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.

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.

NRV Top Posts of 2018

Narrows the #4 Safest Place to Live in Virginia

/1 Comment/in , , /by
NARROWS, 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. The ranking assesses 9,932 places in the U.S. and was formulated based on data mainly from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Report.
The 2017 Safest Places ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the overall safety in an area. This grade takes into account key indicators of a location’s safety, including violent and property crime rates as well as resident reviews, in an attempt to measure an area’s safety and security.

Read more from Niche and their methodology used to create these rankings.

Living in or visiting Narrows? There’s plenty to discover.

Explore more accolades won by NRV counties, city, towns, and universities 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.

Floyd and Giles in Top 15 Counties in VA to Buy a House

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – 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.

Floyd County ranked in at #6. Floyd County is a unique community perched on the Blue Ridge Plateau and is very well known for its music scene. The natural beauty, arts, and diversity make Floyd County a natural fit for homebuyers in Virginia’s New River Valley.

Giles County, known as Virginia’s Mountain Playground, is ranked at #14. With 50 miles of the Appalachian Trail running through Giles County, it’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and people looking for a quiet spot that’s still near plenty to do.

For more information on housing in Virginia’s New River Valley, check out the Nest Realty quarterly housing 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.

Giles County Receives $10,000 Grant from Virginia Tourism Corporation “Crush Friday” Program Marketing Fund

/0 Comments/in , , /by

GILES COUNTY, VA – Giles County announced that it has received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) “Crush Friday Program” grant fund. “Crush Friday” is part of VTC’s ongoing efforts to support U.S. Travel’s “Project: Time Off” initiative, encouraging citizens to utilize unused vacation days. In total, VTC awarded $250,000 to 25 tourism marketing projects across the Commonwealth to help increase visitation and revenue for Virginia’s localities through tourism. More than 155 partners will participate in this cross-state marketing program effort.

“We are thrilled to be supporting U.S. Travel’s Project: Time Off with our brand new Crush Friday campaign. The Crush Friday initiative is an engaging, creative, and collaborative way for Virginia localities to leverage critical marketing dollars to attract more visitors to the Commonwealth, increasing the economic impact of tourism,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “This program will also help to change the way millennials think about vacation and the importance of time off not only to their quality of life, but quality of work.”

“Giles is the perfect place to take advantage of a Friday off from the workplace. We welcome residents and guests to enjoy the New River Water Trail and all of the activities associated with the water, plus we have the National Forest and hiking, mountain biking, or birding adventures. Taking advantage of the world-class dining and unique lodging properties will make the Crush Friday experience last all weekend, which is also the point. To drive traffic to our tourism assets and businesses. We are excited and honored to be a part of this state-wide initiative,” shares Cora Gnegy, Tourism Marketing Director for Giles County. Giles County Tourism received a $10,000 grant for its Crush Friday project.

American workers left 662 million vacation days on the table last year. Of these workers, the millennial sub-set is the most likely to want to be seen as work martyrs. In an effort to be seen as valuable to the company a work martyr is the most likely to forego taking vacation days. The VTC Crush Friday Program is designed to encourage the millennial work martyr to give vacation a try. VTC and its industry partners aim to change that mindset and show the benefit that even one day of vacation can have. Virginia and Giles offer a call to millennials to take a well-deserved Friday and crush it in Giles.

Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia. In 2016, tourism generated $24 billion in revenue, supported nearly 230,000 jobs and provided $1.7 billion in state and local taxes. Dollars invested in tourism are proven to provide a 7:1 return in tax revenue for Virginia, and the grant awards and matching funds provide a stimulus to localities seeking to increase tourism visitation and revenue.

###

Giles County, Virginia is located in Southwest Virginia approximately 40 minutes south of Roanoke and just west of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. With easy access to the New River, world class dining and lodging properties, and historical attractions for the entire family, Giles offers adventure in Virginia’s Mountain Playground™. Come find your playground at our Visitors Center located at 203 N Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134 or find us online at gilescounty.org or by calling 540-921-2079. For interviews or onsite visits, please contact Cora Gnegy, Tourism Marketing Director. We can arrange and assist with any media needs. For more information about planning your visit to Giles County or about activities and events, please visit www.gilescounty.org or contact us at tourism@gilescounty.org.

