NRV Experience

Complementing and Enhancing internships at your company

The NRV Experience, hosted by Onward NRV, is an eight-week summer program designed to help interns discover whether the New River Valley is a natural fit for them after graduation. Participants build professional skills, connect with others, and experience the vibrant community that makes the NRV a great place to call home.

While employers show interns what it’s like to work in the NRV, we show them what it’s like to live here.

Connect With Other Interns

Strengthen Professional Skills

Experience Community Excursions

2025 Schedule of events

  • Kick-Off Event: Wikiteria Cafe
    Tuesday, June 10, 2025,  4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  • Pulaski County Excursion:  Rock House Marina
    Tuesday, June 17, 2025,  2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  • Giles County Excursion: Mountain Lake Lodge 
    Tuesday, June 24, 2025,  2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  • Virtual Lunch and Learn: Zoom
    Thursday, June 26, 2025, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

  • Young Professionals Pop-Up Event: Rising Silo Brewery
    Tuesday, July 1, 2025,  4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  • Montgomery County Excursion: Game Time at the Superbowl
    Tuesday, July 8, 2025,  2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  • Floyd County Excursion: Floyd Center for the Arts
    Tuesday, July 15, 2025,  2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  • City of Radford Excursion: Bisset Park
    Tuesday, July 22, 2025,  2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

  • Wrap-Up Event: Long Way Brewing
    Thursday, July 31, 2025,  4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Past Participating Employers

“I was able to build a lot of relationships and also have fun with all the events that were put on [throughout the program]. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to be in the NRV Experience.”

Ana, Celanese Intern, NRV Experience 2020 Participant

Cost Per Intern

Onward NRV Investor: $150

Non-Onward NRV Investor: $300

Past Event Photos

#3 Metro with High Ratio of IT Grads to Jobs
– Expansion Solutions, 2017
#10 Metro in High-Tech Employment Concentration
– SelectUSA, 2017
#30 Leading Location for New & Expanding Businesses
– Area Development, 2016
#3 Best Tech & Engineering Internships; Exceleration
– Vault, 2020

Related News

NRV Ranks as a Top Talent Attraction Community
Accolade

NRV Ranks as a Top Talent Attraction Community

New River Valley, VA – Virginia’s New River Valley (Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA) recently ranked #63 out of 200 mid-sized metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for its talent

Prestar Wins VA Manufacturing Award
Accolade

Prestar Wins VA Manufacturing Award

Montgomery County, VA – Prestar Packaging recently won 1st Place and earned the title of The Coolest Thing Made in Virginia in the 2025 Virginia

Virginia Tech Partners with Mining Company
Advanced Manufacturing

Virginia Tech Partners with Mining Company

Montgomery County, VA – Virginia Tech recently announced it is partnering with Canadian company Aclara Technologies to build a pilot plant at the Virginia Tech