Pulaski County Awarded SolSmart Gold Designation

Pulaski County Awarded SolSmart Gold Designation

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Pulaski County, VA – Pulaski County was recently awarded a SolSmart Gold designation. SolSmart is a nationwide program that “recognizes cities, counties, and regional organizations for making it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar.” SolSmart has only awarded 139 Gold designations across the country, and Pulaski County is one of only three communities in Virginia to achieve that designation.

According to County Administrator Jonathan Sweet, “this Gold designation further demonstrates that [Pulaski County has] made it easier and more affordable for citizens and business[es] to move to solar.”

Read more about Pulaski County’s SolSmart Gold Designation from The Southwest Times here.

Learn more about Pulaski County, 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.

TECHLAB Supplies NRV COVID-19 Task Force with Reagents to Expand Testing

TECHLAB Supplies NRV COVID-19 Task Force with Reagents to Expand Testing

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Montgomery County, VA – TECHLAB® Inc., a leader in infectious disease diagnostics, announced on November 2, 2020 it has partnered with the New River Valley COVID-19 Task Force to cost-effectively expand future COVID-19 testing capacity. Under this agreement, the New River Health District secures access to TECHLAB’s analyte-specific reagents (ASRs) for SARS-CoV-2 for as little as $7-9 per use.

“As a company founded and headquartered here in the New River Valley, we are proud to work closely with public health officials to provide a cost-effective and flexible option to increase their COVID-19 testing,” said Joel Herbein, Ph.D., Vice President of Scientific Affairs at TECHLAB. “Our analyte-specific reagents can be used now to maximize COVID-19 testing by any lab that is CLIA-certified to perform medium- and high-complexity testing. We are also incorporating our ASRs into 96-well and rapid antigen tests and plan to submit to the U.S. FDA for emergency use authorization.”

“As a company founded and headquartered here in the New River Valley, we are proud to work closely with public health officials to provide a cost-effective and flexible option to increase their COVID-19 testing.”
– Joel Herbein, Ph.D., Vice President of Scientific Affairs at TECHLAB

“The acquisition of these reagents provides us flexibility for future testing capacity,” said Anthony Wilson, head of the COVID-19 Task Force. “The task force has created a mobile, flexible, and scalable testing program that can be deployed across the New River Valley, and it has helped us prevent COVID-19 from overloading our hospitals or compromising our public safety systems and services.”

“Testing continues to help us determine the prevalence of disease in our community, but the best protection is to remain vigilant,” said Noelle Bissell, M.D., director of the New River Health District. “Watch your distance, wear your mask, and wash your hands. That’s how you protect yourself and those around you.”

“TECHLAB prides itself in developing and manufacturing our reagents in-house in southwest Virginia allowing us to control our supply chain and the quality of our products,” said Rob Day, Chief Operating Officer. “We are also able to supply any CLIA lab in the United States.”

About the New River Valley COVID-19 Task Force

The New River Valley Public Health Task Force is composed of local health, public safety, education and government agencies that work to proactively provide local residents and communities with information about COVID-19, to coordinate efforts to reduce its local impact and to facilitate community recovery. For more information, visit www.NRVRoadtoWellness.com and www.vdh.virginia.gov.

If you have questions about COVID-19 or wish to request an appointment for testing at a drive-thru site, call the New River Health District’s COVID-19 public health call center at 540-267-8240.

About TECHLAB

Founded in 1989, TECHLAB, Inc. is a leading developer and manufacturer of diagnostic products. The Company has a portfolio of diagnostic tests for infectious disease and intestinal inflammation testing. TECHLAB also performs diagnostics and life science contract manufacturing and services. TECHLAB is headquartered in Blacksburg, Va. and manufactures its diagnostic tests in the United States at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Radford, Va. For more info, visit www.techlab.com.

Media Contacts:

Robert Parker, public information officer, Western Region, robert.parker@vdh.virginia.gov
Jodie Lee, Marketing Manager, TECHLAB, Inc., jlee@techlab.com

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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.

VEDP Highlights Phoenix Packaging’s Growth in NRV

VEDP Highlights Phoenix Packaging’s Growth in NRV

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Pulaski County, VA – A case study by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) highlighted the growth of Phoenix Packaging’s U.S. operation in Virginia’s New River Valley over the past ten years. In 2010, the company established their North American headquarters in Pulaski County and expanded operations there in 2011, 2012, and 2017. The total investment in the region since 2010 by Grupo Phoenix, Phoenix Packaging’s parent company, has been “$106.2 million and 585 new jobs for the citizens of the New River Valley.”

