Pulaski County High School CTE Welding Program Shines Bright

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Pulaski County, VA – The Pulaski County High School Career and Technical Education Center (CTE) recently unveiled its new state-of-the-art welding lab. The Southwest Times featured the unveiling and detailed the impressive line-up of courses covered by the popular Tech-Ed program.

Welding, a top-rated program that has seen consistent growth, is just one of over 25 programs across seven different career fields offered by the CTE Center.

Megan Atkinson, Director of CTE and the Governor’s STEM Academy, said:

“This year, we have 95 (students) who were able to be in Welding I, II, and III. Due to the class’s popularity, we pay (the instructor) to teach an additional block each year. We’ve done that for the past four years to meet the demand of student requests.”

In addition to welding, the diverse program also offers comprehensive IT and Manufacturing career paths, including Computer Programing, Cybersecurity, Engineering, and Robotics.

Read the full article here.

Learn more about Pulaski County, a community in Virginia’s New River Valley, here.

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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.

VT and Amazon Partner on Machine Learning Initiative

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Montgomery County, VA – Virginia Tech recently announced a newly forged partnership with Amazon on a machine learning initiative.

Per the press release, the “Amazon – Virginia Tech Initiative for Efficient and Robust Machine Learning will include machine learning-focused research projects, doctoral student fellowships, community outreach, and an establishment of a shared advisory board.”

Virginia Tech will host an annual public research symposium to disseminate information to communities in the related fields. The university will also team with the tech giant to co-host two-yearly training and recruiting events geared toward students.

“This partnership affirms the value of our connection to Amazon as we scale up project-based learning and research programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Building Virginia Tech’s strength and expertise in these fields will support critical technological advancements and our commitment to fuel workforce development in the commonwealth.”
– Tim Sands, President Virginia Tech

Learn more about the exciting research and innovation projects in the NRV here.

Learn more about IT in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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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.

New River Valley Ranks #3 for Tech Jobs Growth in the U.S.

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New River Valley, VA – Axios recently published an article titled “The New Tech Hubs”. The article features data from The Brookings Institute and details that tech jobs in the New River Valley grew by more than 12% from 2019 to 2020 making the region the 3rd highest for rate of growth in the entire U.S.

The Axios piece quotes Brookings’ Mark Muro, a co-author of the report saying;

“Tech jobs drive innovation, pay well, and have substantial multipliers, for local economies and the national one.”

Source: Brookings Institute analysis of Emsi Burning Glass Data

The Brookings report went on to outline the necessity of state funding as it relates to continued growth within the sector. “Renewed state investments in public higher education will be necessary in building up new tech hubs”. The writers go on to recommend four things to ensure strong growth within the tech sector:

Click here to learn more about the tech industry in Virginia’s New River Valley.

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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.

VT ranked #3 for I.T. per U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs

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BLACKSBURG, VA – Virginia Tech announced in January that its online master’s degree in information technology program (MIT) was ranked No. 3 in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report 2022 rankings.

Virginia Tech’s online IT master’s degree program retains its #1 position for veterans according to U.S. News & World Report 2022 rankings, while online graduate programs in engineering remain in the top 20.

Per the article, Parviz Ghandforoush, professor, associate dean, and executive director of the MIT Program in the Pamplin College of Business said:

“In 2021, the program introduced new cutting-edge courses and certificates designed to meet market needs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, innovation, and entrepreneurism.”

The press release from Virginia Tech further elaborates on the scale of the program-

“Virginia Tech’s MIT program is one of the largest IT master’s degree programs in the country, enrolling nearly 1,000 students from the United States and other nations who want to learn about information technology and its applications”.

See more exciting announcements about IT in the New River Valley here.

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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.

Aeroprobe Featured in Virginia Economic Review

Three NRV Businesses Named Best Places to Work in VA

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Montgomery County, VA – According to Virginia Business Magazine, Modea, Aeroprobe and Community Housing Partners (CHP) are some of the of the best places to work in Virginia. The three companies were featured in the magazine’s 12th Annual Best Places to Work in Virginia List.

Modea and Aeroprobe were both featured on the “Small Employers” (up to 99 U.S. employees) list, while CHP was featured on the “Large Employers” (over 250 U.S. employees) category.

Virginia Business worked with Best Companies Group out of Pennsylvania to compile the list. Employers were evaluated on categories such as number of paid holidays, retirement benefits, diversity training, and telecommuting options for employees. After evaluating the employers and compiling a list of the top 100 in the Commonwealth, Virginia Business then divided the list into categories for large, medium, and small employers.

See all the companies on the 2022 Best Places to Work in Virginia list here.

Learn more about the information technology industry in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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

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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 Communities Win Grants to Expand Broadband Access

NRV Communities Win Grants to Expand Broadband Access

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New River Valley, VA – Broadband access is quickly expanding across Virginia’s New River Valley. Two projects in the region were awarded grant funding from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) to expand broadband to unserved households. These grants were part of an announcement from Governor Northam earlier this week. This most recent initiative to expand broadband across the commonwealth “will advance Virginia 90% to the goal of achieving universal access to broadband and high-speed internet, placing Virginia on track to being one of the first states successfully charting a path to universal access to broadband.”

In addition to the grant funding from VATI, each project leveraged private and local investments as well. Here is more information about the two broadband projects that were funded in Virginia’s New River Valley:

New River Valley Regional Commission and Gigabeam and All Points Broadband
$68,355,355.00 Award
$67,370,008.00 Leveraged
The project will build fiber broadband to 19,966 unserved locations and achieve universal coverage in Bland, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties.

