FROM PULASKI, VA – In Harrisonburg, the Virginia Economic Developers Association is invested in Virginia’s long-term economic growth. Founded in 1982, they’ve been working to change the economic landscape of Virginia, with the goal of seeing our state flourishing from one end to the other. The Town of Pulaski has been working diligently towards this goal and were honored [March 30th] by VEDA, who presented the town with the Community Economic Development Award.

The Community Economic Development Award is only presented to those localities who demonstrate a strong grasp on how to identify and use the economic opportunities of their region, and how to adapt existing infrastructure into a new economic plan. VEDA recognizes the Town of Pulaski’s efforts through several criteria, all of which come together to form a stronger community.

A large factor in the Town of Pulaski’s ability to adapt its infrastructure to new needs is the availability of U.S. EPA Brownfields grant funding. Through this funding, several sites in the town have been identified for planning and renovation to make way for new businesses to enter the market. Among these sites, there are plans for a boutique hotel and craft brewery in the historical Dalton building and plans to redevelop the former site of the General Chemical Company Foundry as a public recreation complex including a skate park and basketball courts. As of now though, the Jackson Park Inn is perhaps the most impressive newly renovated site, providing a modern, charming hotel and over 50 permanent jobs for the Town of Pulaski.

Since the Pulaski Brownfields grant program began in 2009, more than $10,000,000 of economic development capital investments have been brought into the town through companies buying space for new businesses, tourism destinations like the Jackson Park Inn and Gatewood Park, and community improvements. Along with the 50 aforementioned jobs brought by the Jackson Park Inn, these developments have brought over 100 jobs in total to the Town of Pulaski.

VEDA also recognized the town’s community organizations, in particular Friends of Peak Creek (FOPC). Recognized in 2013 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization, their efforts have made Peak Creek a more beautiful addition to the town by preserving the environment through cleanup work and water monitoring.

Another boon to the town’s economy is Calfee Park, the home of the Pulaski Yankees and the 9th oldest ballpark in our country. Currently undergoing more renovations, over $3 million dollars were submitted by private investors in 2014 for an earlier upgrade. These changes and those currently ongoing have arguably transformed Calfee Park into one of the nicest minor league parks in the country.

In addition, there are plans in the works for further improvements along Peak Creek to provide more recreational activities, including fishing piers and small parks. These changes should also increase economic activity on Main Street through the addition of a urban trail connecting to Peak Creek.

There’s no doubt that the Town of Pulaski will continue its current trend of outstanding economic growth, with so much in the works now and surely even more to come in the future. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store!

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.”

(FROM WFXR NEWS) PULASKI COUNTY, VA – Turkish dignitaries concluded a three-stop tour of the New River Valley Tuesday at New River Community College, which showed off machinery and a future workforce they hope are worthy of investment.

It’s all part of an ongoing economic relationship between Turkey and Pulaski County, which leaders hope will pay off down the road.

“Sometimes, the most unlikely of relationships are the most fruitful,” said Jonathan Sweet, county administrator for Pulaski County.

His signature is on the bottom of a proclamation to make January 29th, 2019 “Republic of Turkey Day.”

“Their visit here demonstrates that we’ve got something to showcase, and there’s something special here,” he said.

He helped host two Turkish dignitaries Tuesday for a tour around New River Community College, a day after the pair made stops at Virginia Tech and Radford.

He’s not the only one thinking in dollar signs.

“Actually, we are trying to increase our trade volume, we are trying to increase our investment both ways,” said Mustafa Koca, the Chief Commercial Counselor of the Turkish Embassy.

Koca represents a country ranked 20th in GDP, with growing automotive, petrochemical, and electronics industries; according to the the IMF and CIA, respectively.

In a 2018 release on NewRiverValley.org, Sweet writes in part, “More than 1,000 new jobs having come from (international) companies in the last 18 months.”

“And that they’re not going to find a better workforce anywhere in Virginia, anywhere in the U.S., than right here in Pulaski County,” he said.

Koca says he’s impressed with what he saw, but only time will tell how that translates economically.

Sweet hopes to leave the pair with a central message.

“That we are a welcoming community. That we are the center for international business is southwestern Virginia. And there is a place for foreign direct investment to be made here in Pulaski County, here in the New River Valley,” he said.

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.”

FROM PULASKI COUNTY, VA – October 29, 2018, the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors and the Pulaski County Economic Development Authority (EDA) expanded their business and industrial recruitment efforts to the Republic of Turkey. Pulaski County, hosting the title of Southwestern Virginia’s Center of International Business, is further extending its welcoming and supportive community for international companies to Turkey.

The County’s economic development team traveled to Washington D.C. to meet and discuss recruitment strategies with leading international business tacticians, as well as Turkey’s Office of the Commercial Counselor. While in D.C., County Administrator Jonathan D. Sweet and Economic Development Director Michael Solomon visited the Turkish Embassy and discussed business cultivation opportunities with top Turkish commercial attachés. The aim was to gain connectivity to Turkish companies looking to establish a U.S. presence.

“We would like Turkish companies to do business in Pulaski County, Virginia,” stated Mustafa Koca, Chief Commercial Counselor. “What we have learned of Pulaski County sounds most promising and we would like to try and set up a trip to come visit the county in hopes of developing meaningful partnerships.”

Turkey is defined as an emerging market economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is among the world’s developed countries according to the CIA World Factbook. It is one of the world’s newly industrialized countries with the world’s 17th-largest nominal gross domestic product (GDP) and 13th-largest GDP by purchasing power parity. The country is among the world’s leading producers of agricultural products; textiles; motor vehicles, transportation equipment; construction materials; consumer electronics and home appliances.

“In looking at Turkey’s main industrial sectors, they are very similar to what Pulaski County has historically produced as well as where we have evolved to in the advanced manufacturing arena,” stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator. “We feel there are great opportunities for Turkish companies to utilize our international business-friendly environment and skilled workforce, as well as tap into our innovative research and leading edge cybersecurity programs at Virginia Tech and Radford University.”

Home to a diverse advanced manufacturing cluster and an existing concentration of international industries (nine (9) – Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, Australian, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, Columbia and Poland), Pulaski County has honed its wrap-around business support services to provide specific resources and foreign direct investment expertise that are valuable to international businesses and the relocation of their management teams.

“The Board of Supervisors and the EDA are committed to further diversifying and growing our economy and feel international business development, specifically with Turkey, could play a large role in doing just that,” stated Andy McCready, Chair, Pulaski County Board of Supervisors. “We have done a good job of laying the ground work for our team to successfully recruit with the establishment of our Foreign Trade Zone (#238), the International Port of Entry, innovative workforce development programs, our variety of available product and our sincere desire to do business with foreign companies.”

International companies continue to locate and thrive in Pulaski County, with more than 1,000 new jobs having come from these companies in the last 18 months. It is deduced that the county’s skilled and resilient labor force, its low cost of doing business, its transportation infrastructure and an array of partnership opportunities has been the foundation to the robust growth patterns of companies that call Pulaski County home.

“The logistics of and connectivity to existing local and regional foreign-owned enterprises and OEM’s, along with their supply chains, makes Pulaski County one of the most commonsensical locations to locate new U.S. based operations,” stated John Wyatt, Chair, Economic Development Authority. “We are also quite fortunate to have distinct local and regional assets that are attractive to our foreign friends that include our storied heritage, an abundance of outdoor activities, a diverse expat community, cultural entertainment and a growing creative class that continues to enrich our region.”

Turkey is a transcontinental country in Eurasia and Middle East, located mainly in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. Turkey is bordered by eight countries: Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the south. The country is encircled by seas on three sides, with the Aegean Sea to the west, the Black Sea to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles, which together form the Turkish Straits, divide Thrace and Anatolia and separate Europe from Asia. Ankara is the capital while Istanbul is the country’s largest city and main cultural and commercial centre, classified as a leading global city. Turkey is a charter member of the UN, an early member of NATO, the IMF and the World Bank, and a founding member of the OECD, OSCE, BSEC, OIC and G-20.

Contact: Jonathan D. Sweet, ICMA-CM
County Administrator
Pulaski County, Virginia
(540) 980-7705
jsweet@pulaskicounty.org

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.