REDUCES BUSINESS TAX FOR FOOD TRUCKS
On November 10, 2015, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to reduce the business license tax for food trucks and other businesses classified as peddlers and itinerant merchants. The business license tax has been reduced from $500.00 per year for every established location to $50.00 per year without a limit on the number of locations. Simply stated, now food trucks will be able to sell anywhere in the county with property owner permission for $50.00 per year.

The ordinance is already in effect and food trucks are invited to come to the Roanoke County Administration Center at 5204 Bernard Drive to apply for a business license with the Commissioner of the Revenue. To receive a business license, the proper permit/license from the Health Department will need to be submitted. If the food truck business is based in Roanoke County, additional zoning requirements may apply.
VIRGINIA LAUNCHES TOOL TO HELP
BUSINESSES LAND STATE CONTRACTS 

Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Wednesday a new, free tool that aims to make it easier for businesses to land state contracts.

B2B Connect is an online, publicly accessible message board. It is designed to help businesses show their willingness to partner with others on a Virginia contract.

The tool is available on Virginia's procurement website and mobile app, eVA Mobile 4 Business.   Click here for more.

ROANOKE COUNTY USES PHONE SURVEY FOR THE COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS


This past September, the Board of Supervisors and County staff met, and ultimately agreed, to move forward with the process of developing Roanoke County's first Community Strategic Plan.
The first step of this community strategic planning process is to complete a community-wide survey. Roanoke County contracted with the Roanoke College Institute for Policy and Opinion Research to perform and complete a random telephone survey by mid-November. The survey questions included what Roanoke County citizens think are the most important strategic issues facing the County over the next five years, as well as rating the importance and quality of public services the County currently offers. The survey is now complete and the results are being compiled. These results will be presented to the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors in January of 2016. As the strategic planning process moves forward, the public will be invited to participate.
.
Please take a moment and share your feedback through the link below to an online survey about existing transit services in the Roanoke Valley. Your comments will help the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission in future transit planning and implementation.

Virginia employers will pay lower unemployment insurance taxes as the commonwealth's economy improves.
  Read more. 


For upcoming classes for start-up businesses from marketing to on-line with Google, visit the Small Business Development Center's website.
www.rrsbdc.org
 
VINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY  
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
 
Tuesday, December 15 at noon
Vinton Baptist Church, small dining room

Get your ticket at the museum (540-342-8634) or call Mattie Forbes (540-890-2331)
Deadline is December 9 by noon.
Investment Basics
FINL 2206

Whether you wish to pick individual stocks yourself, evaluate your investment manager, or just understand your 401K better, Investment Basics explains it all. Upon completion of this 12-hour comprehensive workshop, you will feel more confident speaking with investment professionals and making investment decisions.

For more information
Contact Paulette Parkhill
(540) 857-6514 or

ROANOKE COUNTY
BUSINESS PARTNERS


December 2015 

This program will air from the first week of October until the last week of December. The show features one technology business, one non-profit incubator and a former school building transformed into lofts plus a business spotlight on philanthropy.

 




Roanoke County Business Partners airs every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and every Friday at 6:00 p.m. on RVTV Channel 3.

Department of Economic Development | Roanoke County, VA | (540) 772-2069 | Email | Website
STAY CONNECTED: