Roanoke County Business Partners Newsletter
August 2020: Volume 20, 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 .
When is a road more than just a road?

Route 419: Place making and the art of leveraging
Local government have long relied on tax breaks, grants, and other incentives to lure industry to their communities to create jobs and increase the local tax base. Alongside such "deal making," more and more localities are now adding another economic development tool: "place making." Like those other incentives, however; place making can be expensive. In fact, it can be very expensive depending on what needs to be clone to turn a place into an economic development asset. Moreover, the return on investment can take years, if not decades, to materialize, all of which makes it even more difficult to identify and commit funds to the project.

Still the benefits of place making are expansive, with aesthetic, social and economic dividends for the entire community that can go far beyond the cost of the initial investment.

So, how to do "place making" with limited resources? Tn Roanoke County, we have learned that leveraging - taking a (relatively) small investment and turning it into a much larger investment - is essential. With our series of "Reimagine" projects, this is exactly what we are doing.
Coming Soon: New Kroger Fuel Center
A new Kroger Fuel Center will open at Tanglewood Mall between the Kroger grocery store and Firestone Complete Auto Care. Plans have been approved for a five-dispenser fuel island. Construction will begin in August and completion is anticipated in early December, 2020.
Construction Update for Carilion Children's
The former JC Penney space at Tanglewood Mall, which will become the new home for many of Carilion Children's outpatient and specialty services, has paused construction work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction is expected to resume by this fall. Carilion’s educational staff are now occupying the educational space that formerly housed Miller-Motte Technical College.
VDOT asks citizens to 'pardon our dust'
Construction on a 0.5-mile section of Route 419 (Electric Road) in Roanoke County in front of Tanglewood Mall is anticipated to begin in late July or early August.

The project includes improvements to alleviate congestion and provide safer accommodations for bikers and pedestrians and is expected to be completed in fall 2021.

In lieu of an in-person “Pardon our Dust” meeting to discuss traffic impacts, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has shared information about the project online including a presentation at virginiadot.org/Route419tanglewood .
Roanoke County hosted an economic development virtual town hall meeting on July 22, 2020. The meeting was attended virtually by 54 people and included updates about Roanoke County programs and projects that strengthen our local economy. Speakers included David Radford, Chair of the Board of Supervisors; Dan O'Donnell, County Administrator; Jill Loope, Economic Development Director; Doug Blount, Director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism; and Philip Thompson, Director of Planning.
The Commonwealth is launching a new grant program for small businesses and nonprofits
T he Rebuild VA Grant Fund is a program to help small businesses and nonprofits whose normal operations were disrupted by COVID-19. Businesses and non-profits that are approved for a Rebuild VA grant may receive up to 3 times their average
monthly eligible expenses up to a maximum of $10,000. The Rebuild VA program has been capitalized with $70 million and will provide assistance to approximately 7,000 businesses and nonprofits. Half of the program funds will be distributed to
eligible small businesses and nonprofits operating in low-income and economically disadvantaged communities, including ensuring there is adequate representation of minority-owned and women-owned businesses.
Record Setting Home Sales
714 homes under contract represents the highest such number in any single month in the history of the Roanoke Valley

According to the Roanoke Valley Realtors Association, regional home sales for the first half of 2020 are at an all-time high. Somewhat surprisingly in the midst of the pandemic, 621 residential units sold for an average price of $266,171 surpassing June 2019’s 546 units at an average price of $238,334.
Guidance for Employers and Employees
DOLI Publishes Emergency Temporary Standard for Preventing the Spread of SARS 2 - COVID 19
In the face of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board has adopted an Emergency Temporary Standard, Infectious Disease Prevention: SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 16VAC25-220, to protect employees and employers from the spread of COVID-19.

