Governor Northam Nominates Opportunity Zones, Six Located in NRV

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NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – Governor Northam announced the nomination of Virginia Opportunity Zones yesterday to the U.S. Department of Treasury. The Governor nominated a total of 212 sites (the maximum number allowed). There are 6 nominated Opportunity Zones in the NRV.

Opportunity Zones in the NRV

Click for full, interactive map. (via esri)

“Opportunity zones are an important federal tool to spur vitality in economic growth in communities across Virginia and we are committed to using them fully in this administration,” said Governor Northam. “By focusing on local and regional strategies, as well as Virginia’s diverse geography and economic opportunities, we selected a balance of zones that align with other state and local economic development and revitalization efforts. This ensures that Virginia is at the forefront of attracting new Opportunity fund investments.”

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development assisted in coordinating nomination process alongside the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

For more information regarding the opportunity zones, visit the Governor’s website.

Click here for a full, interactive map of Virginia’s nominated zones. (via esri)

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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.

Aeroprobe MELD logo, Virginia's New River Valley

Aeroprobe Corporation Commercializes MELD Technology

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~Machine sales and manufacturing services will be managed by newly-announced subsidiary, MELD Manufacturing Corporation~

FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY, VA – On Thursday, April 12, 2018, Aeroprobe Corporation announced MELD, its proprietary manufacturing technology, is moving into a new phase of commercialization that includes the spinout of MELD Manufacturing Corporation. These announcements come after more than a decade of research and development for the MELD process.

“Our technology is truly unique,” noted MELD CEO Nanci Hardwick. “We identified an area in the additive manufacturing industry that could be improved upon and put a lot of time and effort into making it happen. The MELD process is a game changer in the additive manufacturing field and beyond.”

Aeroprobe MELD logo, a revolutionary manufacturing process for metal created at Aeroprobe in Virginias New River Valley

The company holds more than a dozen patents for MELD, a process that can be used for a wide range of materials, including metal powders and rods. It can also be used with metal chips that would normally be discarded in other processes, making it a viable option for a green alternative.

“What sets us apart from other technologies is that we aren’t melting,” explained Additive Manufacturing Manager Chase Cox, “When you melt, you introduce weakness and other issues. By taking the material up to a point where it is malleable but not melted, we end up with properties that meet or exceed similar processes and, in some cases, even those of the original material.”

While a few other processes offer the ability to work with materials without melting, MELD is further differentiated by being open atmosphere, meaning no special chambers or vacuums are needed to operate a MELD machine.

“Being open atmosphere means less equipment and fewer headaches,” continued Cox, “From a manufacturing standpoint, it also means that MELD isn’t limited in the size of the parts it can make. Compared to similar processes, we can make parts that are not only bigger, but also superior in quality and material options.”

Beyond additive manufacturing, the MELD process can be used to repair, coat, and join materials. The novelty of the technology also means that welding previously unweldable materials is a possibility.

“I was very excited the first time I saw the MELD technology,” notes Paul Allison, Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama, which already owns a MELD machine. “It was and still is obvious that MELD provides a breakthrough in manufacturing technology that overcomes the technical barriers of fusion-based processes. That innovation is why I was eager to purchase a MELD machine and to work with the MELD team to pioneer research for this technology,” stated Allison.

The MELD process promises to innovate a number of industries, from automotive and aerospace to defense and turbomachinery. MELD Manufacturing will offer machine sales in addition to contract manufacturing and consulting services.

“This is just another example of the technical innovations that are occurring in the New River Valley,” said Chris Tuck, Chair, Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. “The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors continues to support our local businesses in growing and making world-wide impacts,” said Tuck.

“I’m both proud of and excited about this home-grown technology in Montgomery County,” said Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, April DeMotts. “It is clearly evident that the impact of this cutting-edge technology will reach far beyond Virginia,” said DeMotts.

About MELD Manufacturing Corporation

Established in 2018, MELD Manufacturing Corporation holds more than a dozen patents for MELD and facilitates contract manufacturing and consulting services as well as MELD machine sales. MELD is an innovative and unique patented technology that revolutionizes the additive manufacturing industry. MELD is the first process to give you the power to build 3D parts in solid state, producing better quality, scalable parts faster using a variety of materials and metals. Learn more at www.meldmanufacturing.com.

