fall in the nrv

Fall Things to Do in the NRV

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

New River Valley, VA – Now that the weather outside feels like fall, here’s a list of fun things to do across the New River Valley to embrace the season of Fall. Adventure around the NRV with your friends or family and enjoy everything it has to offer.

Pumpkin Patches & Apple Picking

Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival
Thornspring Pastures Farm Fest
Crows Nest Greenhouse
Apple picking at Doe Creek Farm

Fall Festivals

Pearisburg Scarecrow Festival
Newbern Fall Festival
Draper Village’s Fall Festival
Narrows Annual Fall Festival
Randolph Park Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
Radford Highlanders Festival
Smithfield Halloween 2019

Oktoberfest

OktoberFest in Floyd takes place on October 12th at Chantilly Farm. This Oktoberfest Dinner Show provides an evening filled with traditional German music, great food, and brews! Family-friendly fun for all ages.

Halloween-Themed

Haunted House: Slayhouse
Halloween Spooktacular: 3-D Drive-In Movie
Backwoods of Terror
Hexed Haunted Attraction

###

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 is 13th Best College Town to Start a Career

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Blacksburg, VA – According to Business Insider, Blacksburg is the 13th best college town in America to start your career in 2019.

Grand Canyon University conducted a study to identify the best college towns for starting a career. They collected data from the US Census, Yelp, Indeed, official government climate data, and more for all the cities included in the study. Six categories were used to compare the cities and included, similar state of life population, job market, climate, culture, city infrastructure, and financial. Cities were ranked on a scale of 1 – 10 in each category and then added together for a final score between 1 and 60; the higher the better.

In the 13th spot, Blacksburg scored an overall 36.05, falling just short of the 11th spot which Auburn, Alabama and Oxford, Mississippi tied for at 36.15. Notre Dame, Indiana, the top college town to start a career came in at 42.5.

Check out the full list of the top 20 schools here.

###

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.

Christiansburg is 2nd Best City to Live in Virginia

Christiansburg is 2nd Best City to Live in Virginia

/1 Comment/in , , /by

Christiansburg, VA – Christiansburg is ranked as the second best city to live in Virginia by creditdonkey.com.

CreditDonkey scored the cities in Virginia based on:
  • Odds of being a victim of a violent crime
  • Commute time
  • Income
  • Residents who attended some college
  • Restaurants per capita

    • Only cities with an average commute of 30 minutes or less were included.

    Christiansburg’s scores were:
  • Odds of being a victim of a violent crime: 1 in 709
  • Commute time: 19.1 minutes
  • Income: $50,276
  • Residents who attended some college: Bachelor’s Degree or higher 33.6%
  • Restaurants per capita: 1 per 316 inhabitants

    • The atmosphere of Christiansburg was described as “progressive small town living at its best”.

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

    ###

    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.

    Pulaski Has 8th Lowest Cost of Living in Virginia

    /0 Comments/in , , /by

    Pulaski County, VA – Pulaski comes in with the 8th lowest Cost of Living Index (COLI) at 86 in the state of Virginia.

    The index includes cost of retail goods and services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), cost of private/public transportation (9%), and utilities (10%). Overall, the state of Virginia ranks at 108 with the national average being 100. With a variety of affordable housing options, the housing index for Pulaski is 55 which has a significant impact on the overall score.

    Read more about the breakdown of the COLI here.

    ###

    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.

    Rural Floyd Enjoys the Flash of High Speed Internet

    /0 Comments/in , , /by

    Floyd County, VA – Citizens Telephone Cooperative is utilizing $10 million in federal funding through Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM), to bring better internet access to the residents of Floyd County.

    Citizens Telephone has served Floyd County for over 100 years and has stayed up to date with advances in technology. However, CEO and General Manager Greg Sapp says that “laying of fiber optic cable at 1G speed, one gigabit per second, will far exceed what many are used to, even for larger cities in the area.” Citizens plans to have 60% of the homes in Floyd County connected by the end of the year, with the goal of 97% being connected at the end of 2021. While they are unsure of the future of the ACAM after 2026, Sapp plans to have the work completed well in advance of the funding deadlines.

    “So we’ve always been able to support people that are used to being in an urban area, but they needed the technology to connect them. In the past, people have tried to frame us into a little box based on the number of lanes of roads that come in here, but now through fiber and glass, it’s an unlimited connection to the world.” – Lydeanna Martin, Floyd County Community and Economic Development Director

    The 1G broadband connections are creating positive outcomes not just for the residents and businesses, but also for the school systems. As a result of the improved wi-fi, Floyd County school district is pursuing a $17-million Collaboration and Career Development Center that will not only support high school students but will also offer evening courses for adults and expand to the elementary school curriculum. Additionally, with the improved connection, Floyd is attracting more individuals from the corporate world who are looking to semi-retire.

    ###

    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.

    Aerial of Downtown Blacksburg, Virgnia

    Blacksburg Named Top Ten Safest College Town

    /0 Comments/in , , /by

    Blacksburg, VA – SafeWise names Blacksburg ninth safest college town in America.

    Each year SafeWise assesses the safety of college towns by analyzing the number of violent crimes and property crimes in each area. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault while property crimes, which were only considered if there was a tie in violent crime rate, are burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Blacksburg moved up 13 spots this year as a result of cutting the number of violent crimes nearly in half to 0.53 per 1,000, 3.96 below national average. Property crimes also decreased to 7.46 per 1,000, 19.65 below national average. This improved safety climate is in part due to the ongoing relationship between Blacksburg police and the Virginia Tech police force. The two departments signed a memorandum of understanding allowing them to share jurisdiction and resources including radio and security camera access.

    Blacksburg is only one of two cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia that made the Top 50 list.

    ###

    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.

    Onward NRV Launches IT Industry Hub Initiatives

    /0 Comments/in , , , /by

    Virginia’s New River Valley is an emerging hub for information technology. The NRV is home to over 80 companies with more than 1,600 IT-related jobs specializing in blockchain, cybersecurity, software development, IT support services, and digital creative. Over the past five years, the region has experienced an astounding 29% job growth with over 700 jobs postings just in the past year. With exceptional educational programs at our local universities, Virginia Tech, Radford University, and New River Community College, the NRV is producing some of the best IT workforce in the country who can flourish here, in a region with excellent quality of life and low cost of living. The industry thrives here in our collection of downtowns, outdoor recreation opportunities, and a large presence of grassroots meet-up groups for IT professionals.

    Earlier this year, Onward NRV launched its IT Hub Initiative as part of its Onward 2023 five-year economic development strategy for the region. The goal of the initiative is to establish the New River Valley as a nationally recognized hub for IT companies and professionals. Through the initiative, Onward NRV has begun hosting biannual IT Leaders Summits to engage business leaders in supporting and growing the industry.

    Onward NRV also recently released an IT Hub Branding video and developed a new section of its website devoted to telling the story of IT in the NRV. The video showcases why the NRV is a great place to work in IT from the quality of life assets, to innovation that comes from the existing industry hub, to the supportive IT culture. A variety of companies are featured through-out the video providing testimonials reinforcing the benefits of IT in the NRV.

    In Virginia’s New River Valley, opportunity is abundant and creativity is embraced. Here we’re building tools to protect nations, currencies, and families. We’re creating new experiences, platforms, and technical communities. We’re supporting advanced systems, enterprises, infrastructure, and networks. “If you’re talking to your next-door neighbor, it’s not necessarily about borrowing a lawn mower. But It’s about the autonomous car that their working on or about the blockchain technology, and it gets everybody feeding this variety of ideas and it supports innovation through-out every company in the region.”This is a great time to be in IT in the NRV.Learn more about working and doing business in the NRV www.theNRV.org/IT

    Posted by Virginia's New River Valley on Thursday, August 29, 2019

    The targeted industry page for IT features Do Business, Work Here, and Live Here components to support companies and professionals looking to work in IT in the NRV. The Do Business page focuses on access to talent with two universities and one community college in the region as well as low operating costs. While the Work Here page shows the buying power of IT professionals in the NRV and the IT culture that has been established by the grassroots community groups. The Work Here page also provides a portal to specifically search for IT jobs in the New River Valley.

    Explore the industry pages at www.theNRV.org/IT.

    The Industry Hub video and target industry page are just the first step to creating resources to showcase the region as well as exhibiting the New River Valley as an emerging IT hub. The pages will continue to evolve to include internship opportunities, a relocation guide, and more. Onward NRV is also creating Employer Spotlight videos to demonstrate the variety of IT companies and job opportunities available in the NRV. These videos will provide insight from employees at all levels as to why they chose to live, work, and do business in Virginia’s New River Valley.

    ###

    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.