This new standard will keep Virginians safe and healthy at work, customers confident in the safety of Virginia’s business establishments, and employers open for business.
Hollins Center Plan Approved
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt the Hollins Center Plan as an amendment to the Roanoke County Comprehensive Plan after a public hearing on July 28, 2020.
Opportunity Zone Workshop
The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 created Opportunity Zones around the nation to spur investment in low-income communities. Qualified investments in the Zones receive preferential tax treatment. On July 16, 2020, Roanoke County co-hosted an online workshop to provide information about the program and properties in its zone located at the intersection of Interstates 81 and 581.
News and Announcements
Lowe’s and LISC partner to provide emergency grant assistance to small businesses
Thanks to a $55 million significant commitment grant from Lowe’s, LISC will provide the emergency grant assistance that small businesses desperately need to stay afloat.
  • $30 million will focus on small businesses owned or led by minorities and women, who often lack access to affordable capital.
  • $25 million will support enterprises in rural communities, which typically face even more hurdles than their urban counterparts due to limited access to bank credit, capital and other support services. Learn More
Welcome to Biz NATION
The Advancement Foundation would like to invite you to check out Biz NATION on Startup Space. This is a brand new virtual hub for entrepreneurs, community leaders, prospective mentors and supporters of local small businesses.

The Biz NATION hub is designed to expand access to resources as well as connect a network of entrepreneurs, mentors, supporters, investors, etc. across local/regional/state. Learn More
The Roanoke County Department of Elections
has moved
They are now located at 900 Chestnut St in Vinton, 24179. For details regarding voting in the November election, please visit their website

or reach them by phone at (540) 772-7500 .
GENEDGE Leverages Federal CARES Act Appropriation to Accelerate Statewide Response for Reshoring Critical Industries in Virginia
GENEDGE announced this week that its proposal for a grant from the GO Virginia Economic Resilience and Recovery Program, with GO Virginia Region One serving as the lead applicant and the endorsement of all nine GO Virginia Regions, has been approved by the GO Virginia State Board. Read More
Passenger Traffic Continues to Decline at ROA
April traffic down 90% at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport as COVID-19 impacts air travel.
VIC, RBTC and RAMP Form Strategic Alliance
Valleys Innovation Council (VIC), Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC), and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP) announce they are joining forces in a strategic alliance. The new alliance will drive initiatives that support the region’s innovation economy and technology community.
Virginia's Blue Ridge Stay Safe Pledge
Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge is asking you to join their Virginia's Blue Ridge Stay Safe Pledge as a commitment to keeping each other safe and healthy. They've prepared a Stay Safe Pledge Business Toolkit , which is available for download on the Visit VBR website (see link).
Virginia SBSD Offers One-on-One
Business Counseling
The Virginia SBSD is offering free 1-hour one-on-one virtual counseling as the region approaches recovery and reopening. By appointment only.  Request Appointment
Do your employees need to improve their IT or computer skills?
Virginia Western can help! With fast-paced concentrated short programs offered online or in a classroom setting, the coursework can be completed in just a few months.
OSHA Programming has Resumed at the
Roanoke Higher Education Center
August 10-13
OSHA 501 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry
September 18
OSHA 7115 Lockout/Tagout
October 5-9
Safety Management Techniques
November 16-18
OSHA 2264 Permit-Required Confined Space Entry
November 19
Confined Space Train the trainer
December 7-10
OSHA 510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction Industry
Catawba Valley Farmers Market is Open, Celebrating Their 11 th Season
The Farmers Market is held each Thursday from 3:00pm to 6:30pm, operating under COVID-19 guidelines. Visit the CVFM website or facebook page concerning safeguard details, vendors, operating hours and weekly available products . CVFM Newsletter
Bike Commuting Has Low Covid-19 Risk
As the Roanoke Valley moves through the Governor’s phased reopening, many of us are returning to the workplace for the first time in several months – which means returning to the daily commute.

For many, that commute involved breaking out the bicycle and riding to work. The daily bike commute is a chance to get outside, to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us in the Roanoke Valley, and to say hello to our neighbors as we pass them by. We also enjoy the knowledge that we are reducing vehicle emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change, and are getting a little bit of exercise while we’re at it.

But in this time of COVID-19, there’s another important reason to consider bike commuting: Safety. Read More
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY - Good for Virginia’s image, and Yours!
The Virginia Department of Transportation partners with Keep Virginia Beautiful to promote the Adopt-a-Highway program throughout Virginia. The program is free and easy to participate in!

