Riner VA Best Small Town to Live

Riner is VA’s Best Small Town to Live in for 2021

Montgomery County, VA – Riner is Virginia’s best small town to live in for 2021 according to HomeSnacks.com. The website listed Riner in the #1 slot on its list of the top ten “Best Small Towns to Live in Virginia”.

To create this list of ideal places to live, HomeSnacks.com evaluated small towns with populations below 1,000 on categories such as home values, income, unemployment rates, crime rates, and poverty rates. Riner has a population of 888, according to the data.

Read the entire “Best Small Towns” list here. Learn more about HomeSnacks.com here.

Learn more about Riner and Montgomery County, a community in Virginia’s New River Valley, here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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.

Blacksburg High School Among Top 100 STEM High Schools in U.S.

Blacksburg High School Among Top 100 STEM High Schools in U.S.

Montgomery County, VA – U.S. News & World Report ranked Blacksburg High School as one of the Top 100 Best STEM High Schools in the United States for 2021. BHS came in at #94 on the list.

STEM stands for the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To create the list of the Best STEM High Schools, “U.S. News looked at the top 1,000 public schools from our latest Best High Schools rankings, and then evaluated their students’ participation and success in Advanced Placement science and math tests.”

Blacksburg High School also moved up nine spots from last year to rank #21 among public high schools in Virginia. In addition, U.S. News and World Report ranked BHS #981 out of the nearly 18,000 public high schools ranked in 2021. This means Blacksburg High School is ranked among the top 6% of high schools nationally.

See U.S. News and World Report’s rankings of Blacksburg High School here.

Learn more about education in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

Learn more about Blacksburg, a town in Virginia’s New River Valley, here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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 and Radford Among Best Value Colleges in Virginia

VT and Radford Among Best Value Colleges in Virginia

New River Valley, VA – Virginia Tech and Radford University are among the top 10 best value colleges in Virginia according to SmartAsset.com. Virginia Tech is ranked #3 for 2021, which is up one spot from the previous year. Radford University is ranked #8 for 2021, which is two spots higher than university’s last ranking in 2019.

According to SmartAsset’s methodology, the company “looked at five factors to determine the best value colleges and universities in the U.S.: tuition, student living costs, scholarship and grant offerings, student retention rate and starting salary for new graduates.” Each institution was given a College Education Value Index and ranked based on their index score. Virginia Tech’s score was 71.91 and Radford University’s score was 43.11.

See SmartAsset’s Best Value Colleges Virginia ankings list and methodology here.

Learn more about higher education in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

Photos: Radford University (left) and Virginia Tech (right)

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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.

Red Sun Farms #7 Fresh Produce Greenhouse Grower in U.S.

Red Sun Farms #7 Fresh Produce Greenhouse Grower in U.S.

Pulaski County, VA – Red Sun Farms was recently ranked the #7 fresh produce greenhouse grower in the United States by Greenhouse Grower. The 2021 list was “Greenhouse Grower’s inaugural list of the top greenhouse operations growing produce for the fresh market.”

Greenhouse Grower ranked the operations by the amount of known square footage each company had operating in the United States. According to the article, Red Sun Farms’ greenhouse in Dublin has 2,090,880 square feet.

See the full rankings of U.S. greenhouse growers here.

Learn more about Red Sun Farms here.

Learn more about the Food Processing & Agribusiness Industry in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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.

Lane Stadium Voted Best Football Stadium in ACC

Lane Stadium Voted Best Football Stadium in ACC

October 14, 2022- This post from March 2021 highlights the electricity of Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA. We revisit as Virginia Tech prepares for its homecoming game against Miami this Saturday, 10/15. Go Hokies!!!

Montgomery County, VA – Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium was voted the best football stadium in the ACC by College Football on FOX fans. The Home of the Hokies won with a clear majority of the votes, ahead of Clemson’s Death Valley and Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium.

CFB on Fox Best ACC Stadium Twitter Graphic

Attending a game at Lane Stadium is an experience like no other. Here are a few more reasons why Virginia Tech football is so special:

Learn more about Lane Stadium/Worsham Field at HokieSports.com.

Learn more about sports and recreation in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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.

Radford #9 Best Place to Raise a Family in VA

Radford #9 Best Place to Raise a Family in VA

Radford, VA – Radford was ranked the ninth best place to raise a family in Virginia for 2021 by HomeSnacks.com. According to the website, “to narrow down the most family friendly cities in Virginia, [HomeSnacks.com] looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities and percent of households that currently have children. The cities also had to have a population of at least 12,000.”

Radford’s data show that the city has a lower cost of living and lower crime rates than the national average. Since the city is affordable and safe, it is no wonder that it ranked as one of the most family-friendly places to live in Virginia!

Learn more about Radford, a community in Virginia’s New River Valley, here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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.

Mountain Lake Lodge Wins The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2021 Award

Mountain Lake Lodge Wins The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2021 Award

Giles County, Virginia – Mountain Lake Lodge is one of the winners of The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2021 award for wedding venues. The venue, located in Pembroke, is considered one of the top-rated vendors of the year by the leading wedding website. According to The Knot, the Best of Weddings “recognizes top wedding vendors across the country. This prestigious honor represents the highest rated vendors on The Knot who are trusted, dependable, and deliver quality service. Only the best wedding vendors (top 5%) receive this award!” This is the second time that Mountain Lake Lodge has won a Best of Weddings award from The Knot. Not only is Mountain Lake Lodge a well-known wedding venue, it is also where much of the iconic 80s movie Dirty Dancing was filmed. Learn more about Mountain Lake Lodge here. Learn more about The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2021 awards here. Explore Giles County, a Virginia’s New River Valley community, here. Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Mountain Lake Lodge.
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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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.
Qualtrax One of Best Places to Work in VA

Qualtrax One of Best Places to Work in VA

Montgomery County, VA – According to Virginia Business magazine, Blacksburg-based Qualtrax is one of the best places to work in Virginia. The tech company was featured on the magazine’s 11th Annual Best Places to Work in Virginia List. This is the fourth consecutive year that Qualtrax was included in the “Small Employers (up to 99 U.S. employees)” category.

Virginia Business worked with Best Companies Group out of Pennsylvania to compile the list. Employers were evaluated on categories such as number of paid holidays, retirement benefits, diversity training, and telecommuting options for employees. After evaluating the employers and compiling a list of the top 100 in the Commonwealth, Virginia Business then divided the list into categories for large, medium, and small employers.

See all the companies on the 2021 Best Places to Work in Virginia list here.

Learn more about Qualtrax’s previous honors on the Best Places to Work in Virginia list from 2020, 2019, and 2018.

Learn more about Qualtrax and the information technology industry in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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.

FloydFest Wins Four Best of the Blue Ridge 2021 Awards

FloydFest Wins Best of the Blue Ridge 2021 Awards

Floyd County, VA – FloydFest won two Best of the Blue Ridge 2021 awards from Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine and was a runner-up in two more categories. FloydFest was the winner or runner-up in the following categories:

  • Music Festival (Overall): Winner
  • Music Festival Missed Most in 2020: Winner
  • Family Friendly Festival: Runner-Up
  • Rowdiest Festival: Runner-Up

Blue Ridge Outdoors had this to say about FloydFest:

“It doesn’t get much better than 100 bands on nine stages over five days. FloydFest is a celebration of all things music and mountains, also featuring outdoor adventures, delicious food, and activities just for kids.”

Missed FloydFest in 2020 and looking forward to attending this year? Blue Ridge Outdoors states, “[t]he festival producers are optimistic about 2021 and already announced the lineup for July 2021, which includes the Avett Brothers, Sturgill Simpson, and Old Crow Medicine Show.”

Read more about FloydFest and all the other Best of the Blue Ridge award winners here.

Learn more about Floyd, a community in Virginia’s New River Valley, here.

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

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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 Communities Among Top 20 Safest Cities in VA

NRV Communities Among Top 20 Safest Cities in VA

New River Valley, VA – Three communities in the NRV are among the top 20 safest cities in Virginia for 2021. The National Council for Home Safety and Security found that Blacksburg, Radford, and Christiansburg are some of the safest places in the Commonwealth.

Here are the rankings for the three NRV communities who made the list:

#5: Blacksburg
#11: Radford
#20: Christiansburg

According to Alarms.org, the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA, better known as the New River Valley, is “one of the fastest growing metropolitan statistical areas in the country, with low crime being one of the main draws for many moving into the area.”

To compile the rankings, Alarms.org reviewed the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report Statistics for Virginia cities with populations over 10,000. Learn more about the methodology and see the full rankings list for the safest cities in Virginian for 2021 here.

Learn more about the safe communities and excellent quality of life in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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

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Virginia’s New River Valley: Virginia’s New River Valley is an eclectic mix of interconnected small towns that each offer their own unique vibe and appeal. The region provides an abundance of cultural and social offerings due to the presence of three world-class universities, while retaining the charm and benefits of small-town living. The NRV is home to a diverse and innovative business community with companies that range from high-tech startups to foreign-based corporations to specialty agribusiness. These organizations benefit from the collaborative spirit of our region and a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. The scenic beauty of the region also fosters a deep connection to nature, which is deepened by access to outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural environment. It’s clear why Virginia’s New River Valley is “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.