1901 Group and Radford University

Three-Year Partnership Prepares IT Students for Jobs of the Future

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~ 1901 Group and Radford University Join Forces with Hands-on Education in Cyber Security and Cloud Technologies ~

RESTON, VA – Industry leading companies and universities must work together to develop students with the right skills to face the challenges and needs of the global economy. To support the growth of tomorrow’s workforce, 1901 Group announces its partnership with Radford University’s (RU) Artis College of Science and Technology through its Applied Research Center (ARC) to help students achieve their academic goals and create broader career opportunities.

To enhance the student’s educational experience and provide them with hands-on projects, Radford University’s ARC, an industry consortium, brings together students with industry partners to explore emerging enterprise technologies. The consortium provides real-world learning experiences and encourages students to interact with industry professionals thereby gaining the skills to communicate solutions effectively.

“Attracting, developing, and retaining premium talent is crucial for our industry and we are excited to join Radford University to support this mission, said Sonu Singh, CEO 1901 Group. “Our long-standing relationship with Radford University provides students with a meaningful work experience and educational opportunities through mock interviews, internships, real-world projects, and permanent positions. Hands-on industry experience with cloud technologies increases job opportunities as it reduces the time, expense, and risk of hiring new graduates.”

For the past year, 1901 Group has been a founding sponsor with Radford University (RU) to support the future generation of tech students. Currently, 1901 Group is engaged with the University to add ServiceNow development skill-based projects to the undergraduate class curriculum, offering real-world experience within the 1901 Group environment.

“1901 Group is an outstanding partner,” said Dr. Jeff Pittges, ARC Director. “They are giving our students valuable experiences they cannot obtain in the classroom.”

About 1901 Group, LLC: 1901 Group is a leading FedRAMP authorized managed service provider in the public sector market and delivers innovative IT solutions by leveraging our Enterprise IT Operations Center to provide 24×7 support of end users, complex IT infrastructure environments, and mission critical systems. We deliver cloud, cyber security, and enterprise scale managed services to transition customers from traditional on-premise IT infrastructure and support models to hybrid cloud solutions that improve performance and reduce costs. We proudly support customers that span federal, state, and local governments, including law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, and commercial markets. Customers benefit from our 24×7 Cloud Factory with FedRAMP authorization, ISO 9001 certification, and CMMI Maturity Level 3 appraisals. Visit our newsroom and simplify IT with 1901 Group.

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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.”

Nest Realty Publishes 2018 NRV Annual Report

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VIRGINIA’S NEW RIVER VALLEY – Nest Realty has officially published their 2018 annual report for Virginia’s New River Valley, which may indicate the start of a re-balanced housing market in the region.

There is nothing to suggest that the real estate market will crash, as it did in 2008, but buyers might be re-gaining some leverage. Overall, the median housing price went up, and the number of sales went down.

Nest Realty says the NRV housing market is “slow and steady,” which can help both buyers and sellers avoid mistakes. Read more about why Nest says the real estate market in Virginia’s New River Valley remains strong: https://www.nestrealty.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2018AnnualReport_NRV-web.pdf

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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.”

GO Virginia Region 2

GO Virginia “Brain Drain” Survey Gauges Local Student Perception

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Onward NRV, in partnership with the Roanoke and Lynchburg regions, is looking to gauge perceptions and preferences of students and recent grads in the New River Valley, Roanoke, and Lynchburg regions.

As a part of the GO Virginia funded study “Project Brain Drain: Talent Attraction and Retention,” the regions launched the survey to better understand what makes the greater region a good place to live, work, and study. It will also help discover where improvements can be made or programs can be put in place.

The survey will help uncover why students from 15 higher education institutes often leave the greater region after graduation. It will also identify ways to attract and retain college-educated professionals.

If you are a student or recent graduate, share your input by taking the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GoVAStudentSurvey.

The survey is anonymous and takes 5-10 minutes. Those who complete the survey can enter a giveaway to win a $100 Amazon gift card.

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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.”

WFXR: Pulaski County Looks Abroad for Economic Development

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(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.

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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.”

Torc Shuttle

Torc Partners with Transdev on Autonomous Shuttle

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VIRGINIA’S NEW RIVER VALLEY – Torc Robotics and Transdev are partnering on a fully autonomous shuttle, which the companies announced Monday at CES19 in Las Vegas.

Torc, a leading autonomous technology provider, is licensing its L4 Asimov self-driving software and sensor suite for the shuttle. Transdev, an operator and global integrator of mobility solutions, is providing its supervision system, connected infrastructure and client application, and embedded technology.

