NRVPDC Newsletter    June - July 2001

• "Port of the New River Valley Celebrates First Birthday" in the Spotlight
• Floyd Regional Commerce Center
• NRVPDC Updates
  • Floyd County Comprehensive Plan 
  • Welfare Reform II:  The Partners for Self-Sufficiency
  • The Jacksonville Center
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Town of Narrows Comprehensive Plan
  • Pulaski Town Zoning Ordinance
  • Workforce Investment Board
• Incubator Network News
  • New River Valley Competitiveness Center
  • Giles Business Incubator
• NRVPDC Commission Meeting Summaries
  • April 26, 2001
  • May 24, 2001

• NRV Economic Indicators

  • Labor Force
  • New Census Information
• Transportation News
• CALENDARS
  • June 2001
  • July 2001
• NRVPDC News
• Meeting of Virginia Land Conservation Organizations
• New River Roundtable Kickoff Meeting Scheduled for August
• Vision 2020 Newsletter

Officers of the NRV Alliance presented U.S. Senior Customs Inspector Dave Hillman with awards honoring the U.S. Customs Service and his service to the community during the Port�s first year of operations. Dave Rundgren, PDC Executive Director and secretary of the NRV Alliance, presented Officer Hillman with a large map of the Port prepared by the PDC. The map will be displayed in the U.S. Customs office located at the NRV Airport.

Since it�s opening in March 2000, the Port of Entry, headquartered at the NRV Airport and serving a 90-mile radius, has been referred to as "the most successful inland port start-up ever." The Port is approaching the 2,000 mark for entries of goods and merchandise from abroad, and projected growth expects to double that achievement in the coming year.

A plaque was also presented honoring the outstanding support that Senior Inspector Hillman has provided to the users of the Port: his high involvement in the community, his availability for entries at all hours of the day, and for going out of his way to facilitate the importation of goods and materials into the country. The Awards were presented at the April Executive Committee meeting of the Alliance. For further information on the Port of the New River Valley, please contact Dave Hillman at (540) 639-4414. Main Menu

Floyd Regional Commerce Center

Construction on the first phase of this project is expected to begin Fall 2001. For further information contact Pat Therrien (540)639-9314, ext. 204. Main Menu

Floyd County Comprehensive Plan

NRVPDC staff facilitated Community meetings for the Floyd-Floyd County Planning Commission during the month of May. Meetings were held at each elementary school around the County. Attendance and participation were excellent. A great variety of assets were identified, and many ideas have been shared, including the need for land use/development guidance, the need for more and better jobs, and the need to protect the rural character of the County. The meetings were part of the Comprehensive Plan update and will guide the goals and strategies. For further information, contact Lydeana Martin, (540)639-9313, ext. 206. Main Menu

Welfare Reform II: The Partners for Self-Sufficiency

The five local Department of Social Services agencies, known collectively as the Partners for Self-Sufficiency (PSS), have started implementation of a grant they were awarded by the Virginia Department of Social Services. A substantial portion of the grant funds will help PSS expand and improve their job readiness and job retention programming. PSS has partnered with the New River Community College to implement a job readiness/job retention circuit program at several sites throughout the New River Valley. These classes will include Workplace Essential Skills modules that utilize multi-media (videos, workbooks, and the Internet) to help individuals "brush up" on job skills. The videos, workbooks, and on-line lessons work together to make learning fun and easier. For instance, several modules center on helping clients match their skill level and interests to specific job types and develop interviewing and communication skills. For further information, contact Raquel Becerra, (540)639-9313, ext. 209. Main Menu

The Jacksonville Center

The Jacksonville Center has received award notification for an additional $180,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. This grant brings the current Cultural Business Incubator Renovation Project total to $581,000. Also, the Jacksonville Center recently announced that Architectural Alternatives of Blacksburg has been selected to provide architectural services. Pre-construction administrative work continues on the project. For further information, contact Lydeana Martin, (540)639-9313, ext. 206. Main Menu

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) will hold its next meeting at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP) on June 12. RAAP will be conducting a "table top" emergency exercise at that time. This will give all local emergency personnel an opportunity to "role play" a specific scenario. All LEPC members are invited to attend. A full-scale drill is planned for October. For further information, contact Lydeana Martin, (540)639-9313, ext. 206. Main Menu

Town of Narrows Comprehensive Plan

The PDC has been assisting the Town of Narrows in updating the Town�s Comprehensive Plan. They started with a series of Community Input meetings in which the thoughts and feelings of the community were expressed. Currently, the PDC is assisting the Narrows Planning Commission in revising the Goals and Objectives portion of the plan to better fit with the needs and desires of the Town�s citizens. The goal is to have the comprehensive plan completed and in place by the end of June. For further information,, contact Shawn Utt, (540)639-9313, ext. 210. Main Menu

Pulaski Town Zoning Ordinance

The Town of Pulaski Planning Commission is continuing to review their zoning ordinance. A committee will be reviewing and recommending updates to the Zoning Map. For further information, contact Dave Rundgren, (540)639-9313, ext. 212. Main Menu

The New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Investment Board recently concluded a competitive procurement process and awarded funding for service delivery during the next program year beginning July 1, 2001. The Virginia Employment Commission has been approved as the One-Stop Operator for the following Virginia Workforce Comprehensive One-Stop Centers: Radford VEC, Wytheville VEC, Galax VEC, Marion VEC and Bristol VEC.

All customers, job seekers and employers can access a wide array of core and intensive services in the Virginia Workforce Centers. Self-directed and staff-assisted services are both available to customers based on the specific needs of the customers.

The Virginia Employment Commission will also deliver intensive services and training vouchers to the dislocated worker population through the five Virginia Workforce Centers.

As the One-Stop Operator, the Virginia Employment Commission will be subcontracting for adult service delivery in the five Virginia Workforce Centers with the following agencies: People Incorporated of Southwest Virginia, Rooftop of Virginia CAP, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, and the Giles County Partnership for Excellence. The funding for youth service providers was awarded to the following agencies: People Incorporated of Southwest Virginia, Mountain CAP, Rooftop of Virginia CAP, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, and the Giles County Partnership for Excellence. Funding for the area Welfare-to-Work program providing various job seeking and supportive services to the hard-to-serve welfare clients was awarded to the following agencies: People Incorporated of Southwest Virginia, and Rooftop of Virginia CAP, and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys.

All funding approved by the Workforce Investment Board is for a one-year period. Total available funding for all programs next year including current year carryover funds will be around $4.5 million. For further information, contact Ronnie Martin, (540) 633-6764, ext. 233. Main Menu

New River Valley Competitiveness Center

PTenant News: STAFF Contracting, Inc., has been successful in gaining new contracts for golf course construction in Virginia and West Virginia. Also, they have been selected for several commercial grading jobs locally. STAFF has just begun their third year in the Center, and with the cooperation of the weather, we expect a great year for them.

PExpansion Plans: The final design for our 20,000 square foot expansion is complete. Architectural Alternatives, Inc. of Blacksburg and Anderson and Associates also of Blacksburg have developed the plans for the building and the site. The floor plan provides for two industrial bays of 4,000 sq. ft. each, three suites of four offices and a reception area, and fifteen offices that can be used separately or be joined. There will be a large meeting area that will accommodate over 100 people or it may be divided for use by several small groups.

PMentors begin organizational efforts: On April 30, 2001, Victor Bongard and Wayne Carpenter held the initial organizational meeting with prospective mentors for the Competitiveness Center�s tenants. The group included representatives from legal, accounting, banking, and business professions. We appreciate the interest shown by those attending this first meeting, and will be conducting similar meetings for others interested in becoming mentors. Additional information is available by contacting Wayne Carpenter at (540)633-6730. Main Menu

PThe Giles County Partnerships for Excellence will be moving into the Incubator on July 1st. This program helps youth and adults in the Giles County area get needed training and employment. We look forward to having them on board. 

PTerri Martin, Director, will be attending the Virginia Business Incubation Association Conference in Roanoke in June. She has also been extremely active in the Tourism Alliance in the County. They are a group working to promote the Giles County area and all it has to offer.

PThe Incubator is working on an ad campaign to heighten awareness of the facility in the surrounding area - a commercial has been done and is now airing on WVVA and WOAY. Calls are already starting to come in. Should you have questions about the available space at the Incubator, please call Terri at (540) 726-3888 or e-mail [email protected]. Main Menu

April 26, 2001

/Executive Director�s Report - Mr. Rundgren reported on the following items: (1) EDA Visit of April 13, 2001 - Representatives from EDA visited and reviewed Vision 2020 multi-media, GIS, and Web pages. (2) Regional Competitiveness Partnership Meeting - The meeting will be held on May 15, 2001 at 4:00 p.m. in Room 208, Edwards Hall, New River Community College to set the FY 02 budget and accept the FY 01 Annual Report. (3) New River Valley Revolving Loan Fund - EDA Grant application is under review. (4) Transportation - Grant Application for model of arterial system was not approved. Patrick Burton has returned to the PDC as Transportation Planner.

/Review Goals & Objectives for 2001 CEDS - The Board began the review of goals and objectives for the Annual Update of the region�s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Three partners have been developing visions, goals, objectives, and strategies which the Commission considered in the update process. Some 35 goal areas that were identified by the New River Valley Visitor�s Alliance, the Workforce Investment Board, and a Pre-meeting for the Prosperity Commission were reviewed and prioritized. Of the 35 areas, 11 were selected to be incorporated in the revised goals and objectives for the Updated Strategy. The goal area of "A Well Educated - Well Trained Workforce" was identified as the most critical goal to be addressed. Following closely, is a goal seeking "Tax Restructuring". Other unrelated goals include "A Voice at Policy Development Tables", "Expansion of Rural Transportation Alternatives", "A System of Theme Trails" and "An Annual New River Valley Festival". Main Menu

May 24, 2001

/Executive Director�s Report - Mr. Rundgren reported on the following items: (1) Transitional Housing Open House to be held June 26, 2001 from 4-7 p.m. (2) The Town of Pearisburg received $110,000 from the Conservation Department to develop Whitt-Riverbend Park. (3) EDA letters of invitation to Pulaski, Radford and Pearisburg to apply for $612,000 for the New River Access Project, and to the PDC for $500,000 for the Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization and $52,000 for a planning grant. (4) New 2000 census data is available regarding age groups, and household types and size. (5) Competitiveness Center construction schedule-July 15- advertise, August 15-proposals due, September 28-begin construction. (6) Town of Blacksburg is the only NRV locality able to apply for the New Markets Initiative tax credits. (7) Bikeway/Walkway Plan has been completed. (8) VDOT Pre-allocation hearings will be held July 11 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Salem Civic Center (9) New River Watershed Conservation meeting scheduled for August at NRCC to develop a strategic plan for water quality and quantity in the NR Watershed.

/Review of CEDS Material - The Commission reviewed the new goals and objectives based on April�s Commission meeting prioritization, the proposed projects, and the criteria for evaluating the projects.

/Advanced Placement High School - Dr. Harvey presented information on a new concept, a regional advanced placement high school, which would focus on education for the academic achievers who want to further their education and need challenges that regular high schools do not offer.

All Commission meetings are open to the public and are held on the fourth Thursday of every month, 7:30 p.m., at 6580 Valley Center Drive, in Fairlawn, VA. Main Menu

Labor Force

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its newest 2000 information. It is a profile of general demographic characteristics. It includes population by sex and age and household information by type, occupancy, and tenure. This data is in adobe acrobat (pdf file format). It is available on the web at http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/. Main Menu

  Transportation News

 Transportation Enhancement Application Assistance

Now is the time for localities to start thinking about TEA-21 Transportation Enhancement project proposals for the next funding cycle. Applications will be due to VDOT at the end of January 2002. Assistance in developing proposals/applications is available to New River Valley localities from the PDC. 

Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

The PDC�s Transportation Technical Advisory Committee will meet on June 19th, 1:30 p.m., at the New River Valley Competitiveness Center in Fairlawn.