VEDP’s case study describes the many business advantages that the NRV has to offer Phoenix Packaging. These include accessibility to major interstates and the talent pipeline coming from the region’s high-quality, local education institutions.

Alberto Peisach, the CEO of Grupo Phoenix, had this to say about locating in the region:

“Grupo Phoenix evaluated various location options to build upon its future in the United States and chose [Virginia’s New River Valley] due to a variety of factors, including a central location that allows us to be within 400 miles of 80 percent of the U.S. East Coast population; the ability to negotiate electricity at a competitive rate; access to rail transport, which reduces our logistics; a motivated labor force; support from the local colleges and universities to assist us with training specialized technical jobs; and the accessibility and unwavering support of the government to work together within the industry to create jobs.”

Read the entire VEDP case study on Phoenix Packaging here.

Learn more about the food processing and 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.

Card Isle Receives Investment from VFF

Card Isle Receives Investment from Virginia Founders Fund

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Montgomery County, VA – The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) announced this week that Blacksburg-based technology company Card Isle will receive investment from the Virginia Founders Fund (VFF). VFF, which was launched in 2018, “shines a light on the creativity and impact of entrepreneurs arising from Virginia communities traditionally underserved by risk capital…[including] founders located in regions outside of Northern Virginia.”

Card Isle was founded in Blacksburg in 2013 and is “rethinking how greeting cards can be distributed in a changing retail landscape. Card Isle offers turnkey solutions to design, order, and print personalized greeting cards, and will use this capital from VFF to continue their rapid growth in the eCommerce gifting sector and develop new markets.”

Card Isle is one of many technology startups growing and expanding in Virginia’s New River Valley. Learn more about the technology industry in the region here.

Explore Card Isle’s greeting cards here.

Read the full press release from CIT about the investment 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.

Aeroprobe Featured in Virginia Economic Review

Aeroprobe Featured in Virginia Economic Review

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Montgomery County, VA – Aeroprobe was recently featured in the Q3 2020 issue of the Virginia Economic Review. The article, titled “Aeroprobe Sets Companies Up for Speed”, discussed the Christiansburg-based company’s Micro Air Data System. Many leaders and innovators in the unmanned systems field use Aeroprobe’s system.

The article also highlighted the talent benefits that Aeroprobe receives by being located in Virginia’s New River Valley. According to the article, “A critical element of Aeroprobe’s ability to attract the talent it needs is its Virginia location, minutes from Virginia Tech’s world-renowned Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering… as well as Radford University, where the physics department offers a dual degree program with Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering.”

Nathaniel Varano, Aeroprobe’s President, had this to say about locating in the NRV:

“Being here in Christiansburg gives us a centralized location in the New River Valley corridor. We’re fortunate to not only have so many universities and colleges to recruit from, but there are also so many great small and mid-sized technology companies, which draw an active community of entrepreneurs and technologists.”

Read the full article about Aeroprobe here.

Learn more about the unmanned systems field in the NRV 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 Leaders Listed in the ‘Virginia 500’ by Virginia Business

NRV Leaders Listed in the ‘Virginia 500’ by Virginia Business

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New River Valley, VA – Eight leaders across the New River Valley were listed in the inaugural “Virginia 500 – The 2020 Power List” recently published by Virginia Business magazine. This list of influential people in Virginia was created by the magazine “to be an insightful and helpful resource on leadership in Virginia.” Read more about how Virginia Business created the list here.

The NRV leaders included in the Virginia 500 are:

  • Dan Larimer | Federal Contractors, Technology | Chief Technology Officer, Block.one
  • Franky Marchand | Manufacturing | Vice President and General Manager, Volvo Group Trucks Operations in Americas
  • Dan St. Martin | Manufacturing | President, Kollmorgen Corp.
  • John Dooley | Nonprofits, Philanthropy | CEO, Virginia Tech Foundation
  • Raymond Smoot | Economic Development | Chair, Go Virginia Region 2 Council
  • Justin Fuente | Arts, Entertainment, Sports | Head Football Coach, Virginia Tech
  • Brian Hemphill | Education | President, Radford University
  • Tim Sands | Education | President, Virginia Tech

    Learn more about the leaders, industries, and communities 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.