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.

Summer in Virginia's New River Valley

Town of Narrows Awarded $699,346 in Grants

/0 Comments/in , /by

NARROWS, VA — The Town of Narrows in Giles County was awarded $699,346 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Narrows was awarded the CDBG Competitive Grant Award for Business District Revitalization.

The federally-funded grant program has been administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development since 1982. “This program has long been providing funding for projects that improve the quality of life for thousands of Virginians every year,” said former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. “Through Community Development Block Grants, we are able to address needs across the Commonwealth…I congratulate the four grantees and look forward to the success of these projects in Virginia.”

Conceptual rendering of possible improvements to the downtown in Narrows.

The grant was facilitated by a volunteer team of citizens with the help of the NRV Regional Commission. The proposed project will focus on the business district and encourage visitors to explore Narrows. It will create more public spaces and amenities for events and tourism, such as a Creekside Trail, public space along Wolf Creek, and more organized walkways.

This project will even provide matching funds for updates to commercial properties that would improve the facades and create better street views.

Governor McAuliffe also recommended that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) give $392,588 to the Town of Narrows to locate an outdoor outfitting business right off Wolf Creek. The ARC is set to finalize this project award approval in 2018.

Learn more about Narrows.

Read more from Giles County and the full news release from the Governor’s office.

###

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 both 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 McAuliffe Announces 83 New Jobs in Giles County

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

~ Interstate Group LLC to invest $4.1 million to establish East Coast manufacturing and distribution operation ~

 

GLEN LYN, VA – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that Interstate Group LLC, an industry leader in the manufacturing and sale of enclosed cargo trailers, will invest $4.1 million to establish a 100,000-square-foot East Coast manufacturing and distribution operation in the former GE Fairchild Mining Equipment plant in Giles County. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project, which will create 83 new jobs.

“We are thrilled that Interstate Group has selected Giles County and the Commonwealth as the home of its East Coast operations,” said Governor McAuliffe, speaking at the announcement. “This important project will not only create new jobs for an area that has been hard hit by recent closures, it will bring a shuttered plant back into productive use. With one of the nation’s largest transportation networks, an outstanding workforce, and competitive operating costs, the Commonwealth is the ideal location for Interstate Group as it expands its footprint. This is a major win for the New River Valley, and we are proud the company will contribute to our efforts to diversify and build a new Virginia economy.”

 

Founded in 1995, Interstate Group LLC is an industry leader in the manufacturing and sales of enclosed cargo trailers. The company is headquartered in Nampa, Idaho, and has manufacturing plants in Arkansas, Arizona, and Idaho.

 

“Strengthening the advanced manufacturing sector in the Commonwealth continues to be a top priority, and Interstate Group will be a great addition to the growing cluster in the New River Valley,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore. “Interstate Group joins nearly 6,000 manufacturing firms that operate in Virginia and generate more than $113 billion in direct annual economic output, and will bring vital, quality jobs to the region. We’re proud to add the company to our corporate roster, and we look forward to a long partnership.”


“Interstate is excited to select Glen Lyn as the location for our fourth and largest manufacturing plant,” said Michael Snow, CEO of Interstate Group. “We looked at other states in the region and at multiple locations in Virginia. The opportunity to repurpose an existing facility, combined with the incentives we received from the Commonwealth and Giles County, will help us reduce the cost of our investment while preserving our culture of high incentive-based pay for our team members. I have been very impressed with the understanding and responsiveness of the state and local officials to our needs and timelines. We look forward to being part of this community and making it the foundation of our growth on the East Coast.”

 

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Giles County and Onward New River Valley to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $200,000 Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the County with the project. The company will be eligible to receive Sales and Use Tax Exemptions on manufacturing equipment, and will also be eligible to receive a Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit. Funding and services to support Interstate Group’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

 

“This is great news for the entire New River Valley and we are very excited that Interstate Group has chosen Giles County as the location for its East Coast manufacturing facility,” said Richard McCoy, Chairman of the Giles County Board of Supervisors.

