Governor McAuliffe at Koinonia Announcement at Pete Dye River Course in Pulaski County, VA 2017

Pulaski County Economic Development Performance on Top in 2017

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~Pulaski County economic development performance is on top in 2017.~

FROM PULASKI COUNTY, VA – According to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s Virginia Announcements of Employment Creation and Capital Investment – ‘2017 End of Year Report,’ Pulaski County finished 2nd in Job Creation, 4th in New Capital Investment and 2nd in the Number of Projects Announced per capita for the Calendar Year 2017 out of all 95 counties within the Commonwealth of Virginia. According to the report, Pulaski County was the only county that finished 4th or better in all three categories, respectively placing the County in the top spot overall in economic development performance.

“The Board of Supervisors is extremely thankful for our success in 2017 and the true benefit of our accomplishments is the more than 600 new jobs that will become available to our citizens,” stated Andy McCready, Chair of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors.

“We have one of the most dedicated and creative economic development teams working hard to advance our existing industries and to recruit new foreign and domestic investments to the County.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pulaski County’s unemployment rate dipped below 4.0% in December of 2017 for the first time since April 2006 (3.5%). The unemployment rate improved from 9.3% in January of 2017, down to 3.9% in December of 2017.

“We are starting to see the positive effects of new jobs being created in the County, and a 140-month low unemployment rate at the end of 2017 was further affirmation that our economic development efforts are beginning to pay dividends,” stated Jonathan D. Sweet. “I am so thankful to the Board of Supervisors, Michael Solomon, our EDA and the entire County Administration Team, but I am most grateful to our business community for their trust and confidence to invest in Pulaski County and our world-class workforce.”

The ranking outcomes were the result of Pulaski County’s five (5) qualified projects in CY-2017, two of which were officially announced in concert with the Governor’s office. These five (5) basic industry sector projects will collectively create more than 600 new jobs and $57 million in new capital investment. The projects referenced consisted of Phoenix Packaging Operations, LLC, MicroXact, Koinonia Ltd., MTM Inc., and Volvo Trucks North America.

“We knew Pulaski County had a banner year, but until you compare our numbers to the rest of the counties in Virginia, it’s hard to appreciate just how strongly we performed,” stated Jon Wyatt, Chair of the Pulaski County Economic Development Authority. “Kudos to our Economic Development Team for their ability to structure and close so many deals and subsequently manage and service all of these projects.”

Pulaski County, located in Virginia’s New River Valley, is home to eight (8) international companies that represents more than 4,000 advanced manufacturing jobs. The County is considered to be Southwest Virginia’s Center for International Business and the New River Valley’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

NRV Top Posts of 2018

RU Highlander Ranked #1 Mascot by USA Today

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RADFORD, VA – USA Today named the Radford University Highlander mascot the no. 1 mascot. Out of the 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament, the Highlanders came out on top.

“AMAZING” said the article author Charles Curtis. “Between the beard, the costume, the muscles, the headband and all the ‘THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!’ jokes, this deserves the No. 1 spot.”

Radford University is a huge asset to our communities. It doesn’t hurt that Highlander sports teams keep winning. Radford Men’s Soccer clinched the 2016 Big South Tournament Championship. Golf, Cross Country, Tennis, and more are consistent winners, and Men’s Baseball is unstoppable. Learn more at www.radford.edu.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Floyd Country Store in Floyd most underrated city in VA

Floyd Named Most Underrated City in Virginia

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FLOYD, VA – Thrillist named Floyd the most underrated city in Virginia. Due to its outdoor recreation opportunities and creative culture, Floyd made the list of underrated cities in all 50 states.

Matthew Meltzer writes:

This hippie town set atop the Blue Ridge Plateau is the state’s best outdoor recreation destination outside Shenandoah, with hiking, biking, and camping in the nearby Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve. It houses 40 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which during the fall boasts a whole lotta eye-pleasing foliage but few tourists. This happens to be Virginia wine country, so hit either the Villa Appalaccia and Chateau Morrisette for fantastic food paired with the state’s best vino. Music lovers should swing though the Floyd Country Store for weekly performances and jam sessions; Floyd is also a stop on Virginia’s Crooked Road music trail, and home of the Blue Ridge Music Festival.

Floyd Country Store in Floyd most underrated city in VA

The town of Floyd has also been ranked a Best Small Town, one of the Happiest Towns in the Blue Ridge, and a Great Small Town Near D.C.

Floyd County is one of the many inspiring small towns in Virginia’s New River Valley. Our eclectic communities and world-class universities make for an excellent place to live. Learn more about what Floyd and the NRV has to offer here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Murals in Blacksburg, VA

Blacksburg Named #1 Safest City in Virginia for 2018

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BLACKSBURG, VA – Blacksburg is the no. 1 Safest City in Virginia for 2018 according to alarms.org and the National Council for Home Safety and Security.

According to alarms.org, Blacksburg averages just 0.97 violent crimes per 1,000 inhabitants. With rates like that, it’s no wonder why Blacksburg is the safest city in Virginia.

This ranking was based off the latest FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics, population data, and other research. Towns and cities with populations under 10,000 were eliminated for this ranking.

Crime Rate Comparisons

chart comparing crime rates in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia, and the U.S. Blacksburg is the Safest City in Virginia

Other communities in Virginia’s New River Valley also have high safety rankings. Niche rated Narrows, which is a community in Giles County, as the #4 Safest Town in Virginia.

