Floyd Country Store in Floyd most underrated city in VA

Floyd Named Most Underrated City in Virginia

/0 Comments/in , , /by

FLOYD, 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.

Matthew Meltzer writes:

This hippie town set atop the Blue Ridge Plateau is the state’s best outdoor recreation destination outside Shenandoah, with hiking, biking, and camping in the nearby Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve. It houses 40 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which during the fall boasts a whole lotta eye-pleasing foliage but few tourists. This happens to be Virginia wine country, so hit either the Villa Appalaccia and Chateau Morrisette for fantastic food paired with the state’s best vino. Music lovers should swing though the Floyd Country Store for weekly performances and jam sessions; Floyd is also a stop on Virginia’s Crooked Road music trail, and home of the Blue Ridge Music Festival.

Floyd Country Store in Floyd most underrated city in VA

The town of Floyd has also been ranked a Best Small Town, one of the Happiest Towns in the Blue Ridge, and a Great Small Town Near D.C.

Floyd County is one of the many inspiring small towns in Virginia’s New River Valley. Our eclectic communities and world-class universities make for an excellent place to live. Learn more about what Floyd and the NRV has to offer here.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

Virginia Tech versus North Carolina basketball, ACC sports, Cassell Coliseum

Virginia Tech and Radford University Men’s Basketball Make it to the NCAA Tournament

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – The men’s basketball teams in the NRV are headed to the NCAA Tournament.

nrv teams ncaa tournament

The Virginia Tech Hokies (no. 8 seed in the East Region) received an at-large bid and will face Alabama (no. 9 seed) this Thursday, March 15.

After winning the Big South Championship last week, the Radford Highlanders will be play in the “First Four games today. They’re opponents are LIU-Brooklyn and the winner will be the no. 16 seed against no. 1 seed Villanova on Thursday.

Read more from Mark Berman at The Roanoke Times.

UPDATE (March 16)

The Radford University Highlanders beat LIU-Brooklyn to make it to the first round. Radford was then defeated by Villanova. Virginia Tech also lost by 3 points to Alabama in the first round.

While the Hokies and the Highlanders didn’t make it past Round 1 this year, there was a lot of love for these NRV teams. Radford alumnus and ESPN commentator Marty Smith showed his support, even letting Reggie Miller know he’d help him get to town for a game.

RU Coach Mike Jones was glad Virginia’s New River Valley had the opportunity to be seen:

The NRV is such a special place. Not just because of our universities, but because of the people who attend them and populate the rest of the region. Whether you’re an alumnus, a long-time resident, or a new professional, it doesn’t take long to see Virginia’s New River Valley is A Natural Fit.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

Bikeshare NRV, NRV Bikeshare program coming to the New River Valley, painted bike logo on a side walk with fall leaves

Bikeshare Coming to the New River Valley

/0 Comments/in , , /by

NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – The New River Valley will soon have a bikeshare program, complete in Spring 2018. The NRV bikeshare program will service Montgomery County, the towns of Christiansburg and Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech.

The program will start with 12 stations and 88 bikes. Users can both purchase memberships or rent by the hour. Powered by Gotcha, there will be traditional bikes as well as a few electric-power-assist bikes.

How to use Gotcha bikeshare NRV, NRV bikeshare program, new river valley, screen grab from gotcha

For more information visit the New River Valley Regional Commission site or check out the bikes at Gotcha.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

The Beauty of the NRV on the Big Screen

/0 Comments/in , , /by

NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – Did you know there are movies filmed in the NRV? That’s right, the sites of Virginia’s New River Valley are on the big screen. This month, filmmakers visited Blacksburg and Giles County for Black Dispatch, a civil war era love story told by Director Shea Sizemore and Producer Chip White.

The sun shines down on a group of civil war reenactors on the set of 'Black Dispatch,' one of the movies filmed in the nrv

Filming began at Historic Smithfield on March 2nd. The rest of the short was filmed in Giles County at Kairos Resort from March 3rd-4th.

As Sizemore grew up in the area, he understands what makes the NRV great. It’s his relationship with the NRV that brings Black Dispatch here, and now even more people will know the beautiful landscape of the NRV.