“These jobs are much needed in an economy that has been hard hit by downturns in the coal industry” added Dr. S. Lee Wheeler, Chairman of the Giles County Industrial Development Authority. We appreciate the work of the Economic Development Partnership, the Governor’s office, Onward New River Valley, and all of all those involved in making this a reality.”


Office of the Governor
Contact: Brian Coy
Email: Brian.Coy@governor.virginia.gov

 

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

 

Interstate Group LLC
Contact:  Michael Snow
Phone: 208 442 7640
Email: snowm@interstatecargo.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 both 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.

JBR Vineyards to Open New Farm Winery in Giles County

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that JBR Vineyards, LLC will expand its vineyard operation to open a farm winery in Giles County. The company will invest over a quarter of a million dollars in the construction of its new winery and tasting room, which will create two new jobs. JBR planted Giles County’s first vineyard in 2006 and plans to now expand the vineyard substantially to support its wine production. Through this expansion, JBR will use over 14 tons of Virginia-grown grapes in its wines over the next three years.

“JBR Vineyard’s continued growth and investment in Giles County is great news for Virginia’s rural areas and agriculture sector overall,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Investments like these create jobs and open new markets for agritourism in the region. Today’s announcement is a great win for Virginia’s agriculture industry as we continue with our ongoing efforts to build and diversify the new Virginia economy.”

“Through its commitment to producing high quality estate wines, JBR Vineyards is furthering Virginia’s efforts at growing this important sector of the economy,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil Gooden. “I am pleased the Commonwealth could partner with Giles County through the AFID Program to support this local business in a flourishing industry.”

“The vineyard/winery industry in Virginia is starting to be noticed,” said co-owner of JBR Vineyards LLC and Giles County native Jessee Ring. “With our vineyard expansion, new facilities were needed and we chose to do that at the Giles County vineyard. We appreciate the help we have gotten from the County and the Commonwealth. We look forward to continuing this exciting journey!”

“We are excited that VDACS and the Governor’s Office continue to promote and support new business opportunities like JBR Vineyards,” said Chris McKlarney, Giles County Administrator. “Giles County is pleased to join with our Commonwealth of Virginia partners in the effort to expand our economy and create new jobs for our citizens. Agriculture is important to Giles County and the addition of a vineyard and winery will provide additional tourism opportunities for visitors to Virginia’s Mountain Playground.”

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with Giles County and JBR Vineyards to secure this project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $5,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which Giles County will match with local funds.

Full Release

Office of the Governor
Contact: Brian Coy
Email: Brian.Coy@governor.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Contact: Elaine Lidholm
Phone: (804) 786-7686
Email: Elaine.Lidholm@vdacs.virginia.gov

JBR Vineyards, LLC
Contact: Jessee and Deborah Ring
Phone: (540) 250-7293

Charlotte Gomer
Assistant Communications Director
Office of Governor Terence R. McAuliffe
Charlotte.Gomer@governor.virginia.gov

###

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 both 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.

SWVA’s Newest Mountaintop Event Venue

/0 Comments/in , /by

GILES COUNTY, VA- The proprietors, Britt & Leigh Stoudenmire, proudly announce their newest venture in Giles County, Walker Creek Barn. Opening in June 2018, Walker Creek Barn offers a unique event venue space, lodging, and agritourism opportunities for the community and region. This new development is located in the southeastern portion of Giles, along the Route 100 corridor. The Stoudenmires have worked in the hospitality industry as owners of New River Outdoor Co. and Walker Creek Retreat for the last 14 years and see endless potential for Walker Creek Barn. Their mission is larger than this new business venture, it’s also a community development project. “Giving back has always been a foundation of our business. We want to help change lives and use this barn to create good in Giles County,” says Leigh.