The Adopt-a-Highway program provides an opportunity for businesses, civic groups and even families to clean up litter and be recognized for their efforts with a sign featuring their name after two pickups have been documented. Groups are required to clean up a minimum of 2x per year for a 3 year commitment.

VDOT set up the Adopt-a-Highway program in 1988, and each year, nearly 18,000 Adopt-a-Highway volunteers collect more than 25,000 bags of waste along Virginia’s highways. It is estimated that these efforts save the commonwealth over $1.35 million that would have otherwise gone to clean up Virginia’s roads.
Upcoming Events
Refocus and Rebuild Second Webinar Series
Continuing Business Post-Pandemic
Virginia Community Capital has partnered with the Virginia Small Business Development Center Network, GENEDGE, UVA Wise Office of Economic Development and Southwest Virginia Alliance of Manufacturing to present a series of webinars focused around helping businesses recover and become more resilient if faced with another pandemic/disaster. This series will be presented by professionals within their industry providing the most up-to-date information and resources.
County Events and Updates
Virginia International Trade Events
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 Mission to South Korea and Japan  - October 12-16, 2020-Registration Deadline August 14

Trade Mission to Czech Republic and Slovakia  - October 19-23, 2020-Registration Deadline August 14

Trade Mission to Brazil  - October 26-30, 2020-Registration Deadline August 14

Trade Mission to South Africa and Tanzania  - November 9-13, 2020-Registration Deadline Sept. 11

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:  

AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition 2020 - October 12-14, 2020-Registration Deadline August 14

Commercial UAV Expo Europe - December 1-3, 2020-Registration Deadline October 2
Export Compliance Virtual Training

Learn the fundamentals of export compliance in a virtual training course. VEDP-International Trade has partnered with Allocca Enterprises to provide export compliance training on Thursday, August 20th. Learn More
Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center Events
Virginia Small Business Development Center launches website: Recovery Resources for Small Businesses
As businesses begin to look at reopening and/or planning to transition to the 'new normal,' there are a number of factors to consider and decisions to be made. Virginia Small Business Development Center launches website:
1:1 Advising
T he Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center works with entrepreneurs in all phases of their business from idea to exiting. We are small business champions and believe the heart of our communities and economy comes from your entrepreneurial spirit. Our confidential advising sessions are free with the support of our sponsors, the Small Business Administration, Virginia SBDC, and our host, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. We are currently working remotely and offering appointments through Zoom. Along with our full-time advising team, we have curated the best subject matter experts in our region to assist you with specific industry concerns. Sign up for an advising session
Business Smart Start
Are you considering starting a new business? Not sure what you need to do and what steps to take? Then Start Your Business Smart! Business Smart Start is an introduction to owning your own business. Topics covered include deciding on a legal entity structure, basic accounting and tax issues, steps you need to take for permits and licensing, steps to writing a business plan and basics of marketing and market research. We cover the nine steps to market research to determine if your business idea makes sense. Class is for individuals in business, thinking of starting a business even if it might be years in the future. The class is 3.0 hours long so these topics will only be briefly covered. Upon completing the class you will have the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one appointment with one of our professional business advisors.
Upcoming Events from Virginia Tech Roanoke Center
Leadership Academy
Virginia Tech Roanoke Center is hosting the Leadership Academy in Roanoke from August 2020 through March 2021. This is a training series focused on   developing skills necessary for navigating leadership challenges and opportunities.
Effective Communication
In this engaging and fun workshop series, participants will rediscover and strengthen skills of observation and responsiveness; increase their willingness to risk, fail, and risk again; increase their tools of personal communication including imagination, relaxation, observation, and concentration; and increase appreciation for the importance of connecting through sharing emotion. In addition, they will develop their appreciation of the communicative importance of voice and body.

This is a full-day workshop from 9 am-4 pm on Thursday, September 24th.
Roanoke County Business Partners on RVTV
Due to the spread of COVID-19, we recorded this month’s show remotely using Zoom to practice social distancing.

This month's show highlights investment opportunities and tax incentives in Roanoke County's federally designated Opportunity Zone and presents highlights of the County's Economic Development Town Hall with updates on efforts to assist businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
P.O. Box 29800, Roanoke, VA 24018-0798