Business Partners Newsletter
May 2016: Volume 16, No. 5
 
The E-newsletter of the Roanoke County Economic Development Department is designed to showcase the investments and achievements of our existing business partners. For additional information about doing business in Roanoke County, visit our website.
Business Friendly Board Lowers
Machinery & Tools Tax
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Read All About It
Roanoke County again lowers the Machinery and Tools tax by $.05/$100 of assessed value, representing a two year reduction in the M&T tax rate. The $.10/$100 two-year reduction demonstrates Roanoke County's business friendly environment is welcoming to manufacturers!

County Economic Development & Business
In the News....
 



 
Roanoke County Links
General Inquires
 
P: (540) 772-2069
F: (540) 772-2030

Address
 
Department of Economic Development
5204 Bernard Drive, SW
Room 421
PO Box 29800
Roanoke, VA 24018

Contacts
 
Jill Loope
Director

Jay Brenchick
Economic Development Manager

Joe Zielinski
Economic Development Specialist

Glenna Ratcliffe
Administrative Assistant

Mission  
 
To design and implement innovative economic development programs and services that leverage community assets, create wealth and prosperity, and embrace the region's  
future.
 
 
A good move for more than just your business.
RBTC Cyber Security Forum  -  May 3
What is the right systematic, accountable, and documented framework for managing exposure of vulnerabilities through timely deployment of patches?
 
We will discuss the challenges, issues, and share in best practices toward this most challenging topic...
 
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Rackspace in Blacksburg
1691 Innovation Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060
  
Williamson Road Celebrates Restaurant Week  May 2 - 8
36 Restaurants, Representing 9 Cultures Offering Specials all Week Long!
 
Join the Williamson Road Area Business Association in celebrating the diversity of cuisine and culture represented on Williamson Road!
 
We have 36 restaurants representing over 9 cultures from American to Greek, Korean, Mexican and more!
 
It is so easy and tasty you will want to choose a different restaurant each day of the week!
 
Williamson Road has been celebrating Restaurant Week since October 2013 at least once, if not twice a year. This is a great time to try a new place and see all of the businesses along Williamson Road who are ready to serve you.

Visit www.wraba.org and look for the Restaurant Week button where you can b rowse participating restaurants and their specials.

More than $105,000 in Cash and Services Awarded to....
 
Over 20 business competed in the Gauntlet
Andy Bishop, Barry Robertson, and Jason Bishop,  
Twin Creeks Brewing Co.
Scott Dreyer, Dreyer Academy
Denise Membrano
New Moon Creative
Creativity and ingenuity abound for an exciting conclusion to many months of hard work by the graduates of the third annual Gauntlet Business Competition. All participants were awarded cash prizes and services totaling more than $105,000! This was the largest participating event in Virginia under the Governor's new Community Business Launch (CBL) program! Congratulations to the entrepreneurs who completed weeks of seminars and business planning to learn how to start, and grow, their businesses. 
 
A special congratulations goes to the top three finishers: Twin Creeks Brewing Company, Dreyer Academy, and New Moon Creative Media.

Twin Creeks Brewery is redefining "great" beer! Andy Bishop, Barry Robertson, and Jason Bishop have followed their passion for home brewing and are entering the craft beer industry. Look for their nano-brewery to open in downtown Vinton in the coming months. 

Scott Dreyer is the creative mind behind the Dreyer Academy, an online conversational English emersion program for Chinese students. He employs 6 teachers who work comfortably from their home here in Virginia and is looking to expand.

New Moon Creative helps people tell their stories via TV commercials and shows, as well as corporate and web videos. Owner Denise Membrano plans to shoot and stream live events such as concerts and sporting events. New Moon Creative plans to debut their  Roots to Rock TV show on PBS in the coming year.  
 
Additional winners included: 
     
A Great Green Clean 
Earthworks Pottery
 
Adorn 
Flycodes Socks 
Ask Shelia
Hamm's Fine Foods
Bubbles and Bobbles Boutiques of Virginia
INVOKE Ministries 
BuzzBoards  Memorable Creations 
Conversion Peace  Mental Courses 
Cruiser Cargos  Our Forever Home 
Discount Computer Services
PA on Demand 
Divine Precepts  United Cement Finishers 
 
www.facebook.com/events

 
Roanoke County Educators and Businesses Honored at TechNite!
   


Finalist in the Rising Star and

Innovator Categories  

www.apptech-solutions.com


 
   
 
Finalist in the Innovator Category   www.driveorigo.com 


Roanoke County Educator Shawn Burns Delivers Acceptance Speech
County Administrator Tom Gates Announces Leadership Award Winner
   
The Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council honored a talented group of companies and individuals at its annual TechNite  awards banquet, which was held at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center on April 22, 2016.

The Economic Development Department was honored to sponsor the Leadership Award portion of TechNite.

Congratulations are in order for Apptech Solutions for having been a finalist in two categories; Rising Star and Innovator. 

We also congratulate last year's Rising Star winner, Origo, for being a finalist in the Innovator category.  