Torc shuttle

The companies intend the shuttles to act as complementary mobility to existing public transit networks. The shuttles could also act as an introduction of autonomous vehicles to the public.

“Our partnership brings together two companies with a similar vision for the future of autonomous mobility,” says Michael Fleming, Torc CEO. “We believe that shared mobility will be one of the cornerstone applications that lead the way to mass adoption of self-driving consumer vehicles.”

The shuttle was first announced in September 2018 by Transdev and Lohr, a leading French industrial company with more than 50 years of worldwide industrial experience in manufacturing vehicles. The i-Cristal autonomous shuttle can hold a maximum of 16 passengers.

For more information, read the full press release from Torc or TechCrunch.

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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.

VA Best of Blue Ridge

NRV Has 5 Best of Blue Ridge Award Winners

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BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS – Virginia’s New River Valley is home to 5 of the winners from the Best of Blue Ridge 2018 Awards. Plus, an additional 14 finalists call the NRV home! The 8th annual Best of the Blue Ridge Awards have over 100 categories for voters to input their favorites. Thousands of readers voted for the best food, drinks, business, places, and more. Check out the mentions in the NRV: VA Best of the Blue Ridge

Winners

Mill Creek, Best Biking Trail FloydFest, Rowdiest Festival FloydFest, Bust Music Festival Floyd YogaJam, Best Retreat Emily Satterwhite (Associate Professor of Appalachian Studies at Virginia Tech), Best Environmental Educator VA Best of Blue Ridge

Finalists

Cascade Falls, Waterfall Pembroke Pond, Standup Paddleboard Spot Kairos, Camp Site Jefferson National Forest, National Forest Mountain Lake Lodge, Luxury Destination Mill Creek Nature Park, Pet-Friendly Adventure Virginia’s Mountain Playground, Place to Play Hooky from Work FloydFest, Weirdest Festival FloydFest, Family-Friendly Festival Mountains of Misery, Bike Race Five Mile Mountain, Blue Ridge Booze Walkabout Outfitters, Outdoor Store In Balance Yoga, Yoga Studio Tree Tops Adventures at Mountain Lake Lodge, Zip Line For a complete list of winners, visit Blue Ridge Outdoors.  

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  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.
VA Best State

Virginia Is Business Facilities’ 2018 State Of The Year

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~The Commonwealth secures BF’s top annual honor with a diversified and successful high-tech growth strategy.~

TINTON FALLS, NJ – Virginia has been named Business Facilities magazine’s 2018 State of the Year.

“Virginia snared more than $5.5 billion in capital investment for its top two projects, and its top five job-creation efforts netted nearly 28,000 new jobs in a diverse and well-executed growth strategy that has made VA a high-tech force to be reckoned with,” said BF Editor-in-Chief Jack Rogers.

Rogers noted that VA has been a perennial contender for BF’s top honor due to its proximity to Washington DC, making it an attractive location for major corporate headquarters. In recent years, the Commonwealth has invested in fiber-optic networks that have made Northern Virginia the nation’s leading data center hub.

“The 21st-century infrastructure that Virginia has meticulously installed will serve as a fertile root system that will nurture a lush forest of high-tech enterprises in the Commonwealth for years to come,” Rogers said. “Virginia not only is ready to compete in the emerging high-tech battleground—it shows every intention of dominating the field.”

Crystal City, VA emerged last fall as a winner of the most coveted economic development project of the young century when Amazon awarded the city half of its $5 billion, 50,000-job HQ2 project (Long Island City in Queens, NY got the other half of the HQ2 mega-project, which was bisected by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos shortly before the site selections were announced).

The ultra-high-profile HQ2 victory was the second volley in an impressive one-two punch that also saw Micron announce in August a $3-billion expansion of its semiconductor complex in Manassas, VA. Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra told Reuters the expansion would meet the burgeoning demand for more powerful computer chips that run collision-avoidance systems and other semi-autonomous automotive systems, a global market expected to reach $6 billion by 2021.

“Our State of the Year honorees usually have one thing in common,” Rogers said. “They can walk and chew gum at the same time—which in this case means they’re upgrading traditional industries while accelerating emerging growth sectors.”

New investments in traditional industries in VA in 2018 included paper and packaging leader WestRock’s decision to put $248 million into its paper mill and extrusion facilities in Alleghany County.

Virginia also excelled as a prime destination for foreign direct investment, including an announcement from Press Glass, the largest independent flat glass processing operation in Europe, to establish its first Virginia manufacturing facility in Henry County.

