Roanoke County Business Partners Newsletter
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May 2020: Volume 20, 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
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On behalf of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, Chairman David Radford shared the video below to address questions about the County's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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His message is simple:
1) Continue to practice safe social distancing, limiting groups to less than ten people, and going out only when it's necessary.
2) Continue supporting local small businesses that create the fabric of our community.
3) Take a moment to say thank you to the employees who continue to provide essential services.
4) Roanoke County remains committed to providing continued services through safe and resourceful ways to ensure the safety of staff and citizens.
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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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#RoCoCares: Get Involved!
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Calling all business owners!
We’d love to know what your company is doing to support the community during the coronavirus pandemic.
Post a photo or short video to your Facebook page with the hashtag
#RoCoCares
so we can take a look! You can also
email
photos, videos, and stories to us directly. We’ll be curating some of the best content to our social media networks, so be sure to tag us with our hashtag.
#RoCoCares
Remember to display safe social distancing if your post includes more than one person and please keep it family-friendly.
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Regional Economic Impact, Explained
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There's no question about how COVID-19 has impacted our daily lives on an individual level, but you may find yourself wondering how the region is being affected as a whole.
The Roanoke Regional Partnership has done the math and is providing a look at what we can expect from the aftermath of COVID-19.
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Worth the Wait: Visit Virginia Blue Ridge's New Campaign
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Featuring a message of optimism and hope, Visit VBR developed an in-house campaign with existing resources encouraging local residents and future visitors to get inspired and dream about making new memories in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.
The campaign features a
Worth the Wait video
(below)
, which will be showcased on the Visit VBR website and social media channels. The campaign will highlight website resources, virtual activities, online tours, virtual events, coloring sheets, and VBR-themed games including trivia and bingo.
Another integral part of the program are listings with opportunities to support local businesses during this time of COVID-19 by taking advantage of special VBR takeout maps, online shopping options, and ways to participate in local campaigns & fundraisers.
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Preparing to Reopen Mask-Friendly Businesses
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Planning the reopening of a business? We've got you covered! Download one of the graphics below and print it out so you can hang it in your storefront window!
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The Roanoke Regional SBDC also prepared a presentation about safely reopening businesses while adhering to social distancing and other health and safety guidelines.
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Vinton Applying For Housing Rehabilitation Grant
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On April 7
th
, 2020, the Vinton Town Council authorized staff to submit a $1,500,000 Community Development Block Grant Application (CDBG) for a Comprehensive Housing and Neighborhood Rehabilitation Program for the greater Cleveland Neighborhood.
The Cleveland neighborhood is located adjacent to Vinton Downtown Business District and includes some of the Town’s oldest housing stock, with many structures dating back to Pre-WWI.
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The Gauntlet Program Needs Your Help!
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Like you and our entire community, The Advancement Foundation has faced many challenges due to COVID-19, but not even a pandemic will deter our mission and the AMAZING Entrepreneur NATION.
When this year's GAUNTLET entrepreneurs were asked if they wanted to continue the program in this new environment, they said yes! So the GAUNTLET went VIRTUAL and these resilient, motivated entrepreneurs did NOT miss a beat. That takes GRIT and determination (which is a requirement for a TRUE entrepreneur).
Interested in helping continue to spark the entrepreneurial spirit? Let us know by emailing
Kathleen
or visit our website by
clicking here
!
Your cash and in-kind donations—legal advice, advertising and marketing, accounting, website design and more—can make the difference.
TOGETHER we WILL make a lasting impact for these entrepreneurs and OUR COMMUNITY.
Help us spread the entrepreneurship spirit and share our mission on social media!
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We Want to Hear From You!
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The Virginia Chamber of Commerce has launched its
“Blueprint for Getting Virginians Back to Work”
initiative which will provide recommendations on operating in the current economic climate caused by COVID-19 and how to return stronger than before. The Virginia Chamber will be collecting input from members of the business community to develop this initiative.