Virginia Transportation Program Meetings for 2001

The 2001 Virginia Transportation Program public meeting dates have been set. In the past, these meetings were known as "pre-allocation hearings". The public meeting for the Salem District will be held on Wednesday, July 11, 2001, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Salem Civic Center.

Park-and-Ride Input Sought

The PDC is collecting information on potential locations for park-and-ride lots in the New River Valley. If you have suggestions for park-and-ride locations or information about parking areas that are currently serving a park-and-ride function, the PDC�s transportation planner would like to hear about it!

For further information on the above transportation items, contact Patrick Burton at (540) 639-9313 ext. 205 or [email protected]. Main Menu

June 2001

June 5 - Floyd PC Meeting - 7:30PM and Blacksburg PC Meeting - 7:30PM

June 11 - Pulaski Town PC Meeting - 7:00PM

June 12 - Giles PC Meeting - 7:00PM and Pulaski PC Meeting - 7:00PM; 

June 18 - Radford PC Meeting - 7:00PM

June 19 - RPO TAC NRV Compet Center-Fairlawn-1:30PM

June 20 - Montgomery PC Meeting - 7:00PM

June 28 - NRVPDC Commission Meeting - 7:30PM

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

July 2001

July 3 - Floyd PC Meeting - 7:30PM and Blacksburg Town PC Meeting - 7:30PM

July 9 - Pulaski Town PC Meeting - 7:00PM

July 10 - Giles PC Meeting - 7:00PM and Pulaski PC Meeting - 7:00PM

July 16 - Radford PC Meeting - 7:00PM

July 18 - Montgomery PC Meeting - 7:00PM

July 26 - NRVPPC Meeting - Fairlawn - 7:30PM

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

NRVPDC NEWS

The NRVPDC would like to welcome Patrick Burton back to its staff. Patrick was the PDCs transportation planner before he resigned in January. He is still involved with transportation so please contact him if you have questions or concerns regarding the transportation system in the NRV. We look forward to working with him again and wish him the best of luck! Main Menu

The Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia�s United Land Trusts are sponsoring a meeting to discuss goals and strategies for effective long-term conservation. The meeting will be held on June 14th, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The meeting will be facilitated by the Institute for Environmental Negotiation. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Becky Woodson, Virginia Department of Forestry, at (804) 977-6555. Main Menu

A kickoff meeting for the New River Watershed Conservation Roundtable is tentatively scheduled for August at New River Community College in Dublin. The goal of the Roundtable initiative is to develop a strategic plan for water quality and quantity in the New River Watershed. The initiative seeks representation and participation from all interested watershed stakeholders during the Roundtable and plan development process. Sponsors include conservation, natural resource, and environmental agencies and organizations. An exact date and location will be finalized by early summer and announcements distributed. For more information, call Charlotte Burnett, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, at (540) 643-2590. Main Menu

Southwest Virginia Supports Local Land Conservation Funding

A majority of southwest Virginia residents support the creation of local land conservation programs, according to a poll commissioned last fall by The New Century Council.  It found that 59 percent of the residents of our region support �permitting the state and localities to buy rural land or pay owners not to build on their land to preserve open spaces.� 

Fortunately, Virginia localities have had this power since the general Assembly passed the Open Space Land Act more than three decades ago, although few have chosen to exercise it.  A majority (61 percent) also agreed that local governments should be encouraged �to buy land to keep open spaces and farmland from being developed.�

In the New River Valley, a NRV Land Trust Fund has been established at the Community Foundation of the New River Valley.  Efforts to establish a chapter of the Western Virginia Land Trust are also underway. The council commissioned the Center for Community Research at Roanoke College to poll residents of the �New Century Region� regarding their attitudes towards economic and population patterns in 2000.  Southwest Virginians also support �restricting the types of growth that can take place in certain areas� (73 percent). 

The poll asked if respondents felt several characteristics of the region were strengths or weaknesses, according to Harry L. Wilson, chairman of the Roanoke College Public Affairs Department, who conducted the poll.  �Not surprisingly the largest number of respondents (99 percent) thought that the region�s natural beauty was a strength,� Wilson said. 

