Roanoke County Business Partners Newsletter
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April 2020: Volume 20, No. 4
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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With the coronavirus pandemic forcing businesses to modify the way they serve the public, we are encouraging everyone to interact with businesses and support them through this period.
Here's how you can help:
- Order delivery or curbside pickup services.
- Purchase items or gift cards to use later.
- Share your business information and encourage your friends to support them and follow them on social media.
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We’ve put together a growing list of small businesses that are currently operating under modified conditions, which you can find in the "Supporting Small Businesses" section here:
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We will continue to update these lists as we hear from more businesses.
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General Inquiries
P: 540-772-2069
F: 540-772-2030
Address
5204 Bernard Drive, SW
Room 421
PO Box 29800
Roanoke, VA 24018
Contacts
Director
Manager
Specialist
Specialist
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.
QUICK LINKS
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COVID-19 Relief Resources for Businesses
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SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
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SBDC Relief Assistance Resources
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VCW Business Assistance Funding
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SBA Offers Fast, Forgivable Loans
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In response to COVID-19, the US Small Business Administration is providing emergency advances of up to $10,000 to small businesses and private non-profits harmed by COVID-19 within 3 days of applying for an SBA Disaster Loan (EIDL).
To access the advance, you first apply for an EIDL (see first link in previous section) and then request the advance.
The advance does not need to be repaid under any circumstance, and may be used to keep employees on payroll, to pay for sick leave, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruptions, or pay business obligations, including debts, rent, and mortgage payments.
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Roanoke Regional Partnership Resources for COVID-19
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The Roanoke Regional Partnership has created a
landing page
for the regional response to COVID-19, compiling general business resources, locality-specific resources, and employee resources during the pandemic related to unemployment and taxes.
If you would like to submit additional resources to be included on this page, you can do so through the form at the bottom of the website.
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You’ve probably been asked to complete a variety of surveys during this time. This is the ONLY survey designed for
all
companies and
all
sectors in the Roanoke Region from the Alleghany Highlands to Roanoke Valley to Franklin County.
Why should you complete it? This survey will help:
· Establish a benchmark of where employment and economics are right now.
· Quantify the economic downturn by sector.
· Establish communication between the business and governments.
· Identify action steps.
Please take a few minutes and complete the survey. It’s a first step toward recovery.
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Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge Partner Resources for COVID-19
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Virginia's Blue Ridge is home to many organizations that are dedicated to serving the local and regional business community on a regular basis, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.
To help you get an idea of the funding and financial support that may be available to you, please review this
list of resources
. You will also find a list of several tourism businesses with updates regarding their current status and a list of event cancellations.
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Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is focused on curating and sharing resources to help industry partners navigate the pandemic.
In an effort to gauge and support the regional tourism industry, Visit VBR needs to know how COVID-19 is impacting your business or service.
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RIDE Solutions Offers Telework Help to Regional Businesses
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The Commission's RIDE Solutions program, as the region’s Commuter Assistance Program, can help you and your business community set up telework programs quickly and tap into free resources to get employees online and productive.
As always, RIDE Solutions' support is absolutely free of charge to both employers and employees – as a program of the Commission funded in part by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, their mission is to assist employers in addressing mobility challenges – including the challenges of moving people during a pandemic.
Here are a few things RIDE Solutions has provided so far:
RIDE Solutions can provide one-on-one assistance, in person or by phone/teleconference, to you and other organizations seeking to start a telework program.
If you need assistance, please contact the RIDE Solutions Program Director, Jeremy Holmes, at
jholmes@rvarc.org
or
540-342-9393
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PFG on the Front Lines of Coronavirus
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Vinton business
Precision Fabrics Group
was featured in
Vinton Messenger
about its role on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. PFG produces personal protective equipment (PPE) and other "mission-critical" fabrics for the healthcare industry.
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Business News and Announcements
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Michaels will be moving into the former A.C. Moore space in Tanglewood Mall. The 17,000 sq. ft. space is slated to open in Summer 2020. The company is currently hiring full-time and part-time employees for its opening.
