Roanoke County Business Partners Newsletter |
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February 2021: Volume 21, No. 2
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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Economic Development Launches Strategic Plan |
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Roanoke County has launched a year-long effort to develop a strategic plan that will help guide the direction and focus of the County’s economic development program over the next five years. Branded the ELEVATE Roanoke County 2026 Plan, the County will be assisted by the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development which has worked with more than 200 clients at the national, state, and local level on such plans and other economic development projects. The effort is funded by a grant from Appalachian Power and leveraged resources from the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development.
Read the full release here.
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Cast Plates & Pints Opens at West Village
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Roanoke County Supervisors David Radford and Paul Mahoney celebrate the official ribbon-cutting for Cast Plates & Pints with owners |
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Cast Plates & Pints is one of Roanoke County's newest and hottest restaurants! COVID-19 caused a delay in the ribbon-cutting but Cast hit the ground running amid the pandemic. We're extremely excited to have a couple of Cave Spring High School graduates and Roanoke natives invest in their hometown and bring a fresh atmosphere and menu to the County. Check out Cast Plates and Pints in the Shoppes at West Village at 3555D Electric Road and on their website, and see their feature in the February episode of Roanoke County Business Partners!
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The Latest in Vinton Business |
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Cardinal Glass Industries Expansion
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Cardinal Glass Industries in Vinton held an official ribbon-cutting for their new $8 million, 26,000 sq. ft. expansion, which created 60 new jobs in our community. Located in the Vinton Business Center, Cardinal Glass Industries added a new, state-of-the-art robotic seaming and cutting system. More information on Cardinal Glass can be found on their website and their ribbon-cutting was featured in the February episode of Roanoke County Business Partners.
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Joe Goodpies Opens in Vinton's Vinyard Station
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A new pizzeria is coming to Vinton in the newly redeveloped Vinyard Station! Joe Goodpies will offer a selection of at least 20 different pizzas baked in the eatery’s 10,000-pound brick oven, along with specialty salads, fresh burgers, wings, and more. Check out their website here
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Our Daily Bread Opens New Location
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Our Daily Bread Bakery and Bistro is a local restaurant favorite with locations in Roanoke County, Salem, Blacksburg, and now the Town of Vinton at 126 E Lee Avenue. Check out their menu and other updates from them via their website.
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Roanoke County Restaurant Week(s) 2021 |
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Love is in the air for two weeks this year with Roanoke County Restaurant Week 2021! As a way to say thanks to our incredible restaurant community and our residents who supported them through this difficult past year, we’re celebrating by giving you even more reason to check out Roanoke’s best restaurants! From February 15 - 28, some of your favorite local eateries will be offering lunch and dinner specials in at least one of three tiers for dine-in or take-out:
- $10 and under
- $20 and under
- $30 and under
This is a perfect time to explore restaurants you’ve never tried before and to keeping showing love for your favorites.
Check out YesRoanoke.com to see all participating restaurants and share your favorite Restaurants Week meals on social media with the hashtag #ROCOeats to spread the love! Restaurants can participate for free and will receive a complete Restaurant Week marketing package.
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Oak Grove Plan Public Hearing |
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The Roanoke County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 6 PM on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 to incorporate the Oak Grove Center Plan into the Roanoke County Comprehensive Plan. The City of Roanoke Planning Commission will hold a separate public hearing in March, TBD.
During the public hearing, citizens may share additional comments by email or by phone (540-776-7278). Please include your name and address. Comments will be read aloud during the meeting, subject to reasonable time limitations.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all are encouraged to view and participate in meetings through electronic means. The public hearing will be broadcast live, so members of the public may view the meeting on Roanoke Valley Television (RVTV3) - Channel 3 or online on the Roanoke County website.
Read the Draft Plan here.
If you are unable to attend the meeting live, the recording of the meeting can be viewed here.
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Friendship Health Opens New Physician Clinic |
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Friendship Health announces the appointment of Dr. Erin Howes to lead the organization’s newest healthcare offering, Friendship Physician Clinic. The clinic, which was previously Friendship’s Outpatient and Wellness Services building, has been renovated and now features a large, sunlit lobby, a spacious nurses station, as well as multiple, private exam rooms. Congratulations to Dr. Howes and Friendship Manor! |
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Explore Park Needs Business Partners |
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Envision your business in Explore Park! This is a fantastic opportunity to submit proposals for opening an outdoor, gas, RV camping, or retail service in Explore Park.
Bids will open soon. Bidders can find more information via the Roanoke County Bids website.
Learn more about Explore Park here.
Click on the flyer for more information.
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Grant Available for Affected Venues |
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The Small business Administration announces the Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program, which was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.
Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
SBA is in the process of setting up the grant program and is not yet accepting applications. See SVO Grant details here.