“We are fortunate and excited about the opportunity to capture the beauty of this gorgeous corner of Virginia,” said Producer Chip White.

There are other movies filmed in the NRV.

This isn’t the first time the scenery around here caught the eye of a filmmaker.

The film adaption of David Baldacci’s best-selling novel Wish You Well (starring Ellen Burstyn, Mackenzie Foy, and Josh Lucas) was filmed in Giles.

Plus, most people know that much of the iconic film Dirty Dancing was filmed at Mountain Lake Lodge. The lodge was ranked one of TripAdvisor’s top movie destinations.

Other films Geographically Desirable (2014) and House of Good and Evil (2012) were filmed in Floyd.

When it comes to the outdoors in the NRV, there are plenty of ways to take it in. From in-person to the silver screen, the natural assets here are worth marveling at.

Get More Information

Historic Smithfield Plantation was established in 1772 by William Preston, a leader of westward expansion and a prominent Southwestern Virginia Revolutionary War patriot. Now Smithfield is on the National Register of Historic Places and is open for tours that take visitors back to the 18th century with costumed guides.

Kairos Resort in Giles County is a 1515-acre wilderness resort that stretches from the valley of the New River to the top of the Appalachian Mountains. It features over 40 miles of trails, river activities, camping, special events, and more.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

Women laughing and enjoying one of the outside events in the NRV.

There’s No Excuse for Being Bored in the NRV

/1 Comment/in , , , , , , , /by

While Virginia’s New River Valley may be a collection of small towns, the amount of things to do here is anything but small. There are tons of events in the NRV.

In fact, there are tons of events in the NRV daily. Whether it’s large, nationally acclaimed annual festivals, or weekly happy hours, these small towns are more bustling than ever.

According to Jami Ryan of NextThreeDays.com, a regional website featuring nearly all the events in the NRV, there were 4,927 Featured Events in our region in 2017. That means these events don’t reoccur weekly.

That’s right. Almost 5,000 one-time events for residents in the NRV.

That comes to 13.5 big events each day.

“I used to hear ‘there’s nothing to do’ all the time from my friends in college who grew up in the city or in more populous areas and came to the NRV for school,” said Ryan. “In fact, this is one of the reasons why I created NextThreeDays because, having spent most of my life in our region, I knew it wasn’t true. And, since I’ve been running NextThreeDays, I can say emphatically that ‘there’s nothing to do’ in the New River Valley is completely false.”

To fight the misconception of lack of events in the NRV, Ryan uses NextThreeDays.com as a place where those events can be easily found: an ever-changing database of fun for all residents of the NRV.

It’s about more than just the amount of events in the NRV too; there is a solid variety as well. Because he sees almost all the events in the NRV, Ryan understands the diversity of activities offered here.

“I would like people to know that there is truly something for everyone,” said Ryan. “Whether it’s looking for live music, finding a local festival, a craft brewery, fun for the kids, the dogs or whomever or whatever your interests are, the NRV has something fun to offer. For example, two years ago I heard about the NRV Historic Dance Society. This group of local residents was formed to teach and celebrate English country dancing in the 17th, 18th & 19th centuries. We also regularly include outdoor games for the Laser Tag Club at Virginia Tech on NextThreeDays and just this week there was a Root Beer Tasting and Sommelier Certification. And, these are just three of the many events that are happening in the NRV. So my point is, there is truly something for everyone no matter your interests.“

On top of that, there’s also plenty to do that’s free. Who doesn’t love free?

“There are so many events that have either free admission or the ticket cost is very low,” said Ryan. “Sure, there are a number of dinners, galas and events that are expensive, but there are many, many more events that have free admission. In 2014, I created and completed the 31 Days of NRV Fun Challenge where I had to attend 31 or more events at 31 unique venues and spent no more than $7.00 a day. I was able to accomplish the feat and still had $12.00 leftover at the end.”

“And, this summer I did a 50 Events in 50 Days Challenge and most of the events I attended were free or very inexpensive. Both Radford University and Virginia Tech have wonderful arts, theatre and music programs and many of their performances are free as are many of the universities’ educational activities. Numerous restaurants offer free live music throughout the week and many of our area towns and bigger organizations hosts free festivals throughout the year.”