The New Century Region includes the counties of Alleghany, Bland, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, Smyth, and Wythe and the cities of Clifton Forge, Covington, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem.  Interviewing was conducted between July 10 and  August 6, 2000.  The sample consisted of 570 residents of the New Century Region . 

Michael Dowell Awarded VTTI Certificate of Completion

Michael Dowell, Executive Director of the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley in Pulaski, Virginia, was recently awarded a Certificate of Completion by the Virginia Travel and Tourism Institute (VTTI).  Dowell has been the Center's director since January 1994.

The VTTI is an educational program jointly developed by the Virginia Tourism Corporation and Virginia Tech's Public Service Programs/Outreach Division.  Important elements of the program include management principles, the exploration of current and new technology affecting the travel and tourism industry, research techniques and interpretation of collected data, marketing strategies for development, and more opportunities for networking in the travel and tourism industry.  To meet the requirements of the Certificate of Completion, participants must complete both Core I and Core II and an additional 24 hours through workshops, seminars, or conferences.  Dowell has completed the Core workshops plus 40 hours of additional study.

Community Events and Milestones

Friends of Riner (FOR)

celebrated Earth Day and participated in the Broomin� and Bloomin� activities.  A group of hearty souls hit their adopted Fairview Church Road with orange vests and bags early on Saturday morning.  They were ready for the challenge after a hearty meal of buffalo sausage biscuits provided by FOR member, Jim Politis.  Friends of Riner is a citizens' group concerned with preserving the beauty, safety, and solitude of the area through improved communication and active participation with local government.  Anyone is welcome to join them the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at Riner Fire Station.  The next meetings will focus on the proposed gas pipeline and zoning issues.

Be a Part of Hist ory

A 5k and 1 mile fun walk is being sponsored by the YMCA at Virginia Tech as part of the YMCA World's Largest Run.  In celebration of the YMCA's 150^th anniversary in America, 1,300 YMCAs will be hosting a unified 5K run and fun walk on June 2, 2001, in 700 cities. That's right, one race, one synchronized start time across the country, and in BLACKSBURG, TOO.

The 5k and 1 mile walk will take place on June 2nd at 10:00 AM, starting at the Blacksburg Public Library. For more information, call the YMCA at Virginia Tech at 231-6860, or go to www.ymca.active.com. To register go to www.active.com, or www.ymca.net. Registration is $18.

Delegation of owners and managers of Japanese printing companies visit local printing factories

Virginia Farm and Family Showcase

Plans have begun for the first annual Virginia Tech Farm and Family Showcase, scheduled for September 5-6, 2001 at Kentland Farm, just west of Blacksburg.  This outdoor educational event will appeal to a diverse audience: families, homeowners,  and landowners, as well as to those with natural resources, environmental, and agricultural interests.  The Showcase is sponsored by Virginia Tech Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Natural Resources, Human Resources and Education, and Veterinary Medicine. 

Activities will include displays, tours, seminars, demonstrations, panel discussions, farm equipment operations, and attendee participation.  Areas of interest will include lawn, garden, landscaping, home care, wildlife and forestry, human health and nutrition, family life, livestock, poultry, horses, agronomic field crops, forages, nutrient management, biotechnology, riparian corridors, water quality, and many others.

A few of the attractions being planned are sheep dog trials, hand milking of dairy cows, horse-drawn farm equipment demonstrations, feeding the pleasure horse, packing for a trail ride, sheep and cattle birthing, fun with foods, grandma�s yellow pie plate, e-commerce, saw milling, wood magic, Master Gardeners Program, apple trees for home use, soil testing, agricultural education for fourth graders, silent auction, alumni activities, and veterinary medicine.

September 5 from 4 � 8 PM has been designated as Family Night.  Activities are being planned for the entire family�including a barbecue meal and bluegrass music.

Kentland Farm, located along the New River, is Virginia Tech�s newest and largest agricultural research and teaching unit. Local contacts for this event are Dean Gall, DCR, 643-2592; and Dwight Paulette, Virginia Tech, 731-1289. Main Menu

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

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Last Edited: 5/31/01