    • NRV Business Continuity Team

    NRV Business Continuity Team Available for COVID-19 Response

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    New River Valley, VA – The New River Valley Regional Commission, working in coordination with the New River Health District and the NRV Public Health Task Force, is pleased to make available the NRV Business Continuity Team (BCT), a new resource for businesses impacted by COVID-19. The BCT is available at no cost to help advise businesses navigate questions about COVID-19 at their workplace. More information about the BCT can be found here or by calling 540-639-9313 and asking for the Business Continuity Team.

    Services available include:

    • Guidance for operating in a COVID environment
    • Guidance if there is a suspected case or a known positive case
    • Development of a Business Continuity Plan
    • Access to a pool of funds on a cost-shared reimbursement* basis to help pay for on-site cleaning; public relations expertise; legal advisement for human resource matters; website support for pertinent messaging. *Business continuity plan must be executed to receive cost-shared reimbursement for services.
    • Coordination of testing, if deemed necessary

    NRV Business Continuity Team Contacts:
    Melanie Morris, Program Manager, mmorris@nrvrc.org, 540-639-9313 x248
    Ashley Briggs, Public Health Director, abriggs@nrvrc.org, 540-639-9313 x25

    Funding for the NRV Business Continuity Team is being provided by GO Virginia, NRV local government CARES Act appropriations and Community Development Block Grant funds. This resource is limited to businesses located in the counties of Montgomery, Pulaski, Floyd, Giles and the city of Radford.

    Be committed. Be well.

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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.

    FoxGuard Solutions Graduates from VALET Business Acceleration Program

    FoxGuard Solutions Graduates from VALET Business Acceleration Program

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    Montgomery County, VA – Governor Ralph Northam announced last week that FoxGuard Solutions, based in Christiansburg, is among 10 companies across the Commonwealth that recently graduated from Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s (VEDP) Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program.

    Here is more detailed information about the VALET Program from the press release:

    VALET is a two-year international business acceleration program that provides participating companies with international sales plan development services, assistance from a team of experienced international service providers, international business meetings with potential partners, educational events, and customized market research.

    Read the full press release, including information on the other graduating companies, 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 Manufacturing Industry Featured in Valley Business FRONT

    NRV Manufacturing Industry Featured in Valley Business FRONT

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    New River Valley, VA – The August 2020 issue of Valley Business FRONT featured an article titled, “Not Your Father’s Manufacturing Industry”. The article showcased the manufacturing industry in Virginia’s New River Valley.

    The region is a hub for the manufacturing industry, with, according to the article, “140 manufacturers… located in the New River Valley. The sector employs 12,000 people, making it one of the top five employment industries.”

    The article discussed current trends and challenges in manufacturing globally, nationally, and locally. One such challenge is training the workforce to adapt to the increased automation in the industry. Local institutions, such as New River Community College, have implemented programs for students to ensure that qualified employees are available to meet the changing needs of manufacturers in the region.

    Read the entire article from Valley Business FRONT here. Learn more about manufacturing 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.

    Kollmorgen Increases Production During COVID-19 Pandemic

    Kollmorgen Increases Production During COVID-19 Pandemic

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    Radford, VA – Kollmorgen’s commitment to serving customers during the COVID-19 pandemic was recently highlighted the article, “On the Front Lines” in Virginia Economic Review’s Q2 2020 issue. Kollmorgen’s Radford facilities have ramped up production to meet the increased demand for the company’s motion control products and systems, which are “used to manufacture everything from personal protective equipment to diagnostic machines to ventilators.”

    The article states,

    “Kollmorgen has provided motion solutions to ventilator and respirator suppliers for more than a decade. When leaders at many of those companies learned the nation lacked the necessary ventilators for critical patients and personal protective equipment for health professionals, they wanted to help by increasing production. Other executives of companies which had never manufactured these items wanted to buy components from Kollmorgen that would allow them to start new manufacturing lines. [Kollmorgen General Manager Peter] Dempsey also heard from company heads wanting to increase or start production of other essential items like test kits, diagnostic machines, and CT scanners.”

    Read the entire article about how Kollmorgen is supporting the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic here.

    Learn how people and companies in Virginia’s New River Valley are responding to the pandemic 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.