Floyd County and Citizens
$1,310,267.00 Award
$1,111,725.00 Leveraged
The project will build fiber broadband to 723 unserved locations and achieve universal coverage in Floyd County.



Read the Governor’s press release listing all of the grant winners across Virginia here.

Learn more about efforts to expand broadband access in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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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.

VTCRC Announces New Lab Space and Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson

VTCRC Announces New Lab Space and Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson

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Brett Malone, President and CEO of the VTCRC, on December 15, 2021

Brett Malone, President and CEO of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, at the announcement press conference on December 15, 2021. Photo courtesy of the VTCRC.

Montgomery County, VA – The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) announced today that GO Virginia has awarded the research park a grant to “fund the expansion of laboratory space and facilities aimed at supporting the region’s growing life science industry.” The VTCRC will develop a shared lab facility in Blacksburg with a coalition of stakeholders including Montgomery County, Carilion Clinic, and the City of Roanoke. These stakeholders will also design a larger facility in Roanoke.

The shared lab space facility at the VTCRC in Blacksburg will be called COgro LABS and “is designed with 25 accessible lab spaces in a turn-key facility. The facility will help meet a need for flexible lab space from small- to early-stage companies, making starting and building a biotech company a little bit easier.”

“Through collaborations, we aim to fill the demand from biotechnology companies and provide full access needed to support research to commercialization aspirations. Our sophisticated infrastructure makes us a research destination across industries and for everyone from startups to enterprise companies.”
– Brett Malone, President & CEO of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center

In addition to this new lab space, the VTCRC has established a new collaboration with Johnson & Johnson LLC to “provide early-stage innovators in the region with access to their virtual residency program which includes expert mentoring, programming and resources offered through Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS.” Up to five companies will be selected by JLABS and the VTCRC to participate in the JLABS virtual residency program during the first year of the collaboration.

“Montgomery County is pleased to provide support to this partnership, which demonstrates our commitment to biotechnology growth in the New River and Roanoke Valleys. We look forward to working with the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute to promote recognition for our region as a biotechnology hub.”
– Craig Meadows, County Administrator for Montgomery County.

The VTCRC’s new shared lab space and its collaboration with Johnson & Johnson will enhance opportunities for biotech companies and startups in Virginia’s New River Valley.

Read the press release about this exciting announcement from the VTCRC here.

Learn more about COgro LABS and the VTCRC here.

Learn more about industries in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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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.

Radford Wins Grant for High School Students to Earn IT Degrees

Radford Wins Grant for High School Students to Earn IT Degrees

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Radford, VA – Radford City Schools recently was awarded a Career and Technical Education High School Innovation Grant for students to earn associate’s degrees in information technology. The grant was one of seven programs funded around the Commonwealth of Virginia with the purpose of “prepar[ing] students for high-wage, in-demand careers.”

Radford City Schools partnered with New River Community College and 1901 Group to create this program for students.

Here is what the governor’s press release has to say about the grant:

Radford Public Schools — $90,000 to create – in collaboration with New River Community College and the 1901 Group – a pathway for students to earn an associate degree in information technology.

Read the full press release to learn more about the Career and Technical Education High School Innovation Grant program and see the other grant winners here.

Learn more about the growing information technology sector in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

Learn more about Radford, a community in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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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 Cybersecurity Initiatives Featured in Virginia Economic Review

NRV Cybersecurity Initiatives Featured in Virginia Economic Review

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New River Valley, VA – Cybersecurity education initiatives from two of the New River Valley’s higher education institutions were featured in an article in the Q3 2021 issue of the Virginia Economic Review. The article, titled “Bridging Cybersecurity Gaps”, detailed unique cybersecurity initiatives from universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Programs and research projects from Radford University and Virginia Tech were both included in the article.

The article highlighted Radford University’s transdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity education. The university’s Center for Information Security (CIS), led by Director Prem Uppuluri, “provid[es] faculty with tools and skillsets necessary to teach cybersecurity through a broader perspective.” Beyond the CIS, other university faculty are focusing on developing curriculum to help K-12 teachers learn about cybersecurity and doing research on “securing IoT [Internet of Things] devices”.

Virginia Tech’s cybersecurity initiatives featured in the article included the new Tech4Humanity Lab. This lab, run by Professor Eric Jardine, is “examining the effects of media coverage around drug market closures on the ensuing level of dark web searches for drug-related activity.” In addition, the article highlighted a project led by Professor Ali Mehrizi-Sani to “support power grid operators’ shift to 5G communications”.

Read the full article from the Virginia Economic Review and learn about Radford University and Virginia Tech’s cybersecurity initiatives in more detail here .

Learn more about higher education in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

Explore the tech sector in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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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 Tech Companies Make Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies

NRV Tech Companies Make Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies

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Montgomery County, VA – Two NRV tech companies made the Inc. 5000 list for 2021. These annual rankings by Inc. magazine list the “fastest-growing private companies in the United States” and are a “hallmark of entrepreneurial success”. According to Virginia Business, only 310 companies across the state of Virginia were included on this prestigious list.

Here are the two NRV companies that made the 2021 Inc. 5000 list along with their rankings:

#4,606 Modea: 56% 3-Year Growth
#4,712 Harmonia Holdings Group: 51% 3-Year Growth

This is the third time Modea has been ranked on the Inc. 5000 list since 2010. Harmonia Holdings Group has made the Inc. 5000 list eleven times since 2009.

Read more about the history of the Inc. 5000 rankings here.

See the full Inc. 5000 list for 2021 here.

Learn more about the fast-growing tech sector in Virginia’s New River Valley here.

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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.