| Business Partners Newsletter |
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August 2018: Volume 18, No. 8
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
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| Board Declares August 5-11 Farmers Market Week |
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The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors adopted a proclamation declaring the week of August 5-11, 2018 as Farmers Market Week in Roanoke County. This coincides with National Farmers Market Week and represents an opportunity to showcase the impact that local farmers and artisans have in the community. Roanoke County has several farmers market which feature vendors from throughout the region with diverse offerings and expertise. To make it easy for you to shop your local farmers market we have compiled a list of the farmers markets in Roanoke County. Show them your support this week and every week!
Support your Roanoke County Farmers Markets
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Thursday
3:30 PM - 7:00 PM |
4965 Catawba Creek Road
Catawba, VA 24070 |
| Farm to Table at Greenbrier Nurseries |
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM |
5881 Starkey Road
Roanoke, VA 24018 |
| South County Farmers Market |
Thursday - Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
3565 Electric Road
Roanoke, VA 24018 |
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Monday - Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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204 W. Lee Avenue
Vinton, VA 24179 |
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| The Roanoke Regional Partnership Needs Your Input |
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Since starting the talent program, the Roanoke Regional Partnership has received many requests for a guide that employers like you can use to complement their employment package and recruit top talent. Tell them what you want to see in such a guide by taking this quick survey.
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General Inquires
P: 540-772-2069
Economic Development
5204 Bernard Drive, SW
Room 421
PO Box 29800
Roanoke, VA 24018
Administrative Assistant
Mission Statement
To attract and facilitate the growth of innovative businesses, jobs and population that increase taxable investment and ensure sustainable world class community resources.
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| West Main Street Design Public Hearing Scheduled for August 16 |
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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is holding a Design Public Hearing on a project to install a sidewalk along West Main Street, between Salem and Technology Drive in Roanoke County. This project includes installing crosswalks and providing pedestrian signals at the intersection of Daugherty Road and Alleghany Drive / Garman Road. The Design Public Hearing is an opportunity to learn how this project may impact adjacent properties and provide input into the project. The meeting will be Thursday, August 16, 2018 at the Glenvar Library, 3917 Daugherty Road, Salem, VA 24153 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The hearing will be held in an "open house" format and VDOT representatives will be present to answer questions. The inclement weather date is set for Thursday, August 23, 2018 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Glenvar Library.
West Main Street Design Public Hearing
Thursday, August 16, 2018
4:30 - 6:30 PM
Glenvar Library
3917 Daugherty Road
Salem, VA 24153
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| Events: Business Tools for Growth |
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Business Smart Start
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August 14
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A Toolkit for 21st Century Leaders
The Business of Brewing Workshop
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August 2018 - March 2019
January 28- February 1, 2019
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Vendors are bringing a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef, bacon, sausage, eggs, as well as homemade cakes, pies, cookies, muffins and more. They also have many handmade arts and crafts. The website shows weekly updates.
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August Events at the Market
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August 9
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Celebrating National Farmers Market Week with free hot dogs and drawings for Catawba Valley Farmers Market gift certificates. Roanoke County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation designating August 5 - 11 as Farmers Market Week. |
| August 16 |
Artisans & Crafters Day - several additional craftsmen, all local & handmade items
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| August 23 |
Seniors Day -
Woodsong will provide musical entertainment on hammered dulcimer, guitar and banjo. Local agencies and businesses will display information of interest to senior citizens. Homestead Creamery will be on site with their homemade ice cream.
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| August 30 |
Simple Gifts of the Blue Ridge perform traditional folk music from the Appalachian and Celtic cultures. Instruments include hammered dulcimer, guitar, flute, bass.
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Check out the new website for updates on what is happening at the Market!
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Cyber Security and Privacy
The U.S. takes the hardest financial hit when it comes to data breaching. At our next Facts & Snacks from 3 to 4 p.m. on August 30, we will discuss the importance of Cyber Security and Privacy. Our group will meet in room 710 at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center, 108 N. Jefferson St., Roanoke. Visit us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/vtrke to get up-to-date info on all our upcoming events!
RSVP to Martha Franklin, [email protected], if you'd like to attend. Event is free. Register early, limited seating. Free parking to the first 20 registrants!
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Parkside Storage expands to Plantation Road
Parkside Storage held a grand opening and ribbon cutting event on July 17, 2018 with the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Plantation Road facility is the second for Parkside Storage and the brand new building marks the first new project following the construction of the shared-use path within the Reimagine Hollins study area.
Parkside Storage
7544 Plantation Road
Roanoke, VA 24019
540-206-3444
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FarmBurguesa brings farm-to-table burgers in Vinton
2018 Gauntlet business program graduates, Ashley Overbay and Kat Pascal, celebrated the grand opening of their family business FarmBurguesa on July 24
, 2018
. FarmBurguesa is a farm-to-table restaurant offering unique burger combinations. The name is a play on the Spanish word for hamburger, hamburguesa. The food menu is sourced from local farmers.
FarmBurguesa
303 S. Pollard Street
Vinton, Virginia 24179
540-595-7778
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Intrepid USA Healthcare celebrates new location
Intrepid USA Healthcare celebrated their new office with a ribbon cutting and open house hosted by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce on July 26
, 2018
. Intrepid USA Healthcare Services provides both home healthcare and hospice services in the Roanoke area and chose to remain in Roanoke County having relocated from Plantation Road.
Intrepid Home Healthcare
4005 Electric Road
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
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Equestrian services now available at Explore Park
Roanoke County announced the introduction equestrian services at Explore Park with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, July 14, 2018. The ceremonial event was followed immediately by horse demonstrations and short trail rides provided by Reba Farm Inn & Saddle Soar Equitainment.