“And, that doesn’t even count the non-football and basketball collegiate athletics and our public libraries where all events are free. So it’s fairly easy to get out of your home and to find an event to enjoy for a couple of hours and spend $10.00 or less.”

Woman shimmies across rope at Muddy ACCE Race, an adventure race. One of the many events in the NRV, specifically Giles County.

The Muddy ACCE Race in Giles County is one of the many events in the NRV. The sign up fee for this muddy adventure race help fund local students’ community college tuition.

If you’re looking for something to do or specific events in the NRV, check out what’s going on at NextThreeDays.com. The same information also populates to the Live Here page.

For more information about Virginia’s New River Valley, check out Our Region and what it’s like to Live Here.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

An aerial view of the Carilion New River Valley Solar Panel Field

Carilion NRV Gets Green with New Solar Field

/0 Comments/in /by

NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – Carilion New River Valley Medical Center finished constructing a new solar field last month. This 4,000 panel system is one of Carilion’s Sustainability Initiatives. This new source of clean energy supplies about 17% of the hospital’s annual energy needs.

Carilion NRV Solar Field Video

from Carilion Clinic YouTube

Carilion New River Valley Medical Center is an award-winning 110-bed acute care facility and a Level III Trauma Center. The hospital also offers state-of-the-art services such as advanced imaging, robotic surgery, and many medical specialties.

For more information visit Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

Murals in Blacksburg, VA

Blacksburg Named #1 Safest City in Virginia for 2018

/0 Comments/in , , /by

BLACKSBURG, VA – Blacksburg is the no. 1 Safest City in Virginia for 2018 according to alarms.org and the National Council for Home Safety and Security.

According to alarms.org, Blacksburg averages just 0.97 violent crimes per 1,000 inhabitants. With rates like that, it’s no wonder why Blacksburg is the safest city in Virginia.

This ranking was based off the latest FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics, population data, and other research. Towns and cities with populations under 10,000 were eliminated for this ranking.

Crime Rate Comparisons

chart comparing crime rates in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia, and the U.S. Blacksburg is the Safest City in Virginia

Other communities in Virginia’s New River Valley also have high safety rankings. Niche rated Narrows, which is a community in Giles County, as the #4 Safest Town in Virginia.

For more information read the alarms.org article or WSET news report.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

Erik the Travel Guy Goes to Montgomery County, VA

/0 Comments/in , /by

Erik the Travel Guy in Montgomery County VA!

MONTGOMERY, VA – Erik the Travel Guy, a travel guru dedicated to inspiring others to explore the world, recently journeyed through Montgomery County, VA! Check out Erik’s video, which tours much of Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and the rest of Montgomery County.

Watch Erik visit classics like Smithfield Plantation, Cabo Fish Taco, Due South BBQ, Sinkland Farms, and more!

Learn more about Erik the Travel Guy or find want you want to explore next in Montgomery County.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

Governor Northam Announces 60 New Jobs in Giles County

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

~Cogar Manufacturing to invest $2.5 million to relocate and expand manufacturing operation~

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Cogar Manufacturing, a manufacturer of material handling equipment primarily for the natural resource industries, will invest $2.5 million to relocate its manufacturing operation from Beckley, West Virginia, to the former Caterpillar facility in Giles County. The company has expanded its manufacturing capabilities with the addition of a patented water removal and feeder system for coke producers, increasing Cogar’s customer base and requiring the expansion of its manufacturing footprint. The project will create 60 new jobs.

“Cogar Manufacturing’s decision to move operations from West Virginia to Giles County and expand production is a great testament to the Commonwealth’s competitive operating costs, extensive transportation network, and robust workforce,” said Governor Northam. “The New River Valley’s manufacturing community is booming, and Cogar will be a strong addition. I am thrilled that this new addition will revitalize a vacant facility and create 60 quality jobs in the local economy. We are proud to add another impressive manufacturer to the Commonwealth’s corporate roster, and look forward to Cogar’s future success in Giles County.”

