The New River Valley has a strong heritage and pride embedded in its roots. It is a dynamic area of industry and trade, partly because it is located within a day's drive to approximately three-quarters of the nation's major markets. The scenic vistas, historical and cultural attractions, and qualities inherent to the area are drawing tourists and businesses to this growing Valley. A critical component of success in this region is the pride and work ethic exhibited by the residents. These are the people that move the Valley toward accomplishing its goals and sustaining its growth.

Committed to educational excellence, the people in the New River Valley have developed an exceptional educational system. The region's commitment to excellence in education benefits everyone; students, parents, and employers. The area is home to Virginia's largest university, Virginia Tech (VT). VT is ranked one of the best engineering colleges in the nation. Radford University provides strong programs in business, geography, communications, and education. New River Community College, along with its excellent associate degree programs, is dedicated to training and retraining the region's labor force. In fact, our educational institutions are our largest employers in the region. These higher educational centerpieces also have strong ties with the local school divisions and local business and industry.

The New River Valley is committed to a progressive secondary education system for our young people. Alternative education opportunities, crucial to education success, are present and supported in the region.

Head Start programs throughout the area provide students equal opportunities to education at the pre-school level as well. Lifelong learning through technology and community use of public school facilities ensures educational opportunities to adults in the region.
Another support system in the New River Valley exists for small and emerging businesses. The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center provides the opportunity for innovative high-tech companies to bring ideas to market. The New River Valley Competitiveness Center is an industrial development incubator. The Jacksonville Center, a craft incubator in Floyd County and the Giles Business Incubator add substantial support to the entire entrepreneurial community.

Additionally, the region is home to the Radford University’s Business Assistance Center that promotes and supports emerging businesses.

Local governments and community organizations have responded to the physical infrastructure needs in the region by investing in land development, water and sewer improvements, housing starts and renovations, and road development and improvements. Several industrial parks and buildings have been enhanced including traditional shell buildings and industrial park layouts as well as mixed use and alternative economic development sites.

Tourism is also an expanding economic force in the New River Valley. The region is situated parallel with the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are to the south, and the Appalachian Mountains to the north while the nation’s oldest river, the New River, stretches across this fertile land.

In 1998 the river was designated an American Heritage River, further advancing its status and the area’s recognition. Recreational opportunities abound in the area offering residents great places to spend a day relaxing or working.

Communities have taken advantage of downtown revitalization funding as well as transportation grants to build alternative transportation pathways through our region. Citizens have rallied around the preservation of historic and cultural sites and have developed collaborative and creative methods to protect and promote our natural resources. The New River Land Trust is one such organization formed with the mission of conserving the New River Valley’s scenic, natural, and cultural resources.

New River Trail State Park links the Town of Pulaski to the City of Galax along a 57 mile converted railroad corridor. Gatewood Reservoir Recreation Area owned by the Town of Pulaski provides facilities for recreation. Claytor Lake and State Park in Pulaski County is a recreation and camping facility. The Appalachian Trail and the Cascades Park are located in Giles County, and from Floyd the Blue Ridge Parkway is easily accessed. Scenic views, hiking, picnicking, camping, swimming, fishing, and other outdoor recreational activities are available throughout the New River Valley.

Numerous historical societies promote an appreciation of the region's heritage. There are many culturally significant sites in the area including the Smithfield Plantation, the Olde Newberne, Snowville, and Downtown Pearisburg and Pulaski Historical Districts. Also, the Long Way Home is a local historical drama recreating the Mary Draper Ingles story.

The people in the area are proud of the quality of life in the New River Valley. Here, surrounded by natural beauty, is a spirit of cooperation to get things done. The priorities are clear: develop and maintain a growing economy and provide jobs and personal enrichment opportunities for everyone. The vision of the New River Valley is to provide opportunities to grow and prosper in an atmosphere of cooperation while maintaining our environmental quality. We are making this vision a reality and thus creating a region worthy and enjoyable for living and visiting.

The local governments of the New River Valley are committed to providing services and support to the citizens of the region.

There are a host of regional organizations and governmental partnerships that provide opportunities for individuals, organizations, and businesses as well as technology enhancements and transportation opportunities. Recent programming in the area include: welfare to work efforts by our local departments of social services; shelter and transitional housing for battered women and children; workforce investment for those needing training or job search assistance; a locally-operated and controlled community foundation for investing in our region; library enhancements across the region; and the creation of a program to fund and support emerging home and small businesses.

The New River Valley chambers have long promoted leadership training in the business sector. In recent years, leadership training has expanded to include youth and non-traditional leaders. This effort has brought a more diverse group of citizens to the table around issues that concern our local communities. The Chambers of Commerce have provided valuable skill-based business leader training. The EAGLES (Energized Grassroots Leaders Engaged Systematically) Program provides personal and community development opportunities to non-traditional leaders in the region. Montgomery County Public Schools has supported diversity training headed by student teams in the middle and high schools of the County to promote positive activities and ideas around diversity.

The Kellogg Foundation provided MIRA (Managing Information in Rural America) programming in the New River Valley. Ten community teams from across the region participated in community development training and team project development and implementation. Two hundred citizens participated in this program that brought over $750,000 in technology, technical assistance, and direct grant funding to our communities.

The Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) participates in the Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Support (ARMS) program that funds commercial development at this federal facility through its operator Alliant Techsystems, Inc. This funding has brought some 350 new jobs to the facility and has created many opportunities for relationship development between the contracting and government officials at the facility and within the community.