A big congratulations goes out to Shawn Burns from Roanoke County Public Schools for being one of the STEM Educator Award winners.

Roanoke County STEM Educator Finalists were: J.W. Lee, Nick Merrill, Susheela Shanta, Stephanie Schilling, and Tina Coffey.  

TechNite Nominations were accepted for six awards: STEM-H Educator, Entrepreneur, Innovator, Regional Leadership, and Rising Star. Nominees were narrowed down to groups of ten finalists in each category and then a confidential committee of RBTC members chose award winners. The committee was also charged with naming the nominees for the People's Choice Award, as well as the nominees and winner of the Ruby Award, which recognizes a brilliant and valuable asset to the Roanoke-Blacksburg region.

AND, the winners were:

STEM Educator:

Dr. Nancy Boerth (Montgomery County Public Schools), Shawn Burns (Roanoke County Public Schools)

Entrepreneur:

Nanci Hardwick, Aeroprobe Corporation

Innovator:

Synthonics, Inc.

Regional Leadership:
Marty Muscatello, Foxguard Solutions/Qualtrax

Rising Star:

Industrial Biodynamics

Ruby Award:

Dr. Robert Sandel, Virginia Western Community College

The RBTC also inducted a new member into its Technology Hall of Fame during the event: Dr. Joe Meredith, former RBTC President, and current President and CEO of Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.
  
VSBFA's Economic Development Loan Fund
 
The Economic Development Loan Fund Program provides "gap financing" for up to 40% of your project with approval amounts higher for distressed localities.
  
The interest rate is currently 4.0% for businesses and reduced to 2.44% if the locality (IDA/EDA) wishes to become the borrower. With NO ORIGINATION FEES, this is a great tool to use when a project needs an additional lender to fill a financial gap.

For More Information Contact:
Jay Brenchick, Economic Development Manager
(540) 772-2070
Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors Dedicates Park New Bench
The Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors (RVAR) held a dedication ceremony on April 21, 2016 for a new bench along the Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail in Roanoke County.

Members of the RVAR Board of Directors and Community Service Committee dedicated the bench at a ribbon cutting ceremony along with representatives from the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department, and the Economic Development Department. 

RVAR received grants in 2015 from the National Association of REALTORS® and the Virginia Association of REALTORS® to install the bench which features an accessible pad for individuals with mobility issues. "We [REALTORS®] understand Greenways play a key role in making Roanoke a better place to live, work and play," stated Donna Marie Harris, 2016 RVAR President.

RVAR hopes that folks will "Sit! Relax! Linger!" at this tranquil spot along Mason Creek.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a commemorative bench or tree in a park or along a greenway in Roanoke County, please contact:

Wendi Schultz
Parks, Recreation and Tourism
(540) 777-6326

Free Business Networking Breakfast on May 12th
 
  Meet Fellow Business Owners!
 
The breakfast is free for any business owner on Brambleton Ave in or around the Brambleton Avenue area.

This is a great opportunity for business owners to come and meet the other owners in the area. There will be a drawing to win various items including a $100 gift card, gift baskets, passes to Green Ridge Recreation Center and other items.


 Thursday, May 12, 2016
8:15 am - 8:45 am
Woodlawn United Methodist Church
2922 Corbieshaw Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015

Please RSVP to [email protected]
Be sure to bring your business cards to be entered into the drawing.
Members and nonmembers are encouraged to come! 

Free Business Workshops Offered May 12, 18, and June 9


 WORKSHOPS  
  


  Roanoke County & The City of Roanoke are working together to bring you: 
 
 
Doing Business With The Commonwealth Workshop

 

Connect your business to Virginia's $6 billion government market. Learn how to run reports to identify agency targets, spend history, and to get registered to Sell to the Commonwealth!
  
South County Library
May 12 -  9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
 
  
Incentivized Apprenticeship Program Brown Bag Lunch and Learn Workshop

Learn how your business can get Reimbursed for participating in the Virginia Registered Apprenticeship Program. 
 
South County Library
May 18 - 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
 
 
Entrepreneur Express 4 Hour Workshop
 
Learn the steps necessary to run an effective and efficient business in this 4 hour Intensive Workshop.
 
South County Library
June 9 - 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
 
More Information to Follow
 
South County Library is located at:  
6303 Merriman Rd
Cave Spring, VA 24018
 
Workshops sponsored by Roanoke County Department of Economic Development 
and
the City of Roanoke Department of Economic Development
Catawba Valley Farmers Market Opens May 12th!
Registration for International Trade Missions is Open!
Shake hands with potential customers and partners...in their country!
     Three Reasons to Travel with  VEDP
 
94% - The number of Virginia companies who participated in an international trade mission with VEDP would participate in another trade show or trade mission again.
 
176 - The number of Virginia companies that traveled to international markets with VEDP last year.
 
25 - The number of countries visited by Virginia companies last year.
 
 
 
Burton Engineering Expo   -   May 25th
  You are Invited!
 
Engineering students from 9th through 12th grades will be showcasing their work from this academic year.
 
Please come and engage students in discussions about their work.
  