(Click left image to open PDF)
Please note that the deadline for participation in this survey is May 15.
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COVID-19 Business Impact Survey
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This survey will help:
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Establish a benchmark of where employment and economics are right now.
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Quantify the economic downturn by sector.
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Establish communication between the business and governments.
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Identify action steps.
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A New Step for Broadband Availability
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The Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority is continuing its 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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Catawba Sustainability Center gives beginning farmers room to grow
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The small-farm incubator program provides access to land and Virginia Tech expertise while new farmers learn the business.
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Experience Wood Haven Technology Park on Expansion Solutions
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Expansion Solutions Magazine, a well known national site selection publication, has featured a virtual site tour of Wood Haven Technology Park.
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OpX Solutions Named Top Franchisee in the Americas by Leadership Management International, Inc.
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The franchise was also recognized as the #3 LMI franchisee in the World.
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Photo courtesy of Hillside Plants & Produce
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Catawba Valley Farmers Market: Vendors are still open!
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CVFM will not open until at least June 10, although this date is subject to change. In the meantime, vendors are still producing vegetable and flower plants, hanging baskets, baked goods and crafts.
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Blue Ridge PBS Announces "Project Southwest," New Streaming Channel
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The channel will be available on YouTube and Amazon Fire TV. It will launch earlier than scheduled to air statewide educational program, VA TV Classroom, which will provide students with SOL-aligned instructional content. As part of this COVID-19 education initiative,
Lionberger Construction has signed on to help promote Project Southwest's outreach to students.
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Ballyhack Golf Club
was featured in a video published to the Golf Digest Facebook page, showcasing the beautiful course and its proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It was also recognized as one of the top 50 golf courses in Virginia by Virginia Business.
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Delta Dental of Virginia
was featured on WFIR to discuss their $500k contribution to a statewide dentists' relief fund. They also speak to the company's approach to staffing in a time where 76% of all dentists' offices are closed except for emergency work.
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The
Town of Vinton's efforts to redevelop the Historic Gish Mill property on Gus Nicks Boulevard has been covered in Vinton Messenger twice, after finding a buyer to kick off the process.
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Town of Vinton Announces Flexible Loans for Reopening
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Virginia Career Works - Blue Ridge
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4648 Brambleton Ave.
Listed Price:
$574,000
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Virginia International Trade Events
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International Trade in a COVID-19 World
The VEDP's webinar series in April is still available for re-watching at the button to the right.
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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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Hollins Center Plan Public Hearing: View on RVTV3 or Online!
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The Roanoke County Planning Commission will hold their meeting on
May 5, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
D
ue to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be aired online and public comments may be submitted by email or by phone.
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Crisis Communications Webinar (FREE)
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The Roanoke Small Business Development Center is hosting a free webinar in partnership with PRSA to sharpen your crisis communications chops.
It will provide a broad overview of crisis communications and some tips you can immediately apply to your post-pandemic business plan.
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Virginia Tech Leadership Academy
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The Virginia Tech Roanoke Center is hosting the Leadership Academy in Roanoke, August 2020-March 2021.
This is a training series focused on
developing skills necessary for navigating leadership challenges and opportunities.
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Roanoke County Business Partners on RVTV
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Due to the spread of COVID-19, we recorded this month’s show remotely using Zoom to practice social distancing.
This month, we start out by speaking with Annette Patterson, president of The Advancement Foundation, who will share details about how the annual Gauntlet competition has gone virtual.
Next, we connect with Bob Archer, chairman and CEO of Blue Ridge Beverage, who sheds light on the pandemic’s impact on the food and beverage industry and how his company has pivoted accordingly.
Lastly, we’ll hear from Amanda Forrester, director of the SBDC, about the resources and programming they are developing for small businesses as we approach recovery.
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yesroanoke.org
econdev@roanokecountyva.gov
P.O. Box 29800, Roanoke, VA 24018-0798
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