More info >>
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The
Bank of Botetourt
announced its expansion to Town of Vinton at 410 South Pollard Street—the former location of High's Ice Cream and directly adjacent to the Vinton Municipal Building and Vinton Library. The new building will be approximately 2,700 square feet, will include an ATM with deposit capabilities and will house the Bank's mortgage company, Virginia Mountain Mortgage. The new location is anticipated to open in early 2021.
More info >>
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Richfield Living
has announced its appointment of Cherie Grisso as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to this, Cherie acted as interim CEO and, before that, served as Chief Financial Officer for Richfield Living. Congratulations, Cherie!
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It was a big month for Bent Mountain Salsa as they delivered fresh salsa to 11 Kroger facilities across the region! The company, which started operating out of LEAP Market in 2017, is the first from the public kitchen to have its products sold in a major grocery store chain.
More info >>
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The Town of Vinton was awarded its 1st EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant, which aids in returning vacant or underutilized properties to productive reuse.
Work has already begun to identify and prioritize sites, including conducting environmental assessments for a cluster of properties at Cedar Avenue, 1st Street and S. Pollard Street, that have been identified as a potential site for a future hotel.
More info>>
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Roanoke County welcomes local favorite, Tacos Rojas, as they announce their new location in Keagy Village in the space formerly occupied by All Day Pizza and Cafe. This will be their third location in the area. The new location plans to accommodate up to 60 people.
More info >>
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County Businesses in the News
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KlariVis was featured on WFIR where they discussed the company's solution to common challenges faced by banks and financial institutions.
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We Want to Hear from You!
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Building the Future Talent Pipeline Through CTE
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The Western Virginia Workforce Development Board is conducting a regional study to assess current operations, future plans, demands, and needs of career and technical education and workforce development (CTE) programs.
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A New Step for Broadband Availability
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The Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority announced a new broadband initiative to deliver Fiber to the Home, in partnership with ISPs. Results from the survey below will help RVBA determine priority areas to start the Fiber to the Home initiative.
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4648 Brambleton Ave.
New Listed Price:
$574,000
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Learn more about all the Hollins area has to offer in the way of commercial and residential investment opportunities.
You can reach and comment on the Hollins Plan online. Comments will be collected until Friday, April 10, 2020.
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Virginia International Trade Events
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International Trade in a COVID-19 World
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership is launching a new webinar series for businesses as they navigate the coronavirus pandemic.
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Registration is now open for VEDP - International Trade's new calendar of events!
Face-to-face meetings are critical to international business. We help Virginia companies meet potential customers and partners through trade missions and trade shows.
Trade Missions
Trade Missions are customized visits of business meetings arranged on your behalf. These meetings are pre-qualified based on your export market objective. Our schedule of upcoming Trade Missions includes:
Trade Shows
At select international Trade Shows, Virginia's booth provides the ideal base for co-exhibiting companies, allowing you to exhibit products and services and network with prospective customers. Our schedule of upcoming Trade Shows includes:
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How Does Generation Z "Work"?
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Join
Lesa Hanlin
- Executive Director of Roanoke Regional Initiatives, Virginia Tech - to learn more about this generation, what motivates them and how to
recruit and retain our newest rank and file.
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Roanoke County Business Partners on RVTV
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On this month's show,
we start out at the Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority as president, Frank Smith, announces Fiber to the Home, a new initiative to bring broadband to lesser served areas of the Valley. He tells us more about what RVBA can do for residents and businesses and how new technology will transform internet access across the region.
Then, we connect with Amy Fulton, the HR Director at Medeco, who speaks with us about how the Youth Registered Apprenticeship Program continues to support their business through through talent acquisition and the process they used to find the best apprentices for their company.
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yesroanoke.org
econdev@roanokecountyva.gov
P.O. Box 29800, Roanoke, VA 24018-0798
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