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Help the United Way identify needs in our community by taking their ALICE COVID-19 survey. Answering this survey will provide the United Way with information critical in delivering the right resources to our area - it is completely anonymous and should only take 10 minutes.
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Emergency Communications Center Manager Retires |
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A 'congratulations' and 'thank you' are in order for Aleta Coleman, who is retiring from Roanoke County Emergency Communications Center after 30 years of dedicated service to our community. Beginning her career with Roanoke County as an entry-level dispatcher to the Emergency Center Manager, Aleta Coleman worked her way through the ranks and served the County by relaying emergency communications that helped keep our community safe. Thank you, Aleta, and enjoy a well-deserved retirement! |
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The Advancement Foundation |
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The GAUNTLET Accepting Applications Now |
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GAUNTLET applications are now open for the 7th Annual GAUNTLET Business Program and Competition here and more information on the GAUNTLET can be found on the program's website.
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The Gauntlet Higher Ed Program |
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The student rate is $99 for this 10-week business course and competition beginning Feb. 9.
Competition participants can sign up here and Innovation Advisors can sign up here.
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The Innovation Mill’s mission is to increase the number of potential high-growth companies across the Commonwealth for new/early-stage companies.
Learn more about Innovation Mill here.
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RVARC Adopts Regional Housing Study |
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The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission Board adopted the Regional housing Market Study. The goals of the Study were to:
- Identify housing needs and provide both a region-wide and locality-specific housing market analysis.
- Identify housing supply and demand issues and opportunities within the region and within each of the four sub-geographies.
- Advance economic development opportunities by addressing housing concerns.
- Develop regional and locality-specific recommendations to address housing needs.
- Engage stakeholders to help understand housing needs/challenges and create a shared understanding of that need.
Explore the findings of the Regional housing Market Study here.
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Ride Solutions' Cluster Analysis for Employers |
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For employers looking at employee wellness programs, a cluster analysis is a quick way to identify opportunities for walk and bike buddy programs to connect employees with active commute options.
The process is simple: using a table of anonymized employee data including address and schedule information – that is, data with an employee’s home address but no identifying information such as a name – RIDE Solutions plots this data on a map.
Analysis and research like this is just one of the services offered by RIDE Solutions as part of their free Workplace program. RIDE Solutions can assist employers who want to better manage parking, offer a valuable employee benefit, build their wellness programs, or meet sustainability goals, all free of charge. For more information visit www.ridesolutions.org or contact Director of RIDE Solutions Jeremy Holmes at 540-342-9393 or jholmes@rvarc.org.
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Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge - VBR Life publication
Formerly Valley Life, VBR Life is a complete guide for anyone visiting, living, and doing business in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. VBR Life includes information on schools, health care, tourist attractions, transportation, housing, and more.
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Upcoming Virginia Tech Roanoke Center Events
If you own, work for, or are thinking of opening a brewery in Virginia, register for Virginia Tech's comprehensive course on navigating the legalities of the brewery business.
Stay up-to-date on upcoming Virginia Tech Roanoke Center here
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Roanoke Regional Partnership 'Experience Conference'
Grow and develop a professional network that can help push your skills to the next level.
Learn more and sign up here.
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VEDP International Sales Training
Enroll in this 3-part training series focused on sales and communications, designed to help you perfect your virtual presentation, communication, and sales pitch skills.
Learn more and register here
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New Year, New Career Workshop Series
Virginia Career Works - Blue Ridge is offering workshops to position yourself as a competitive candidate in a competitive job market.
Register for these workshops and stay up-to-date on future VCW workshops here.
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Events, Workshops, and Resources
Stay up-to-date on upcoming Roanoke SBDC news, events, and workshops by visiting their website here.
Sign up for 1:1 advising sessions with Roanoke Regional SBDC mentors here.
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Virginia Western Offers Training Opportunities |
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Become a competitive candidate with Virginia Western Community College's academic and certification programs. View the Project Management and SHRM prep courses below, and see all course offerings here.
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Spring 2021 Courses - Manufacturing and newly added Heavy Equipment Operator training
For more detailed information, be sure to check out our website for additional Manufacturing or other courses offered.
Contact VWCC for information about the enrollment process funding assistance for companies and individuals by calling (540) 857-6076 or emailing careernavigators@virginiawestern.edu
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Roanoke County Business Partners on RVTV |
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On this month’s show, we visit Cardinal Glass Industries in Vinton to learn about their $8 million, 26,000 sq. ft. expansion creating 60 new jobs in the County. We then head to Cast Plates & Pints in the Shoppes at West Village to celebrate their official ribbon-cutting and talk with a few of the owners. Finally, we speak with the Executive Director of Virginia Career Works - Blue Ridge, Morgan Romeo, to get a briefing on the newly completed Regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) study. |
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(540) 772-2069
P.O. Box 29800, Roanoke, VA 24018-0798
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