Local Business and Economic Development
Not all the major economic developments in Virginia are from up north. The Governor was back in this area today for the second time within the past two weeks, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
PREVIOUS: A major economic development announcement for the Roanoke Valley: Mack Trucks will open a new plant that will employ 250 workers — and local officials expect it to create close to 600 secondary jobs. Mack President Martin Weissburg says they will build a new line of medium-duty trucks when the Glenvar-area facility opens.
The financial impact on the valley would appear to be huge. Economic Development officials expect the new Mack plant will have an overall annual impact of $364 million once it is up to full operation.
NEWS RELEASE: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam joined Roanoke County and company officials today to announce that Mack Trucks, part of the Volvo Group, will invest $13 million in a new facility to build a new line of medium duty trucks. The plant, to be known as Mack’s Roanoke Valley Operations (RVO) facility, will employ 250 in the former LSC Communications building in western Roanoke County.
“We are thrilled that Mack selected Roanoke County for this project,” said David Radford, chair of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. “This is the next generation of truck and it will originate here in Roanoke County where we have the business climate and workforce to help fuel Mack’s success.”
“We look forward to the opportunities our new medium-duty product line will bring for the company, our employees and the Roanoke Valley community,” said Mack Trucks president Martin Weissburg. “We’re very grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia and Roanoke County for their support of this project, and we look forward to growing this new business and being a successful and engaged corporate citizen.”
Roanoke County and the Roanoke Regional Partnership worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership for almost two years on this project. Governor Northam approved a $700,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund and the Virginia Jobs Investment Program will support Mack’s employee training activities. Roanoke County will provide a matching performance grant based on employment and investment goals.
The Roanoke Valley Operation (RVO) will pay an above average wage and create additional indirect jobs and economic benefits. Economic impact modeling (IMPLAN) by the Roanoke Regional Partnership estimates this project will have an overall annual economic impact of $364,171,198 at full operation and spur creation of 594 secondary jobs.
“Mack brings an iconic brand to Roanoke County and strengthens the economic base with high-paying and skilled jobs in a prominent industry sector,” said Jill Loope, Roanoke County director of economic development.
“Mack strengthens an already robust transportation-related manufacturing sector in the greater region,” said Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. “There already are 25 firms in this strong cluster and now there are 26 with this announcement.”
Virginia Tech Today hosts Eddie Amos and Kim Blair
The RAMP business accelerator in downtown Roanoke on South Jefferson will welcome its next cohort of high-tech startups in May. Its a 16-week program. Mary Miller is the program’s director. She was on Virginia Technology Today this morning :
Governor Northam will join an economic development announcement tomorrow in the Glenvar area. It is set for tomorrow morning at the ValleyTech Park just off US 11/460 west of Salem.
NEWS RELEASE: Economic development event in Roanoke County
WHAT: An important economic development event in Roanoke County about new jobs and investment.
WHEN: Thursday, January 30 at 9:30 a.m.
WHO: Government officials and business representatives join Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
Its quite the winning streak – 2019 was the 10th straight year of hotel room revenue growth in Virginia’s Blue Ridge: a 3.7% rise over 2018 and 116 million dollars in total revenue. There was an increase in hotel room demand of just over one percent. Catherine Fox is a Vice President for Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge. The closure of the Blue Ridge Hotel and Conference Center – especially the large meeting space there – is a concern says Fox, with few rooms that size available in the valley for regional conferences.
Virginia Technology Today
The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion will expand later this spring, once a new wing is opened. The VT-C Assistant Vice President for Advancement is Kim Blair; she discusses the Fralin Institute on our new long-form “Virginia Technology Today” segment below:
Beth Bell Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce
(from Chamber release) The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce has named Beth Bell as its new executive director. Bell started work last week as the organization’s new executive leader. Bell will focus on providing support and resources to the Chamber’s growing membership base through recognition, strategic connections, relevant events and partnership opportunities. Bell comes to the Chamber after serving as President of FemCity Roanoke, a local chapter of an international women’s business networking community. Under Bell’s leadership, the organization has grown to hundreds of members over the past three years and has a robust and member driven event calendar.
Bell graduated from Radford University with a degree in Business Administration, Management. After graduation, she began a successful 15-year career at Anthem, Inc, serving primarily in leading cultural and process improvement projects. She excelled in communications and associate engagement. In addition, Bell is self-employed as publisher of the hyper-local, online resource for families, Macaroni Kid Roanoke. In this role, Bell has helped local businesses with marketing and engagement opportunities for eight years.
GO Virginia Region 2 highlighted the accomplishments of 15 grant recipients who were awarded funding in 2019, this morning at Virginia Western’s STEM building. Grant funding from the GO Virginia public-private partnership is focused on talent, technology, entrepeneurship, and site development in Southwestern and Central Virginia. To date there have also been more than 200 business “engagements.” Ab Boxley is GO Virginia Region 2’s Vice Chair:
