NRVPDC Newsletter

• "First Annual NRV Community Celebration " in the Spotlight
• NRVPDC Updates
  • Pulaski County Comprehensive Plan
  • Rich Creek Comprehensive Plan
  • Floyd Subdivision Ordinance and Other Plans
  • Transitional Housing Update
• Tyler Avenue/Rt. 177 Corridor Study
• Transportation Technical Advisory Committee
• Foreign Trade Zone
• Incubator Network News
  • New River Valley Competitiveness Center
  • Giles Business Incubator
• NRVPDC Commission Meeting Summaries
  • December 16, 1999
  • January 27, 2000
• NRV Economic Indicators
  • Labor Force
  • New Vehicle Registrations
  • Population
• CALENDARS
  • February 2000
  • March 2000
• NRVPDC Hires Regional Planner
• Notes
• Vision 2020 Newsletter
  

The Community Foundation and the New River Valley Planning District Commission (NRVPDC) cooperatively hosted a region-wide community celebration. This event celebrated organization, group, and individual contributions to the improvement of life in the New River Valley community. Revisiting past accomplishments may be seen as self indulgent in these busy, resource-scarce times; however, we believe it is essential to building the kind of connected and well-informed community we want in the New River Valley. A celebration of accomplishments is a starting place for such opportunities of reflection and acknowledgment of success.

The First Annual New River Valley Community Celebration was a time to recognize achievements and showcase programs and projects underway in the New River Valley. We had many businesses help sponsor this event through contributions, and it was a marvelous opportunity for the business and service communities to come together and celebrate individual and corporate contributions to the community. Twenty-four community activities were highlighted in the program. The history of the New River Community Action (NRCA), Inc., an important and fully integrated organization in our regional community, was also presented These projects and activities were by no means the only things happening in the community; they were, however, a wonderful sampling of the important efforts of the citizens of this region.

The projects and organizations that attended and hosted booths at the First NRV Community Celebration showed the breadth and depth of the vital energy that flows through our region. Twenty-seven organizations, businesses, and local government entities hosted booth space at the celebration. These ranged from high technology firms to a local animal rescue league. The event offered plenty of opportunity for visiting booths and networking with the over 90 community activists who attended the event. There was also plenty of good food and a wonderful slide presentation of the historic and scenic sites across the region presented by Dr. Anna Farriello. This first region-wide community celebration was just that, a wonderful opportunity for celebrating where we've been, what we're doing and where we're headed. The hope is that this event is the first of many. Thanks to everyone who helped make it such a resounding success. For further information, contact Holly Lesko, (540) 552-3035 or [email protected].. Main Menu

NRVPDC Updates

Pulaski County Comprehensive Plan

PDC staff have worked with the Pulaski County Planning Commission and staff to develop a format and presentation for public meetings to obtain citizen input for updating the County's Comprehensive Plan. From January 25^th through February 22^nd, a series of six public meetings will be held throughout the County. For further information, contact Dave Rundgren, (540)639-9313, ext. 212. Main Menu

Rich Creek Comprehensive Plan

The Rich Creek Town Council had previously received a recommendation from the Town's Planning Commission and had held a public hearing concerning the updated Comprehensive Plan. The Rich Creek Town Council approved the updated Comprehensive Plan at a meeting held on January 10^th. For further information, contact Patrick Burton, (540)639-9313, ext. 205. Main Menu

Floyd Subdivision Ordinance and Other Plans

NRVPDC staff has been assisting the Floyd/Floyd County Planning Commission in updating its Subdivision Ordinance (adopted in 1990). At the January meeting, the PDC staff also presented a revised Manufactured Home Park Ordinance (existing ordinance was adopted in 1989). In coming weeks the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on both revised ordinances.

NRVPDC staff is also working on other Floyd projects including an update of the Floyd/Floyd County Comprehensive Plan and grant-writing for the Jacksonville Center, a cultural center and craft/small business incubator. For further information, contact Lydeana Martin, (540)639-9313, ext. 206. Main Menu

Transitional Housing Update

Precontract work is continuing on the $700,000 Community Improvement Grant awarded by the Department of Housing and Community Development to the City of Radford for the purpose of constructing a transitional housing facility for victims of domestic violence. Transitional housing provides for longer periods of stay than emergency shelters. The Women's Resource Center for the New River Valley as owner/operator of the facility will provide on-site supportive services to families throughout their stay at the facility. These services will include extensive case management, counseling and educational services. The proposed design is a cluster of eight apartment units plus a community space. Construction of the facility is planned to begin this summer. For further information, contact Janet McNew, (540)639-9313, ext. 202. Main Menu

Tyler Avenue/Rt. 177 Corridor Study

The PDC is facilitating an update of this study which was completed in 1992. The effort is being led by a Steering Committee consisting of Montgomery County and Radford Planning Commission members, landowners and representatives of businesses/organizations in the corridor, and local government staff.

The first public meeting of the study update process will be held on Wednesday, February 2, 2000, 7:00 p.m., at Bethel Elementary School.

At the February 2^nd public meeting, citizens will be invited to help prioritize issues in the Tyler Avenue/Rt. 177 corridor, talk with Committee staff and members, and provide written comments. A summary of information gathered by the Committee through December will be available at the public meeting. For further information, contact Patrick Burton, (540) 639-9313, ext. 205. Main Menu

Transportation Technical Advisory Committee

The PDC's Transportation Technical Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 15, 2000, 1:30 p.m., at the New River Valley Competitiveness Center. The Transportation Planning Work Program for FY 2001 and Pre-Allocation Hearing comments will be the focus of the meeting. For further information, contact Patrick Burton, (540) 639-9313, ext. 205.  Main Menu

Foreign Trade Zone

A grand opening celebration for the New River Valley Foreign Trade Zone was held on January 21, 2000, at the New River Valley Airport near Dublin. The event celebrated the opening of Foreign Trade Zone No. 238 and Customs Port of Entry No. 1481, both located at the New River Valley Airport.

Congressman Frederick C. Boucher and Mark R. Kilduff, Executive Director of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, were in attendance and addressed the gathering. The grand opening marked the culmination of a multi-year application effort during which the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance coordinated with the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Treasury.

The New River Valley Economic Development Alliance took on the task of pursuing Foreign Trade Zone and Port of Entry designations as part of its mission of marketing the New River Valley as a business location. The international trade savings available through the new Foreign Trade Zone will be an important marketing tool for the New River Valley.

Congratulations on a major achievement for the region go to Virginia's New River Valley Economic Development Alliance, the Alliance's Networking Group, the Alliance's Foreign Trade Zone Advisory Committee and FTZ Activation Subcommittee, and the Alliance staff who kept the project moving forward throughout the effort! For further information, contact Patrick Burton, (540) 639-9313, ext. 205. Main Menu

INCUBATOR NETWORK NEWS

New River Valley Competitiveness Center

The Competitiveness Center continues to increase its occupancy. On January 1, 2000, Al Arbuckle opened his marketing business in one of our offices. The business trade name is 2ae-commercedesign.com. As the name suggests, Al concentrates on marketing over the Internet with web page design and maintenance, and specializes in direct marketing using data mining techniques. Additionally, 2ae-commercedesign.com deals in traditional print media, and works with its clientele to produce a professional image.

The Center has reached eighty-five percent occupancy. With other prospective tenants developing their business plans, and existing tenants expanding, we look forward to being essentially at maximum occupancy by the end of our first year on April 12, 2000. Our mission is to diversify the local economy and increase employment among small businesses. With the addition of new tenants and the continued expansion of existing ones, we already have fifty-eight people employed in the incubator businesses located in the Center. Most of these are jobs that did not exist six months ago.

The Center is putting together a series of seminars for 2000. We expect to have one every other month beginning in February. Watch for a list of topics and details on how to register. The topics will be timely and informative. For further information on the Center, contact Wayne Carpenter (540) 633-6731.

Giles Business Incubator

Giles Business Incubator welcomes a new Board Member to our Board of Directors. Clarence Clevenger, a Narrows resident, currently serves on the New River Valley Development Corporation Board and is a former small business owner. Mr. Clevenger brings his entrepreneurial spirit and experience to the incubator program participants and is an asset to the community's economic development program.

C&M Designs has added a new product line specializing in unique fabric items for gift shops, including fabric wine holders, fabric clutch purses, beach bags, and shoulder totes. These premium products are being marketed in the southeast. For more information on their pet, baby, or drapery items, call (540) 726-8090.

Pervasive Technologies, Inc., a local internet service provider, is overwhelmingly exceeding their initial projections. The hard work and superior customer service given by local owners Dave Stafford, Ron Stafford, Bradley Reed, and Jim Frazier is evident in this outstanding growth.

Upcoming classes for this spring cover the topics of retail merchandising, introduction to Access, and small business tax issues. Contact Anita Hines, (540)726-3888 for more information. Main Menu

NRVPDC Commission Meeting Summaries

• Setting of Local Assessment - The Executive Committee met and discussed the setting of the local assessment rate for FY 00-01. The Executive Committee recommended that the rate be set at 68 cents per capita. The Commission approved the Executive Committee's recommendation to set the rate at 68 cents per capita for FY 00-01.

• Amendment to the PDC Charter and Bylaws and the State Code - The Executive Committee considered approaches to implementing changes to the Charter and Bylaws as well as to the State Code to allow Virginia Tech and Radford University to become members of the Commission. The Commissioners were provided with suggested changes to the Charter and Bylaws. The major change in wording was to change "participating jurisdictions" to "participating members", which takes into consideration the addition of two universities. The suggested change to the State Code was an additional sentence, "In planning district 4, the membership may also include representatives of higher education institutions". State officials were notified of the suggested change and they agreed to seek wording change.  Main Menu

• Community Revitalization - Mr. Rundgren discussed some of the projects which he would like to see included in the Community Revitalization Budget, i.e., expansion of the NRV Commerce Park and NRV Competitiveness Center. He asked the Commissioners to suggest projects in their area that they would like to see included. Some of the suggestions were rail service, operating funds for the Giles Business Incubator, road improvements for Floyd County to promote tourism, and capitalizing on the Regional Competitiveness Partnership program.

• Consideration of Serving as Workforce Investment Act Sub-Grantee - Mr. Rundgren stated that the Workforce Investment Act grant funds will be awarded to Pulaski County as the grant recipient. As sub-grantee, the Commission would serve as the administrative organization for the program and hire new staff to oversee program activities. Staff will assist the Consortium and Board in several functions including developing a five-year plan, selecting operators and providers, connecting and brokering, and negotiating local performance measures, as well as providing staff support to a Youth Council and being responsible for program reporting.

NRV ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Labor Force

The NRV's 2^nd quarter wage data for 1998 and 1999 show an increase in average employment of 2,547 (4.0%) persons. The weekly wage increased ($20 or 4.3%) as did the number of establishments (23 or .7% ). Main Menu

New Vehicle Registrations

Car registrations decreased throughout the District between the 3^rd and 4^th quarters of 1999. Montgomery County showed the largest decline (103). Truck registrations also decreased throughout the NRV during the same time period, except Radford City which increased by 2 registrations. Between the 3^rd and 4^th quarters of 1998, car registrations and truck registrations decreased with Montgomery County showing the largest decrease in car registrations (208).

Population

The latest population statistics are listed below. Almost all NRV jurisdictions populations increased from 1998 to 1999, except Giles County which remained the same. The NRV as a whole showed an increase of 1,000 people.

CALENDARS

February 2000

February 1 - Blacksburg PC Meeting - 7:30PM

February 7 - Floyd PC Meeting - 7:30PM

February 8 - Giles PC Meeting - 7:00PM and Pulaski PC Meeting - 7:00PM

February 11 - 11:00AM - New River Valley Regional Jail Authority - Dublin

February 14 - Pulaski Town PC Meeting - 7:00PM

February 15 - RPO TAC-Compet Center - 1:30PM

February 16 - Montgomery PC Meeting - 7:00PM

February 17 - 177 Strg. Comm. - Bethel Elem - Tyler Avenue - 1:30PM

February 21 - Radford PC Meeting - 7:00PM

February 24 - NRVPDC Commission Meeting - 7:30PM

*Christiansburg Town PC Meetings are held on an as-needed basis, any Monday at 4:00PM Main Menu

March 2000

March 6 - Floyd PC Meeting - 7:30PM

March 7 - Blacksburg Town PC Meeting - 7:30PM

March 10 - New River Valley Regional Jail Auhtority-Dublin - 11:00AM

March 13 - Pulaski Town PC Meeting - 7:00PM

March 14 - Giles PC Meeting - 7:00PM and Pulaski PC Meeting - 7:00PM

March 14 - Montgomery/Blacksburg LEPC-C'burg - ARC - 3:00PM

March 15 - Montgomery PC Meeting - 7:00PM

March 16 - 177 Strg. Comm. - Bethel Elem - Tyler Avenue - 1:30PM

March 20 - Radford PC Meeting - 7:00PM

March 23 - NRVPDC Commission Meeting - 7:30PM

*Christiansburg Town PC Meetings are held on an as-needed basis, any Monday at 4:00PM  Main Menu

NRVPDC Hires Regional Planner

Lydeana Martin has returned to the PDC as a regional planner after serving as an intern last summer. She received her B.A. from the University of Virginia and recently received her Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, she worked as a graduate research assistant at the Virginia Center for Housing Research. Previously, Lydeana worked with the Roanoke Times as a District Manager and Sales and Service Coordinator. She is a native and current resident of Floyd County. Welcome back Lydeana! Main Menu

NOTES

The NRVPDC is currently in the process of updating its database for this newsletter. We ask that you take a minute and look at the mailing label below and verify that your name and address are correct. Please let us know of any corrections that need to be made to this label including new employees who may have replaced the one on the label, or other employees who would like to receive a copy of this newsletter. Please contact Jan Reynolds at (540) 639-9313 or [email protected] with your corrections.

Just a little reminder that the NRVPDC has a new mailing address. The previous addresses are no longer valid, so please correct your files. The fax and phone numbers remain the same.

6580 Valley Center Drive, Box 21
Radford, VA 24141
Phone: (540) 639-9313
Fax: (540) 831-6093
 Main Menu

Chance to Participate in the Technology Opportunity Program Application

The Department of Commerce is sponsoring a grant opportunity ­ Technology Opportunity Program (TOP, formerly known as TIIAP). Several community members and organizational representatives have been meeting over the past month to determine how we in the NRV could best capitalize on this opportunity. The grant application process is highly competitive, but could provide significant funding for a variety of efforts if successful.

WHAT'S NEXT?

In the interest of providing opportunity for a diversity of projects and community involvement in this project, the planning group is supporting a "Kellogg MIRA Model" approach to this grant application. As some of you may know, the Kellogg MIRA program provided "mini-grants" to community teams that fully participated in the training program portion of the grant project. This model could provide project teams with individual grant funds for participation in networking and community training programs under the TOP grant program.

Note that rather than geographically-based teams, however, we're going to develop issue-based teams this time. For example, some team ideas that have been kicked around are a "living wage workforce team," a "land trust team," and a "family-child development team." This is not to say that if you have a locality-specific issue you shouldn't pull together a team, but the teams don't HAVE to be geographically based as they were with MIRA.

The deadline is short, however: the application is due MARCH 16TH! We ask that you submit your team proposal by 5 p.m. FEBRUARY 8TH. Please submit it to Lesley Howard, [email protected], 831-6093 fax, 552-7174 (h); 639-9313 xt. 210 (w).

Congratulations to Holly Lesko who was featured in the Current Section of the Roanoke Times on Sunday, January 23^rd. Holly's work as a Community Development Planner has long been recognized and appreciated by the NRVPDC, and the article highlighted her community involvement.

New River Community Action Head Start Receives Head Start Expansion Award

New River Community Action Head Start announces receipt of a $100,000 grant award from the Virginia Department of Social Services for the Head Start Expansion Program. Head Start currently offers family-based preschool services for three and four-year-old children, Tuesday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This program will allow Head Start to expand services in Floyd and Giles Counties to Full Day/Full Year. The initial stages of the program will provide services to a total of 60 children, with 20 in Floyd County and 40 in Giles County. Income eligible children three to eight years old will be provided before and after school childcare, as well as summer childcare on a sliding scale fee based upon income. New River Community Action Head Start applied for this funding in response to the need throughout the New River Valley for affordable, quality childcare for low-income families, and was one of only five programs throughout the state to receive the award. For more information, contact Aleta Lawson, Head Start Director, at (540) 633-3839 or the local Head Start center in Floyd at (540) 745-2120, in Pearisburg at (540) 921-2355, or in Narrows at (540) 726-2700.

Community Happenings

Have you ever wished you knew more about dealing with conflict resolution? Maximize the potential of the volunteers on your project? Or develop a strategic plan?

The Department of Housing and Community Development is offering training in all three of these areas, FREE. They're especially interested in making sure these trainings are available to nonprofits and citizen groups. The only catch is that they're size-limited, so you'll need to sign up soon.

RSVP to Jan Reynolds at 540-639-9313. The dates and times are below; all trainings will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the NRV Competitiveness Center in Fairlawn.

Conflict Resolution: Thursday, February 17th

Strategic Thinking: Thursday, May 4th

Volunteer Development: Thursday, June 8^th

Contact Lesley Howard with any questions, 540-639-9313, xt. 210 (w) or 540-552-7174 (h) or [email protected]

The Friends of Riner are moving their monthly meeting to the 4^th Tuesday of each month. Meetings are at the Riner Fire Station, 7:30 PM.

The Western Virginia Land Trust New River Valley Steering Committee meets the second Tuesday of each month. Join us at 4:30 p.m. at the Blacksburg Library, 4:30 p.m. if you're interested.

Access to Rides, a MIRA project, is planning a public forum in February called "Transportation Today" about transportation issues in the New River Valley. It will be held Wednesday, February 16th from 6-8pm at the Blacksburg Public Library, and will consist of a panel discussion followed by an open conversation about the most pressing transportation issues in our area.

Adult Education Opportunity

The Office of Adult Education at New River Community College provides adult education services to the counties of Floyd, Giles, Pulaski and the City of Radford. These classes offer the opportunity to improve academic skills, work toward a GED, refresh job search skills, learn how to become involved in community, and increase confidence. There is both individual and group instruction. Contact Sue Barton at 540-674-3600 xt. 3652 or 4452.  Main Menu

If you have any questions or comments regarding this newsletter, please contact Jan Reynolds, Newsletter Editor, (540)639-9313 or [email protected]

Last Edited: 2/4/00