Local Business and Economic Development
Gene Marrano photo/WFIR
The former Vinton Motors property at the corner of Pollard Street and Washington Avenue that’s been vacant for almost a decade will be re-born as “Vinyard Station” – a nod to the family that has sold the property to developer Dale Wilkinson. That announcement was made this morning at Vinton’s State of the Town address. Wilkinson has redeveloped many older properties in the valley. Expect a groundbreaking in the spring. The only proposed tenant announced so far is a tap house. Wilkinson says Vinyard Station should open within a year.
Learning how other localities have grown their “innovation economy” – and telling them about success stories here – is one major reason Roanoke is now a member of the “City Innovation Ecosystem Program.” WFIR’s Gene Marrano has the story:
Advance Auto Parts is moving its headquarters Roanoke to Raleigh North Carolina. It’s not a major surprise: the company had placed many of its top executives in Raleigh after buying out competitor Carquest. Advance says it will continue to employ about 600 people in Roanoke, the city where the company was founded almost 90 years ago. Before he became a minority owner of the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, Chip Grubb spent 18 years working in Human Resources for Advance in Roanoke. He says more than a thousand employees worked for Advance Auto Parts while he was there.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Advance Auto Parts Inc. is moving its headquarters from the Virginia city that was its home for nearly 90 years to North Carolina’s tech-heavy capital city, the company announced Wednesday. The parts retailer plans to continue employing about 600 employees in Roanoke, Virginia, but the headquarters move and expansion in Raleigh were prompted by the relative ease in attracting computer-savvy talent as the company broadens its online presence, CEO Tom Greco said. “Talent availability is absolutely the No. 1 driver. You have to have access to software developers, software engineers,” Greco said. “We have a great talent pool here in Raleigh to do that type of work.”
The move adds about 435 jobs in Raleigh, most of them focused on data analytics, internet commerce and other computer technology roles. The jobs must pay an average of $96,000 a year and Advanced Auto Parts must maintain more than 700 positions already in North Carolina in return for an $11 million package of state and local incentives approved Wednesday. Advance Auto Parts had split corporate and support operations between Roanoke and Raleigh for four years after buying Raleigh-based General Parts International Inc. The majority of Advanced Auto’s top executives were already based in Raleigh, Greco said. North Carolina kept the combined company’s corporate operations in Raleigh in 2014 with more than $17 million in tax breaks.
Advance Auto Parts started as a variety-store chain in Roanoke in the 1930s and became a specialty auto parts chain in the 1970s under Nicholas Taubman, who succeeded his father as top executive.
Advance Auto Parts operates nearly 5,000 stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company this month reported profits of $370 million over the first three quarters of the year, up 27 percent over last year.
If you decided to donate yesterday for Giving Tuesday, a new study says your money is unlikely to be misused. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
A coalition of Appalachian environmental groups hopes some abandoned coal mines can take on new lives as economic ventures like solar farms. They have identified 20 now-abandoned mine sites in four coalfield states — including Virginia. Among their suggested new uses: solar energy farms, but critics say the funds needed to so would be a misuse of taxpayer dollars. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
VT Concept Drawing
It has been one week since Amazon announced it will build a new headquarters complex in Alexandria — and the major role Virginia Tech played in Amazon’s decision became clear. The decision is seen by many as significantly elevating Tech’s global stature and role into the next century. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Botetourt County and rural electric cooperative are combining forces in efforts to attract a state grant, one that would help bring broadband internet access to some areas of the county where it is currently not available. Proponents say providing broadband service to rural areas now is just as important as bringing electric service to them was in the 1930’s and 40’s. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
The grant application includes a public comment period that runs through November 30. Comments should be submitted by noon November 30 by mail, email or fax:
By mail:
Gary Larrowe
Botetourt County Administrator
1 West Main Street
Finacastle, Va 24090
Or by email to sfain@botetourtva.gov
Or by fax to (540) 473-8225.
As the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center deals with ongoing attorney costs, a fundraiser is planned for Monday at the Tanglewood Buffalo Wild Wings. WFIR’s Ian Price has details on why the fundraiser is necessary:
RBRA photo
It has been three months since Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport was awarded a $750,000 federal grant to help bring new air service to the region. So far, it has not resulted in any new destinations, but airport officials say this takes time and patience. The grant allows the airport to guarantee revenue, provide free marketing and offer other incentives for new service. WFIR’s Evan Jones has our update: