Accolade
NRV Companies Awarded 2026 Top VA Employers for Interns
New River Valley, VA – This year, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia recognized 161 employers across the Commonwealth as the 2026 Top
June 16, 2026
The NRV Experience, hosted by Onward NRV, is an eight-week-long summer curriculum designed to support employer internship programs by helping their interns grow professionally while also experiencing the full benefits of living and working in Virginia’s New River Valley.
While employers show interns what it’s like to work in the NRV, we show them what it’s like to live here.
Make this a summer your interns will never forget. Created specifically for interns and new hires (ages 18-25), the NRV Experience combines summer camp vibes with professional development and community connection.
Over eight weeks, participants explore the region, grow their skills, and build relationships that last well beyond the internship.
While you, the employers, show them what it’s like to work in the NRV, we show them what it’s like to live here. Employers, enroll your interns today! (Only employers can enroll.)
$150
Investment Per Intern
(Onward NRV Investor pricing)
5
Community
Excursions
7
Professional Development Sessions
Connections to the Region
$150*
Investment Per Intern
(*Onward NRV Investor pricing)
5
Community
Excursions
7
Professional Development Sessions
Connections to the Region
By giving them first-hand experiences in the communities that make up the NRV, interns have the opportunity to discover what life outside of the workplace looks like.
We provide structured professional development sessions to help interns grow their durable skills. Taken from the NACE competencies for career readiness.Â
People choose to build their futures in places where they feel connected. We give interns the opportunity to create connections to the region that could have lasting effects for your company.
Increase the number of young professionals living and working in the NRV post-graduation and build an effective talent pipeline in the NRV’s Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Unmanned Systems, and Food Processing & Agribusiness industries.
Expose participants to the cultural, recreational, and outdoor amenities available in the NRV.
Improve intern career skills through professional development training.
Increase the number of quality internships and experiential learning opportunities in the NRV.
Welcome session with best practices, what to expect from the program, and more
Professional development workshop that can include a focus on communication, networking, and leadership skills.
Presentations and discussions that may consist of topics such as emotional intelligence, problem solving, and communication.
Activities to showcase the cultural, recreational, and outdoor amenities in each of the NRV communities.
Graduation ceremony and networking session with
employers and area young professionals.
Each event will feature meals from local establishments in the region.
Those who meet the requirements of the program will receive a certificate of completion.
Contact Laken Blankenship for more information at laken@onwardnrv.org
Ana, Celanese Intern, NRV Experience 2020 Participant
Kick-Off Event: Long Way Brewing
Thursday, June 11, 2026, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Excursion 1: Mountain 2 Island at Rockhouse Marina
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Excursion 2: Center for the Arts at Virginia TechÂ
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Virtual Lunch and Learn: Zoom
Thursday, July 2, 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Excursion 3: Mountain Lake Lodge
Thursday, July 9, 2026, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Excursion 4: Floyd Center for the Arts
Thursday, July 16, 2026, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Excursion 5: Floating the New River at Bisset Park in Radford
Thursday, July 23, 2026, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wrap-Up Event: The Maroon Door
Friday, July 31, 2026, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
InternshipsVA is Virginia’s initiative to help employers design and launch high-quality, paid internships that not only build strong local talent pipelines but also helps keep talented college students in Virginia after graduation. The program makes it easy for employers to build scalable, high-quality internship programs that deliver measurable ROI by offering tailored guidance, employer toolkits, visibility with college student talent through Handshake and connections with higher education institutions, and matching grants for small and mid-size employers.Â
Claytor Lake State Park sits in the heart of the NRV. Explore the lake by boat, kayak, or paddle boards (it’s not as hard as you think).
From blacksmithing to pottery, you will have the chance to explore the artisan culture of the NRV firsthand.
Anything from bubble ball to ropes courses could be on the agenda. Just to keep you on your toes, so stay alert.
The New River gives our region its name. It wouldn’t be the NRV Experience if you didn’t float down the New.
This is a chance to meet those you will be spending the summer with and hear about all the activities included in the program.
Presentations and discussions that may consist of topics such as emotional intelligence, problem solving, and communication.
The really fun stuff that makes your internship feel more like summer camp than work. Activities include kayaking, pottery, floating the New River, building relationships, and more.
Celebrate the end of your summer and your NRV Experience at this fun wrap-up event, where you can meet regional employers and other young professionals in the area.
Each event will feature meals from local restaurants and venues.
There will be gift card giveaways and free merch at each excursion.
You will jump into friendly competitions, group adventures, and laid-back socials that turn your internship into an unforgettable summer.
Those who meet the requirements of the program will receive a certificate of completion and will be given a badge to add to their LinkedIn profile.
Choosing where you will live is just as important as the kind of job that you will have. Discover if the NRV is the right fit for you after graduation by visiting each community in the region.
Participate in professional development sessions and gain skills that you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Interns from all over the world and from different companies participate in the NRV Experience, allowing you to start building your network for the future.
New River Valley, VA – This year, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia recognized 161 employers across the Commonwealth as the 2026 Top
New River Valley, VA – Blue Ridge Country Magazine recently ran a reader poll that ranked some of Virginia’s New River Valley communities as the
Tucked between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, hiking in Virginia’s New River Valley can take many forms. Home to winding, paved paths along the
We’d love to talk to you about all NRV has to offer you and your business.Â
Email us today to learn more about how NRV can support your goals.
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