Corp of Cadets member waves VT flag at Lane Stadium, the largest stadium in VA

Lane Stadium the Largest Stadium in VA

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BLACKSBURG, VA – Lane Stadium is the largest stadium in VA according to Fox Sports. The well-known home of Virginia Tech football has 66,233 seats, which beats Scott Stadium in Charlottesville by about 5,000.

Photos of the crowd at Lane Stadium, the largest stadium in va, from the 2017 Homecoming Game against the University of North Carolina Tarheels.

The Hokies’ stadium has been around since 1964, and has undergone many expansions and renovations since.

The stadium also ranked as the #1 homefield advantage stadium by Rivals.com. Plus, back in 2007, ESPN’s Bruce Feldman also ranked Lane Stadium as the #2 scariest stadium for opponents to play.

For more information about Lane Stadium and Worsham Field, visit HokieSports.

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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 Towns Voted Happiest in Blue Ridge

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Date:  October 28, 2016

New River Valley, VA – This summer, five towns (technically four towns and one city) were voted to top spots in the Happiest Mountain Towns reader poll by Blue Ridge Country magazine.  Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, Floyd, and Pulaski all received top honors in the magazine’s rankings which used quantitative data like unemployment rates and commute times as a baseline, but also accounted for readers’ passions for their hometowns.

The initial 96 towns were whittled down to 61 for readers to choose from, and the coverage area included the mountain regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina.  Blue Ridge Country vetted the 61 initial choices by setting “minimum happiness-base standards” (i.e. a commute of <30 minutes, a below-average cost-of-living, unemployment rate below 10%, etc.), but then left the poll open for readers all over the nation to vote for their favorites.

In the 10,000-49,999 category, three New River Valley towns cracked the top twenty: Blacksburg (#6), Christiansburg (#17), and Radford (#18).  Blacksburg and Christiansburg, both located in Montgomery County, are strongly affiliated with Virginia Tech and the many companies that have spun-off from or located near the research university.  Radford, of course, is closely tied to Radford University and its award-winning business, nursing, education, and liberal arts programs.

All three places boast a low cost-of-living, easy accessibility to the outdoors (the 7-mile Huckleberry Trail connects Blacksburg and Christiansburg and the New River snakes its way along the edge of Radford’s downtown and campus corridor), and a strong arts community.

Floyd (#3) and Pulaski (#26) clinched a top spots in the <10,000 category.  Heralded by Southern Living as one of the South’s Best Small Towns, the top tier ranking is no surprise.  What Floyd lacks in numbers, it makes up for with style, small town charm, and impactful events.  Floyd’s innovative business climate offers start-ups, entrepreneurial ventures, and artisanal producers a welcoming place to do business.

Pulaski, a former furniture and textile manufacturing town, has undergone a massive revitalization initiative including the renovation of the Jackson Park Inn, clean-up of Peak Creek, and improvements to Calfee Park, the ninth oldest professional Minor League Baseball Park in use in America.  While many diverse manufacturing jobs still exist in Pulaski, other home-grown business are sprouting up and the town is working to attract a mix of industries.

Both towns offer unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities like paddleboarding the Little River, biking the New River Trail State Park, or hiking the region’s trails.  They also both promote large community farmers markets and music-oriented events like the Floyd County Store Friday Night Jamboree.

To learn more about the poll, its methodology, and to see how the New River Valley stacks up, visit Blue Ridge Country.

Pembroke in Giles County, VA Named A Top Paddle Town

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Canoe & Kayak featured an article titled, “(Next) Best Paddling Towns: Pembroke, VA Exploring the New River Water Trail through Giles County, Va.”  Author Natalie Warren said:


Sometimes one town on its own is too small to truly be considered the Next Best Paddling Town. Sometimes it takes collaboration and pooling of resources by neighboring communities to provide paddler amenities for a larger region. The five municipalities in Giles County, Virginia do just that, focusing their energies on the New River, one of the geologically oldest rivers in America.