For more information read the alarms.org article or WSET news report.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Couple walks arm in arm in Downtown Blacksburg

Radford #1 and Blacksburg #6 Best Places for Singles in Virginia

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NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – If you’re looking for love in the NRV, then you’re in the right place. Radford (#1) and Blacksburg (#6) were ranked some of the best places for singles in Virginia, according to homesnacks.net.

Couple walks arm in arm in Downtown Blacksburg

Best Places for Singles in VA:
1. Radford
2. Charlottesville
3. Richmond
4. Alexandria
5. Harrisonburg
6. Blacksburg
7. Norfolk
8. Fredericksburg
9. Hampton
10. Winchester

The ratings are based on information from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey Census data.

Looking for things to do in the NRV on V-Day? Check out the special event at the Radford Theater, or the Valentine’s Charity Vinyasa Yoga Class for the Big Heart Foundation at In Balance Yoga in Blacksburg.

For a larger list of all things Valentine’s Day happening in Virginia’s New River Valley, check out this list from Next 3 Days.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

NRV Top Posts of 2018

Narrows the #4 Safest Place to Live in Virginia

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NARROWS, VA – The Town of Narrows in Giles County, Virginia was named the #4 Safest Place to Live in Virginia by Niche.com, a website which ranks best places to live, school districts, colleges, and more. The ranking assesses 9,932 places in the U.S. and was formulated based on data mainly from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Report.
The 2017 Safest Places ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the overall safety in an area. This grade takes into account key indicators of a location’s safety, including violent and property crime rates as well as resident reviews, in an attempt to measure an area’s safety and security.

Read more from Niche and their methodology used to create these rankings.

Living in or visiting Narrows? There’s plenty to discover.

Explore more accolades won by NRV counties, city, towns, and universities here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT. Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Floyd and Giles in Top 15 Counties in VA to Buy a House

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NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – Both Floyd and Giles Counties ranked in the top 15 for Niche’s 2017 Best Counties to Buy a House in Virginia. The housing rankings were formulated based off data from the U.S. Census, the FBI, Zillow, and other data sources. The rankings include 90 counties in Virginia.

Floyd County ranked in at #6. Floyd County is a unique community perched on the Blue Ridge Plateau and is very well known for its music scene. The natural beauty, arts, and diversity make Floyd County a natural fit for homebuyers in Virginia’s New River Valley.

Giles County, known as Virginia’s Mountain Playground, is ranked at #14. With 50 miles of the Appalachian Trail running through Giles County, it’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and people looking for a quiet spot that’s still near plenty to do.

For more information on housing in Virginia’s New River Valley, check out the Nest Realty quarterly housing report.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Carilion NRV a Top Hospital for Nurses in VA

Carilion New River Valley Voted A Top Hospital for Nurses

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NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA — Carilion New River Valley Medical Center was named a top hospital for nurses to work in 2017. Coming in at no. 7 in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, this ranking is calculated from surveys from nurses themselves.

2017 Best Hospitals in VA

Nurse.org looked at over 1,800 surveys from nurses in 314 hospitals across the state. The average rating for Carilion NRV was at 4.1/5 and it came 94% recommended by the surveyed nurses.

“We’re excited to be able to recognize Carilion New River Valley Medical Center for providing an excellent work environment for our nurses,” said Nurse.org Product Manager Phillip Lee. “Our survey data shows the hospital ranks in the top 2% in the state for nurse job satisfaction. By supporting nurses through an educational hospital where nurses can thrive and be successful, they are leaving a positive impact on their community.”

Some anonymous quotes from the reviews say:

“The staff is friendly and helpful. All disciplines work very well as a team. Your input is valued and heard. It is a busy place. You can obtain great skills and knowledge.”

“Great place to work. Excellent care and working environment, very safe.”

“It’s a great place to work. Great nurse PT ratios They care about you and we all work together as a team.”

Virginia’s New River Valley is a great place for nurses to live, including those still going to school. Radford University has an excellent nursing program, which will expand soon.

Visit Carilion NRV Medical Center for more information or to view job opportunities.

Read more at NRV News.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

VT College of Engineering #9 Among Public Institutions

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BLACKSBURG, VA — Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering ranks 9th among public institutions, according U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 Best College Rankings.

The college of engineering is also 14th among all national universities. Read more about programs offered and engineering news at https://eng.vt.edu/

Overall, Virginia Tech is ranked the 25th best public university and 69th for all national universities.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of both worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.

Pete Dye River Course Named the #20 Best Golf Course in VA

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FAIRLAWN, VA — The Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech was named the no. 20 best golf course in Virginia by Golf Digest (2017-2018).

The course, which finished it’s update by Course Architect Pete Dye in 2006, has been 2011 NCAA Regional Championships and the 2016 Virginia State Amateur Championship. It is the home course for all Radford University and Virginia Tech golf teams, and continues to be one of the top courses in the region. Dye said:

“This place has all the ambience and qualities that make a golf course really good. Here you’ve got the sound of the river up and down the whole golf course the entire time…the river and scenery are unbelievable.”

For more information about the course visit the River Course site. See what else there is to do in Virginia’s New River Valley by clicking below.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of both worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s A NATURAL FIT.

Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.