Reba Farm will operate equestrian services at a newly established area of the park called
Niagara Ranch at Explore Park, which is located at 3204 Highland Rd., Roanoke, VA 24014. Throughout the summer, horseback riding camps will be available on site for ages 8 to 18. Later this season the company plans to offer trail rides for various skill levels, western horsemanship lessons and specialty rides including an obstacle course. In future seasons there are plans to add trailering and equestrian camping opportunities.
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National Recreation and Parks Association report features Roanoke Region
T
he Roanoke Regional Partnership and Roanoke Outside
are featured as a successful case study in a just-released National Recreation and Park Association
report,
Promoting Parks and Recreation's Role in Economic Development
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The report acknowledges that Roanoke Outside, working with the City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation and other parks departments "have helped establish a new brand for the Roanoke Region."
The case study (page 12) addresses the impact of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon and GO Fest on the region's image as an active outdoor community. It also notes the impact of that image on attracting businesses that share those outside values such as Deschutes Brewery, Humm Kombucha, and Backcountry.com.
The community's reputation for livability also aids talent recruitment for institutions such as the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute.
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CNBC ranks Virginia as fourth top state for business
Virginia moved up again this year in a prominent ranking of the best states for doing business.
Virginia came in at No. 4 on this year's list of the top states, released Tuesday morning by financial news cable network CNBC.
Virginia has been improving its ranking in recent years. The state was ranked the seventh best place for business in 2017, 13th in 2016, No. 12 in 2015, No. 8 in 2014 and No. 5 in 2013.
Virginia was CNBC's top-ranked state for business in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
"Not only does the state have the educated, available workforce that employers demand, it has also become a leader in business friendliness with the passage earlier this year of a bipartisan regulatory reform bill aimed at reducing regulations by 25 percent in the next three years," CNBC said.
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Roanoke County is in the top 100 healthiest communities
The U.S. News Healthiest Communities rankings measure crucial health-related components of society with the aim of empowering citizens, health care leaders and officials to make decisions about policies and practices that can improve health outcomes for all. Guided by a pioneering framework developed by a committee appointed to advise the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the project scores nearly 3,000 counties on approximately 80 indicators across 10 categories that drive health outcomes. Population health and equity are the most heavily weighted categories, based on the assessments of more than a dozen leading experts on what matters most to a community's health.
Of the 500 communities nationwide, Roanoke County was ranked 99th.
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Roanoke featured in Outside magazine
Roanoke was named as one of Outside magazine's "smartest" towns in its "Best Places to Live" issue, August 2018.
In previous years, the magazine has included cities in a list and written blurbs about each one. However, this year Outside came up with a narrative of six habits of successful cities and wrote about places that displayed those traits. Editor Nicholas Hunt said Roanoke had several traits that made it stand out among successful cities, especially in its recruitment of Deschutes Brewery's new East Coast location and the city's embrace of the brewing scene, which adds to the culture of a young, hip city.
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How to start a carpool with help from Ride Solutions
It may not look like it, but every day our streets are filled with a tremendous mass transit opportunity. Look at any car commuting on I-81 into Roanoke, or check out the vehicle next to you while you're crawling onto 220 north in Clearbrook one morning, and you'll see it. In fact, there a good chance all you have to do is look in your own rearview mirror and you're likely to see a way to move more people through the same number of lanes at twice the speed, all while cutting your commute costs by half or more: empty seats in every car.
Sure, commuting alone is unavoidable for many people, for many reasons. But for most folks, filling an empty seat is easy and has immediate financial benefits.
As employers, you play a major role in helping your employees connect to other commuters through carpooling. But how to get started?
RIDE Solutions has some easy recommendations to get you going.
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Roanoke Airport wins grant to expand service westward
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport will use $750,000 in newly awarded grant money to bargain for one or more new nonstop flights west, officials said Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved Roanoke's application for a Small Community Air Service Development Program grant.
High fares and limited flight options to the western United States hamper travelers using Roanoke's airport. Airport administrators and the Roanoke Regional Chamber are offering to take the grant, along with donations made by businesses interested in better service, and apply it to the start-up costs that a new route could impose on an airline.
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The Advancement Foundation has part-time and full-time Americorps Service opportunities
Part-time and Full-time Americorps Service Opportunity for college graduates, folks ready to enter the workforce, and retirees. Duties will include working for organizations serving the community involving economic development and education. Potential candidates will be passionate about helping others, proficient with Microsoft Office, and have excellent written and oral communication skills. Please contact Judy Wood of The Advancement Foundation for more information and first round interview.
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| Virginia International Trade Events |
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Trade Missions
Be part of one of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's Trade Missions and enjoy private, one-on-one meetings with prospective customers and partners. These well-planned visits are business me
etings set up on your behalf, with your input, to save you time and maximize your results.
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| Columbia |
Morocco & South Africa |
| October 1-5, 2018 |
October 24-30, 2018 |
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Registration Deadline: August 2, 2018
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Registration Deadline:
August 24, 2018
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Learn More
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Learn More |
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| Roanoke County Business Partners Show on RVTV |
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On this mont
h's show, we attend the ribbon cutting for the first new facility along the Plantation Road shared use path, Parkside Storage. We speak with Bob Archer to learn about Blue Ridge Beverage's current expansion project. Finally, we celebrate the grand opening of Farmburguesa, which is a business that participated in the Gauntlet Business Plan Competition, to hear about their experience in the competition and their fresh take on burgers.
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