Read more at Canoe & Kayak.


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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.

Blacksburg, Christiansburg among safest places in Virginia

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Date:  May 6, 2016

New River Valley Economic Development Alliance

New River Valley, VA – Two New River Valley towns are among the safest places in Virginia, according to BackgroundChecks.org. The public safety focused organization recently ranked the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg on its 2016 list of the 25 Safest Cities in Virginia. BackgroundChecks.org had this to say about Blacksburg and Christiansburg:

#6 Blacksburg “Located in Montgomery County, Blacksburg is a town that has a current population of 42,600 residents. Best known as the home of Virginia Tech, the town was named by Business Week as one of the best places in the U.S. to raise kids and by Southern Living as the Best College Town in the South. The violent crime rate here is 90.6, and residents of Blacksburg have a 1.1% chance of being involved in a property crime.”

#11 Christiansburg “A town in Montgomery County, Christiansburg is home to 21,000 residents. Also the county seat, the community was a stagecoach stop in the 1850’s and was the residence of such legends as Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, and Booker T. Washington. The violent crime rate here is 141.1, and the chance of being affected by property crime in Christiansburg is 3.1%.”

BackgroundChecks.org is a public safety focused organization committed to increasing public safety, community involvement, transparent government and education. To compile the list of the 25 Safest Cities in Virginia, BackgroundChecks.org used FBI violent crime stats and its own proprietary research data.

To view the full list of the Top 25 Safest Cities in Virginia, visit http://backgroundchecks.org/25-safest-cities-in-virginia-2016.html 

About Us:

Virginia’s New River Valley is a vibrant community that’s home to two state universities, Virginia Tech and Radford University, and a diverse industry base ranging from large international corporations to small technology startups. The region is designated the Blacksburg-Christiansburg Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area and encompasses the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and the city of Radford.

The New River Valley Economic Development Alliance is a public/private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market the New River Valley, to foster job creation, facilitate new investment and to improve the quality of life in the region.

Floyd named a best small town by USA Today and Southern Living

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Date:  April 13, 2016

New River Valley, VA – Floyd continues to rack up third party recognitions as one of the best towns in the South. Over the past year, it has been featured on lists by USA Today and Southern Living.

In February, Southern Living Magazine named Floyd as one of the South’s Best Small Towns for 2016. Published since 1966, Southern Living highlights the beauty and culture of the growing South and has a reach of more than 23 million people each month. Floyd was among 20 small towns to be featured on its list.

Southern Living had this to say about Floyd:

“You’ve got the mountains rising from all sides of town, the Blue Ridge Parkway running north and south, and all of the old time, bluegrass music you could ask for. A stop on The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, Floyd takes its farm-centric roots and adds a touch of artistic whimsy. Show up for the Friday Night Jamboree at the Floyd Country Store to see the town at its finest.”

In 2015, Floyd was ranked the No. 9 Best Southern Small Town in the nation by the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The top 20 nominees were picked by a panel of experts with the top ten being chosen by popular vote of USA Today 10 Best readers. USA Today is a national news and information media company with eight million readers daily.

USA Today had this to say about Floyd:

“A popular stop along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, Floyd is an artist’s enclave where the Friday Nite Jamboree is just one of the regular toe-tapping events that visitors enjoy. Galleries and studios abound and regular events allow buyers (and art-loving lookie-loos) to enjoy multiple venues on one visit with ease. Floyd’s lovely Mabry Mill, featuring a working blacksmith, wheelwright, grist mill and whiskey still, keeps history alive and interactive. Not to mention fun.”

To view the full lists, visit:

• Southern Living

• USA Today

Housing in Virginia's New River Valley

Pulaski Ranks No. 9 Best Place in VA for First-Time Homebuyers

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New River Valley, VA – NerdWallet.com has ranked the Town of Pulaski the No. 9 Best Place in Virginia for First-time Homebuyers. Here is what NerdWallet had to say:


Like the other western Virginia cities of Richlands, Abingdon and Galax, Pulaski has seen healthy growth in its home values in recent years. From 2010 to 2013, the median home value jumped 17.90% to $96,800.