Virginia posted a strong showing in BF’s 2018 State Rankings Report, earning top-10 results in our Best Business Climate, Cybersecurity Employment Leaders, Drone Leaders, and Workforce Training Leaders categories, among others.

Business Facilities is a national publication that has been the leading location source for corporate site selectors and economic development professionals for more than 50 years.

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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.

NRV Top Posts of 2018

Top 10 Posts of 2018

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There’s been a lot great news for Virginia’s New River Valley this year, but which news stories topped the charts? Recap this past year in the NRV by counting down the Top 10 Posts of 2018. The following posts had the most page views online.

10. RU Highlander Ranked #1 Mascot by USA Today

USA Today named the Radford University Highlander mascot the no. 1 mascot. Out of the 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament, the Highlanders came out on top.

9. Blacksburg A Best Place to Live

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.

8. NRV Ranked No. 6 Top Job Market

The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA (commonly known as Virginia’s New River Valley) keeps topping charts. The NRV was ranked the number 6 top job market of 2018 by Zippia.

NRV Top Posts of 2018

7. Floyd Named Most Underrated City in VA

Thrillist named Floyd the most underrated city in Virginia. Due to its outdoor recreation opportunities and creative culture, Floyd made the list of underrated cities in all 50 states.

6. Floyd and Giles Top Counties in VA to Buy a House

Both Floyd and Giles Counties ranked in the top 15 for Niche’s 2017 Best Counties to Buy a House in Virginia. The housing rankings were formulated based off data from the U.S. Census, the FBI, Zillow, and other data sources. The rankings include 90 counties in Virginia.

5. Cogar Manufacturing Comes to Giles County

Governor Ralph Northam announced that Cogar Manufacturing, a manufacturer of material handling equipment primarily for the natural resource industries, will invest $2.5 million and create 60 new jobs to relocate its manufacturing operation to the former Caterpillar facility in Giles County.

4. 10 Things to Do in the NRV This Summer

Whether you’re a student, a long-term resident, or anything in between, the NRV has no shortage of things for you to do in the NRV this summer. Explore every part of Virginia’s New River Valley by starting with these 10 hotspots.

NRV Top Posts of 2018

3. “Why Blacksburg, VA Is a Best Place to Live”

Melody Warnick, freelance writer, author and Blacksburg local, wrote why she thinks Blacksburg is a special place to live. Her editorial was published on Livability on January 19.

2. Virginia Tech Football No. 1 Most Electric Entrance

Locals know how rowdy Lane Stadium gets, but the news has gotten out. The Virginia Tech Hokies stadium entrance to Metallica’s Enter Sandman was ranked the #1 Most Electric Entrance in College Football by Fanbuzz.

NRV Top Posts of 2018

1. Narrows #4 Safest Place to Live in VA

The Town of Narrows in Giles County, Virginia was named the #4 Safest Place to Live in Virginia by Niche.com, a website which ranks best places to live, school districts, colleges, and more.

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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.

Beliveau Brewery

Roanoke Times: Beliveau Estate to Launch New Brewery

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FROM THE ROANOKE TIMES — Beliveau Estate Winery will launch a new brewery next year as the popular New River Valley destination looks to broaden its appeal beyond date nights and wine enthusiasts.

Owner Yvan Beliveau said he’ll start small with enough beer to accommodate guests at the 60-acre farm. He hopes to offer large canned beers — known as crowlers — for customers to take home, but the goal is not to become a major beer distributor.

Instead, the business wants to experiment with small batches to tap into the local beer culture and draw a larger crowd to the estate about 30 minutes from downtown Blacksburg. The winery is known for its events, including a lavender festival and weekly live music.

“We’re a destination place and we’ve got to remember that,” Beliveau said. “Right now we want to satisfy the people who would like to come out here to enjoy the place.”

Read more from Jacob Demmitt at The Roanoke Times.

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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.

Best Stat for Business 2018

Virginia Named #4 Best State for Business

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VIRGINIA’S NEW RIVER VALLEY – Forbes’s rankings are published for 2018 and Virginia is the number 4 best state for business.

Virginia moved up one spot from number 5 in 2017.

The ranking also puts Virginia as the number 1 state for quality of life and regulatory environment. The top 10 states feature locations all over the country.

Top 10 Best States for Business:

1. North Carolina
2. Utah
3. Texas
4. Virginia
5. Nebraska
6. Georgia
7. Florida
8. Colorado
9. Washington
10. Minnesota

The list is created by looking at cost of business, labor supply, regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects, quality of life, and population.

For more information, visit Forbes.

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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.