    Loan Repayment

    Student Loan Repayment Program to Attract Graduates to Floyd

    /0 Comments/in , , /by
    Floyd County, VA – Talent Attraction Program (TAP) enables recent graduates to participate in a loan repayment program if they choose to reside in Floyd County. The purpose of the program is to encourage graduates from 2018 and later to live in the Tobacco Region and replaces the previous 4-year loan forgiveness program. By requiring specific credentials, community involvement, and jobs in fields that are currently experiencing a workforce shortage, TAP can better recruit talent to meet the needs of the community. TAP now provides larger individualized awards that provide up to $12,000 annually, with a minimum of a two-year commitment, and the opportunity for award renewal with the repayment funds maxing at $48,000.
    “This is an excellent opportunity for recent college graduates from the region seeking jobs in these fields. It is also a great boost to new or existing businesses in Floyd County in attracting talent.” – Lydeana Martin, Community and Economic Development Director
    Within the parameters of the program and specific to Floyd County, recent graduates can work for companies like:
    • Hollingsworth & Vose
    • Citizens Telephone Cooperative
    • Crenshaw Lighting
    • Wall Residences
    • Carilion Clinic
    • Tri Area Health Center
    Other eligible work includes teaching in STEM or Career and Technical fields in Floyd County Public Schools, which is in the process of upgrading and reimagining the Floyd County Career and Technical Education Center for the New Economy as the Collaboration & Career Development Center. To read more about TAP and its eligibility requirements, click HERE.
    ###
    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.
    cnbc

    Virginia Named Top State to Do Business in 2019

    /0 Comments/in , , , /by
    New River Valley, VA – CNBC ranks the Commonwealth of Virginia as the overall #1 state to do business in 2019. All 50 states are put through a rigorous test, scoring each state on more than 60 measures in 10 overarching categories. Then each category is weighted based on how often the state uses that category as a selling point in their economic development marketing materials. This ensures that the states are only being assessed on the attributes they use to promote themselves. The criteria for scoring was developed using existing business and policy experts, official government sources, and the input from the individual states. The 10 categories of evaluation include:
    1. Workforce
    2. Economy
    3. Infra-structure
    4. Cost of Doing Business
    5. Quality of Life
    6. Education
    7. Technology & Innovation
    8. Business Friendliness
    9. Access to Capital
    10. Cost of Living
    Not only did Virginia rank #1 overall, but the state also received the top spot in workforce and education. Educational attainment of workforce, number of available employees, and net migration of college-educated workers are all considered when calculating the workforce category, which is allocated the largest sum of points, 450, of all 10 categories. The state’s concentration of STEM workers, workforce productivity, and even union membership and right-to-work laws are also considered. In the category of education, which is slotted for up to 175 points, the number of higher education institutions as well as the test scores, class size, and spending of K-12 schools is calculated. Another notable ranking for Virginia, is the 3rd place score in the category of business friendliness. Business friendliness is also awarded 175 points and looks at the legal and regulatory climate of the state and the economic freedom for business individuals. Learn more about the categories and grading system here or check out the list of all 50 states and their rankings here. For those searching for a beautiful place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both a small-town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative and business-friendly culture. It also offers a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. With magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, and exceptional arts, entertainment, and education — Virginia’s New River Valley is quite simply, A Natural Fit.
    ###
    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.
    BT

    Blacksburg Transit Named Outstanding Transit System of North America

    /0 Comments/in , , /by
    Blacksburg, VA – American Public Transportation Association (APTA) selected Blacksburg Transit (BT) the 2019 Outstanding Transit System award for North America. Each year, APTA chooses a transit system that performs exceptionally as an organization as well as benefits the community. The award was received for the small urban system category which is defined by annual ridership of four million or less and includes bus systems and rail transportation in North America. Transit systems were scored on their performance in 24 quantitative and qualitative criteria.
    “We’ve had unprecedented ridership growth of 22 percent over the last three years when most systems in our industry are facing declines. Through employee dedication, innovation and the support of our stakeholders we’ve taken the organization to new heights while never compromising our high standards.” – Tom Fox, BT Director
    Blacksburg Transit has 50 buses that serve 13 routes in Christiansburg and Blacksburg, including on Virginia Tech’s campus. Virginia Tech students and employees can even ride for free when they use their Hokie Passport. BT passengers can also make connections to other bus lines that serve Radford, Roanoke, and Washington, D.C. Click here to learn more about Blacksburg Transit including maps, routes, and schedules.
    ###
    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.