Walker Creek Barn is a spacious, 5,600 square-foot meeting and event space. Situated on the crest of a 10-acre picturesque mountaintop with long-range and panoramic views of Walker Mountain, Sugar Run, Angel’s Rest, and Cloyd’s Gap, among others. Walker Creek Barn provides a truly breathtaking and one-of-a-kind location for any wedding or event. Some of its unique features include a spacious bridal loft that can convert to 2 guestrooms, a groom’s lounge, a large, well-equipped catering prep kitchen, adequate wattage for sound & AV equipment, and multiple ceremony sites. “The barn was developed with ease of access – from vendors to guests – in mind. We offer ample parking, restrooms, and we’re handicap accessible,” added Britt.


Designed and decorated with a perfect balance of rustic, elegance, and natural beauty, Walker Creek Barn can be utilized as both an open-air or fully enclosed facility. The large, plentiful windows allow natural light to filter inside while your guests can admire the impressive views outside. The barn is fully heated and air-conditioned making weddings & events comfortable in all seasons. Walker Creek Barn can accommodate weddings, receptions, retreats, conferences, and meetings up to 295 people, making it one of the largest in the New River Valley. Walker Creek Barn is easily located a half-mile off VA Route 100, a four-lane highway between Pearisburg and Dublin in Giles County, VA. Walker Creek Barn features on-site and local lodging options and eateries, yet is only 30 min from Blacksburg and Radford, 1 hour from Roanoke Regional Airport, and 2 to 5 hours from most major cities on the east coast.


This tourism development project announcement is made with the full support of the Giles County Tourism Office. Walker Creek Barn is now booking for 2018/2019 weddings, events, and associated lodging at Walker Creek Retreat. Please call New River Outdoor Co. at 540-921-7438 for more info or visit the barn’s website at www.walkercreekbarn.com.


***


Giles County, Virginia is located in Southwest Virginia approximately 40 minutes south of Roanoke and just west of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. With easy access to the New River, world class dining and lodging properties, and historical attractions for the entire family, Giles offers adventure in Virginia’s Mountain Playground™. Come find your playground at our Visitors Center located at 203 N Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134 or find us online at gilescounty.org or by calling 540-921-2079. For interviews or onsite visits, please contact Cora Gnegy, Tourism Marketing Director. We can arrange and assist with any media needs. For more information about planning your visit to Giles County or about activities and events, please visit www.gilescounty.org or contact us at tourism@gilescounty.org.


###


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 both 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.

Business Advantages Networking

NRV Among Top Affordable Metros Attracting YPs

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , /by
NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA- Virginia’s New River Valley (The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA) ranks among the top metros that are attracting young professionals while maintaining an affordable cost of living. According to PEW, the NRV is among 10 metros that are growing almost as quickly as other well-known, attractive cities for young people like Silicon Valley or Austin, TX, but have more affordable costs of living.  

Still Affordable, But Attracting Young Professionals

These metro areas ranked high for affordability, education, and growth in young professionals.
Columbus, INBismarck, ND
Midland, MIMorgantown, WV
Bloomington, ILCedar Rapids, IA
Idaho Falls, IDNew River Valley, VA
Sioux Falls, NDRochester, MN
The data comes from the American Community Survey and was analyzed by Stateline.
Virginia’s New River Valley, has a unique opportunity for young professionals. Our region enjoys the upscale amenities residents might find in larger urban areas (like public transit and fine dining), while maintaining the perks of low-cost living and small-town charm (like low traffic, and access to outdoor recreation).   The presence of Virginia Tech, Radford University, and New River Community College elevate the importance of education in the region and provide excellent amenities in arts and culture and opportunities for young people and businesses alike to interact with the universities and benefit from their services.  
The NRV was also ranked a top destination for college graduates based on eight economic and quality-of-life factors that AIER found to influence migration patterns of college grads ages 22-35 among 260 metro areas, large and small. A few of the factors contributing to the New River Valley’s high ranking included its favorable labor market conditions, affordable housing rents, ability to get around without a car, and density of people with a college degree.
YPs can find plenty of support in the NRV with clubs and networking opportunities such as Up on the Roof, Blacksburg YPs, The Newcomers Club, and more.   Plus, the NRV is home to a myriad of festivals and burgeoning local music scenes that keep up with the times while remembering the roots of SWVA throughout history. For more activities and insight on what it’s like to live in the NRV, check out the Live Here tab!  
###
  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 both 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.