Seniors will be showcasing their award winning Capstone Design Projects (from Fall 2015 semester), and their internship projects (from Spring 2016 semester) resulting from their efforts not only during their senior year, but is the culmination the knowledge and skills they gained over the four years in the engineering program. 
  
May 25th, 2016
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm  
In the Burton Cafétorium
1760 Roanoke Blvd
Salem, VA  
Refreshments will be provided.

Film Production Shot Entirely in Vinton and Roanoke County
Where Are You, Bobby Browning?  
 
Local filmmaker, Marc A Hutchins, chose to keep things close to home when shooting his film, Where Are You, Bobby Browning?
 
The film is about a small town woman who realizes that she picked the wrong guy in high school and travels back to her small town to make things right, but ends up trapped in a fake wedding.
 
In 2003, Marc started Alexander Films, Roanoke-based production company, with a vision to produce feature films and broadcast narratives from SW Virginia.  He produced 2 feature films before co-writing/directing/producing Crossing Streets in March 2014, a buddy cop drama shot in Roanoke City, and Where Are You, Bobby Browning?, a romantic comedy, shot in Vinton and Roanoke County in Oct 2014.
 
Both films screened at Grandin Theatre and star Hollywood actress Jen Lilley, Roanoke native and supporter of local productions.
 
In between projects, Marc spends his days writing, developing, and forging opportunities to work with other filmmakers. Marc lives in Blue Ridge, VA, with his wife and children.
 
For more information on Alexander Films or its productions visit
 
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Make a Request for FREE Business Counseling!
   
The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center offers no-cost, confidential, one-on-one business counseling to entrepreneur hopefuls and established small business owners.
They provide no-cost one-on-one business counseling in the  following areas:
  • Development of business plans
  • Marketing plans & strategy
  • Strategic planning
  • Record keeping and taxes
  • Understanding financial management
  • Government procurement
  • Business start-up and procedures
  • Regulation & licensing
  • Finding capital
  • SBA loan guarantee programs
Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center 
210 S. Jefferson St.
Roanoke, VA 24011-1702
540.983.0717
540.983.0723 (fax) 

    

Request Counseling Today!

 
Scaling Operations to Exceed $1M in Annual Revenue isn't Easy.
ScaleUp can help!
ScaleUp Roanoke Valley is a federal SBA-funded investment program designed to support businesses with the greatest potential to create jobs and increase regional wealth over the next 1-3 years.
  
The ScaleUp program is offered free of charge to a handful of select business owners and small business executives each year. Qualifying firms are provided access to world-class private consulting provided by business experts from around the country (paid for by the US Small Business Administration). They also get to participate in a weekly group-based multi-disciplinary skills training program designed specifically to increase business expansion success, drive long-term sustainable growth, and support measurable economic impact on a regional level and beyond.
  
By providing professional management training, business strategy support, and streamlined connection to a wide variety of funding sources and regional partnerships, the ScaleUp program is helping businesses expand and creating new economic opportunities all across the region.

Learn more at:
www.scaleup-roanokevalley.com 

Appalachian Tire Ribbon Cutting
County Board of Supervisors Member Martha Hooker presented a Roanoke County Certificate of Appreciation to Appalachian Tire on April 21st at their ribbon cutting ceremony.
Founded in 1947, Appalachian Tire Products, Inc. now operates 19 stores located in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.  Appalachian Tire employs approximately 200 people and has well over 120 vehicles to help meet customers' needs.
For their medium commercial truck tire customers with Goodyear and Michelin National Accounts, they provide 24 hour emergency road service. Additionally, they offer the sophisticated GTRACS retread tracking system which allows customers to track the performance of their retread tires. 
Their full-service retail stores offer complete under-car care and tire services.   
Appalachian Tire
2910 Peters Creek Road
Roanoke, VA 24109
(540) 266-7998
Strategic Planning Update
 
The final Focus Group meeting for the Community Strategic Plan was Thursday, April 28 at the V inton War Memorial. Participants got a chance to give additional input to the topics, goals, and objectives that will be used to create the first draft of the Community Strategic Plan.
The final Focus Group meeting for the Community Strategic Plan
The next set meeting will be an open house format that will allow the community to comment on the draft of the Community Strategic Plan
Next Meeting: Open House Community Meetings to comment on the Draft Community Strategic Plan
June 16: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
at the Vinton War Memorial
June 27: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
at the South County Library
Focus Group Photos
Roanoke County Business On RVTV


ROANOKE COUNTY  
BUSINESS PARTNERS
 


 
This program airs from the first week of April until the last week of June in 2016.
This episode of the Roanoke County Business Partners television show highlights opportunities to participate in community strategic planning, as well as opportunities for employment, investment, and business assistance.
 
Go to yesroanoke.com to view the latest Business Partners online video.

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.

Questions? Please visit http://yesroanoke.org/ or e-mail [email protected].
P.O. Box 29800, Roanoke, VA 24018-0798

Add [email protected] to your address book to ensure delivery of the Roanoke County ED e-mails.