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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

Blacksburg a Top 100 Best Place to Live

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BLACKSBURG, VA – The Town of Blacksburg is a Top 100 Best Place to Live according to Livability.com. Blacksburg came in at number 63 out of almost 2,300 cities.

The small and mid-sized towns and cities were ranked using 40 data points that analyzed economics, education, housing, and more.

“The college town atmosphere in Blacksburg has helped foster affordable housing options along with a robust downtown district, fantastic restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment venues…”

Read more from Livability.

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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.

Virginia Tech versus North Carolina basketball, ACC sports, Cassell Coliseum

Virginia Tech and Radford University Men’s Basketball Make it to the NCAA Tournament

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NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – The men’s basketball teams in the NRV are headed to the NCAA Tournament.

nrv teams ncaa tournament

The Virginia Tech Hokies (no. 8 seed in the East Region) received an at-large bid and will face Alabama (no. 9 seed) this Thursday, March 15.

After winning the Big South Championship last week, the Radford Highlanders will be play in the “First Four games today. They’re opponents are LIU-Brooklyn and the winner will be the no. 16 seed against no. 1 seed Villanova on Thursday.

Read more from Mark Berman at The Roanoke Times.

UPDATE (March 16)

The Radford University Highlanders beat LIU-Brooklyn to make it to the first round. Radford was then defeated by Villanova. Virginia Tech also lost by 3 points to Alabama in the first round.

While the Hokies and the Highlanders didn’t make it past Round 1 this year, there was a lot of love for these NRV teams. Radford alumnus and ESPN commentator Marty Smith showed his support, even letting Reggie Miller know he’d help him get to town for a game.

RU Coach Mike Jones was glad Virginia’s New River Valley had the opportunity to be seen:

The NRV is such a special place. Not just because of our universities, but because of the people who attend them and populate the rest of the region. Whether you’re an alumnus, a long-time resident, or a new professional, it doesn’t take long to see Virginia’s New River Valley is A Natural Fit.

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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.

Bikeshare NRV, NRV Bikeshare program coming to the New River Valley, painted bike logo on a side walk with fall leaves

Bikeshare Coming to the New River Valley

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NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – The New River Valley will soon have a bikeshare program, complete in Spring 2018. The NRV bikeshare program will service Montgomery County, the towns of Christiansburg and Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech.

The program will start with 12 stations and 88 bikes. Users can both purchase memberships or rent by the hour. Powered by Gotcha, there will be traditional bikes as well as a few electric-power-assist bikes.

How to use Gotcha bikeshare NRV, NRV bikeshare program, new river valley, screen grab from gotcha

For more information visit the New River Valley Regional Commission site or check out the bikes at Gotcha.

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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.

The Beauty of the NRV on the Big Screen

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NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – Did you know there are movies filmed in the NRV? That’s right, the sites of Virginia’s New River Valley are on the big screen. This month, filmmakers visited Blacksburg and Giles County for Black Dispatch, a civil war era love story told by Director Shea Sizemore and Producer Chip White.

The sun shines down on a group of civil war reenactors on the set of 'Black Dispatch,' one of the movies filmed in the nrv

Filming began at Historic Smithfield on March 2nd. The rest of the short was filmed in Giles County at Kairos Resort from March 3rd-4th.

As Sizemore grew up in the area, he understands what makes the NRV great. It’s his relationship with the NRV that brings Black Dispatch here, and now even more people will know the beautiful landscape of the NRV.

“We are fortunate and excited about the opportunity to capture the beauty of this gorgeous corner of Virginia,” said Producer Chip White.

There are other movies filmed in the NRV.

This isn’t the first time the scenery around here caught the eye of a filmmaker.

The film adaption of David Baldacci’s best-selling novel Wish You Well (starring Ellen Burstyn, Mackenzie Foy, and Josh Lucas) was filmed in Giles.

Plus, most people know that much of the iconic film Dirty Dancing was filmed at Mountain Lake Lodge. The lodge was ranked one of TripAdvisor’s top movie destinations.

Other films Geographically Desirable (2014) and House of Good and Evil (2012) were filmed in Floyd.

When it comes to the outdoors in the NRV, there are plenty of ways to take it in. From in-person to the silver screen, the natural assets here are worth marveling at.

Get More Information

Historic Smithfield Plantation was established in 1772 by William Preston, a leader of westward expansion and a prominent Southwestern Virginia Revolutionary War patriot. Now Smithfield is on the National Register of Historic Places and is open for tours that take visitors back to the 18th century with costumed guides.