Cogar Manufacturing was established in 1979 and has grown throughout the years, thanks to the dedication of its employees and the help of its customers. Headquartered in Beckley, West Virginia, the company has over 100 years of combined experience manufacturing new equipment and rebuilding existing equipment. Cogar manufactures crushing machines and materials handling and conveying equipment, primarily for the natural resource industries, but has been expanding into refineries and barge and ship transloading. The company has manufacturing facilities in West Virginia and Illinois and a sales and operations office in Texas.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cogar Manufacturing to Giles County and the Commonwealth, and look forward to building a successful partnership,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Esther Lee. “Cogar will move into the former Caterpillar facility in Pearisburg, bringing 60 critical employment opportunities back to the region. Virginia’s robust manufacturing workforce of over 240,000 guarantees a solid pipeline of talent for years to come, and we are confident that Cogar Manufacturing will be pleased with its decision to relocate to the New River Valley and the Commonwealth.”

John Cogar, Vice President of Cogar Manufacturing, expressed gratitude to the Commonwealth and to Giles County for the support offered to Cogar in making this decision to move to Virginia: “We are excited about the facility, which offers our company a viable opportunity to expand; we are excited about the work force of Giles County, which offers our company a highly qualified and experienced employee base, and we are grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia and Governor Northam for supporting our efforts through a grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Giles County and Onward New River Valley to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $150,000 Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund investment to assist the County with the project. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“We are very pleased that Cogar has chosen Giles County for its expansion. They represent true American manufacturing and will bring quality job opportunities here for our citizens,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff Morris.

“This is another great project for Giles County and a testament to the quality of resources, infrastructure, and workforce, that exists in the New River Valley,” added Giles County’s Industrial Development Authority Chairman Dr. S. Lee Wheeler.

“I’m proud of Giles County’s efforts to continue building on recent economic successes, which have brought more than 100 new jobs to the County in recent months,” said Delegate Chris Hurst. “We look forward to welcoming Cogar Manufacturing to the New River Valley.”

“I am very pleased that Cogar Manufacturing chose to relocate to Giles County,” said Senator John Edwards. “The collaborative efforts of Giles County and State Agencies in processing the opportunity funds will greatly benefit the region by providing 60 jobs at the former Caterpillar facility in Pearisburg. I welcome Cogar Manufacturing and commend them for investing in Virginia’s economy and the future of Giles County.”

Full Release

Office of the Governor
Contact: Ofirah Yheskel
Email: Ofirah.Yheskel@governor.virginia.gov

Virginia Economic Development Partnership
Contact: Suzanne Clark
Phone: (804) 545-5806
Email: sclark@yesvirginia.gov

Cogar Manufacturing
Contact: John Cogar
Phone: (304) 252-4435
Email: jcogar@cogarmanufacturing.com

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.

Couple walks arm in arm in Downtown Blacksburg

Radford #1 and Blacksburg #6 Best Places for Singles in Virginia

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – If you’re looking for love in the NRV, then you’re in the right place. Radford (#1) and Blacksburg (#6) were ranked some of the best places for singles in Virginia, according to homesnacks.net.

Couple walks arm in arm in Downtown Blacksburg

Best Places for Singles in VA:
1. Radford
2. Charlottesville
3. Richmond
4. Alexandria
5. Harrisonburg
6. Blacksburg
7. Norfolk
8. Fredericksburg
9. Hampton
10. Winchester

The ratings are based on information from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey Census data.

Looking for things to do in the NRV on V-Day? Check out the special event at the Radford Theater, or the Valentine’s Charity Vinyasa Yoga Class for the Big Heart Foundation at In Balance Yoga in Blacksburg.

For a larger list of all things Valentine’s Day happening in Virginia’s New River Valley, check out this list from Next 3 Days.

###

Virginia’s New River Valley: For those searching for an inspiring place to live and do business, Virginia’s New River Valley provides both an eclectic small town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative business community with a loyal, highly skilled, and educated workforce. Offering the best of all worlds – magnificent mountains, cutting-edge research, arts, entertainment, and education – it’s 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.