However, Pulaski remains the most affordable of these communities, and it would take the shortest time in the top 10 — about seven years — to save for a 20% down payment.

Read more at Nerd Wallet.


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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.

Forbes Ranks Blacksburg Among the Top 25 Best Places to Retire, Again

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NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA – For the third consecutive year, the Town of Blacksburg has been ranked among the “25 Best Places to Retire,” by Forbes.com. To compile its list of the 25 Best Places to Retire 2016, Forbes considered several factors in the survey, including overall cost of living and home prices, as compared to national averages, and general tax climates for retirees. The ranking included more than 500 communities nationwide.


Blacksburg: A college town (Virginia Tech) of 44,000 in southwestern tail of Virginia.


PROS:

  • Economically robust.
  • Median home price $230,000.
  • Above average air quality.
  • Low crime rate.
  • High Milken aging rank.
  • Somewhat walkable.

    • NOTES:

  • Cost of living 2% above national average.
  • Average state tax climate for retirees and doctors per capita.
  • Mild climate.
  • On list last year.

    • TRIVIA: Named two centuries ago for town’s founder.


    The full list of the Best 25 Places to Retire 2016 can be viewed at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampbarrett/2016/04/04/the-best-places-to-retire-in-2016/#512d9f1c703e


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    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.

    NRV ranked a top job destination for college graduates

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    Date:  March 8, 2016

    New River Valley, VA – In its first annual Employment Destinations Index, the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) ranked the most attractive places in the U.S. where young college graduates want to live and work. The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area, encompassing the entire New River Valley, ranked No. 20 in the nation among metro areas with populations less than 250,000.


    The 2015 Employment Destinations Index is 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.


    “With the Employment Destinations Index, we identify what captures young people’s imagination and entices them to test the waters in cities large and small,” said Rosalind Greenstein, director of research and education at AIER. “After making the economic decision to move, the young and educated are looking for places where they can have a meaningful work/life balance.”


    Virginia’s New River Valley has a desirable blend of economic opportunity and lifestyle amenities. The diverse mix of businesses, ranging from small startups to large international corporations, provide meaningful career opportunities. Unlike larger metro areas, its small town atmosphere cultivates social interaction and community engagement. The region’s mountain setting is also ideal for enjoying the outdoors, with superb greenways, nature trails and waterways.


    AIER also found that many of the destinations ranking at the top of the smallest metro group “benefited from the presence of a university that anchors economic activity, attracts companies relying on high-skill workers, inspires researchers and entrepreneurs to leverage networks, and supports a lively social scene.”


    Virginia’s New River Valley is no exception to this finding. The region benefits from not one, but two universities – Virginia Tech and Radford University – and an exceptional community college – New River Community College. These higher education institutions contribute to the cultural and social offerings of the region and provide a steady pipeline of talent for area companies to draw from. Virginia Tech, a top 40 research university, is also a major catalyst for the region’s technology sector and has produced numerous spinout companies through alumni, faculty and researchers.


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    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.

    NRV named Best of the Mountains, FloydFest

    Floyd Fest a “Hottest Musical Festival”

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    “[Floyd Fest is] Five days filled with music, plus outdoor adventure, brews and activities for kids. Set aside some time to go hiking and tubing down the nearby river…”

    Read more from Fox News or www.floyfest.com.

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    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.

    Christiansburg #26 Best Place to Start a Business in VA

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    Christiansburg #26 Best Place to Start a Business in VA

    “With plenty of incentives for both startups and existing businesses and a state corporate income tax rate among the lowest in the nation at 6%, Virginia’s business-friendly policies appear to…”

    NerdWallet analyzed 112 places in Virginia with a population of 5,000 or more. Eleven places with less than 500 businesses and 64 places that were missing data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners were excluded.

    Read more at NerdWallet.

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    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.