Kairos Resort in Giles County is a 1515-acre wilderness resort that stretches from the valley of the New River to the top of the Appalachian Mountains. It features over 40 miles of trails, river activities, camping, special events, and more.

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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.

Women laughing and enjoying one of the outside events in the NRV.

There’s No Excuse for Being Bored in the NRV

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While Virginia’s New River Valley may be a collection of small towns, the amount of things to do here is anything but small. There are tons of events in the NRV.

In fact, there are tons of events in the NRV daily. Whether it’s large, nationally acclaimed annual festivals, or weekly happy hours, these small towns are more bustling than ever.

According to Jami Ryan of NextThreeDays.com, a regional website featuring nearly all the events in the NRV, there were 4,927 Featured Events in our region in 2017. That means these events don’t reoccur weekly.

That’s right. Almost 5,000 one-time events for residents in the NRV.

That comes to 13.5 big events each day.

“I used to hear ‘there’s nothing to do’ all the time from my friends in college who grew up in the city or in more populous areas and came to the NRV for school,” said Ryan. “In fact, this is one of the reasons why I created NextThreeDays because, having spent most of my life in our region, I knew it wasn’t true. And, since I’ve been running NextThreeDays, I can say emphatically that ‘there’s nothing to do’ in the New River Valley is completely false.”

To fight the misconception of lack of events in the NRV, Ryan uses NextThreeDays.com as a place where those events can be easily found: an ever-changing database of fun for all residents of the NRV.

It’s about more than just the amount of events in the NRV too; there is a solid variety as well. Because he sees almost all the events in the NRV, Ryan understands the diversity of activities offered here.

“I would like people to know that there is truly something for everyone,” said Ryan. “Whether it’s looking for live music, finding a local festival, a craft brewery, fun for the kids, the dogs or whomever or whatever your interests are, the NRV has something fun to offer. For example, two years ago I heard about the NRV Historic Dance Society. This group of local residents was formed to teach and celebrate English country dancing in the 17th, 18th & 19th centuries. We also regularly include outdoor games for the Laser Tag Club at Virginia Tech on NextThreeDays and just this week there was a Root Beer Tasting and Sommelier Certification. And, these are just three of the many events that are happening in the NRV. So my point is, there is truly something for everyone no matter your interests.“

On top of that, there’s also plenty to do that’s free. Who doesn’t love free?

“There are so many events that have either free admission or the ticket cost is very low,” said Ryan. “Sure, there are a number of dinners, galas and events that are expensive, but there are many, many more events that have free admission. In 2014, I created and completed the 31 Days of NRV Fun Challenge where I had to attend 31 or more events at 31 unique venues and spent no more than $7.00 a day. I was able to accomplish the feat and still had $12.00 leftover at the end.”

“And, this summer I did a 50 Events in 50 Days Challenge and most of the events I attended were free or very inexpensive. Both Radford University and Virginia Tech have wonderful arts, theatre and music programs and many of their performances are free as are many of the universities’ educational activities. Numerous restaurants offer free live music throughout the week and many of our area towns and bigger organizations hosts free festivals throughout the year.”

“And, that doesn’t even count the non-football and basketball collegiate athletics and our public libraries where all events are free. So it’s fairly easy to get out of your home and to find an event to enjoy for a couple of hours and spend $10.00 or less.”

Woman shimmies across rope at Muddy ACCE Race, an adventure race. One of the many events in the NRV, specifically Giles County.

The Muddy ACCE Race in Giles County is one of the many events in the NRV. The sign up fee for this muddy adventure race help fund local students’ community college tuition.

If you’re looking for something to do or specific events in the NRV, check out what’s going on at NextThreeDays.com. The same information also populates to the Live Here page.

For more information about Virginia’s New River Valley, check out Our Region and what it’s like to Live 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.

Erik the Travel Guy Goes to Montgomery County, VA

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Erik the Travel Guy in Montgomery County VA!

MONTGOMERY, VA – Erik the Travel Guy, a travel guru dedicated to inspiring others to explore the world, recently journeyed through Montgomery County, VA! Check out Erik’s video, which tours much of Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and the rest of Montgomery County.

Watch Erik visit classics like Smithfield Plantation, Cabo Fish Taco, Due South BBQ, Sinkland Farms, and more!

Learn more about Erik the Travel Guy or find want you want to explore next in Montgomery County.

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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.