July, 2007
Volume 7, No. 3
The E-newsletter of the Roanoke County Economic Development Department is
designed to showcase the investments and achievements of our existing business
partners. For additional information about doing business in Roanoke County,
visit our website www.yesroanoke.com.
Kroger to Build
"Green" Shopping Center
Supervisors Mike Altizer and Mike Wray
present Pete Williams, President of
Kroger
Mid-Atlantic, with a Roanoke County wall
hanging.
On June 8th,
Kroger announced that the corporation will invest $22.4 million to
develop a shopping center on US 460 East in the rapidly growing Bonsack
section of Roanoke County. The largest Kroger store in the valley with
84,000 square feet will be the anchor store to small retail shops and
restaurants totaling more than 106,000 square feet of space. The 22.8 acre site also includes
four out-parcels that are for lease or for sale. Site preparation is
scheduled to begin June 25 with construction slated to begin in the fall.
Kroger will install the latest environmental features in
the store, including computer technology to conserve energy and skylights
to utilize natural sunlight and reduce the use of electrical lighting.
Two additional computers will regulate refrigeration, heating, ventilation
and air conditioning. “With Kroger’s commitment to a “green” development…
there will be a positive impact on the economy while the development has
been planned with the least impact on the environment” said Pete Williams,
President of Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic region. Kroger will create
approximately 125 new jobs at its store and the shopping center is projected to generate $1.5
million in local and state tax revenue annually.
For
more information on the company, go to
www.kroger.com.
Virginia
Air Joins
North
County Business Partners
Virginia Air Distributors, Inc., has announced that it will relocate
from Roanoke City to a site on Walrond Drive in North County. Vice
President Chris Baker announced that the company plans to build a new
23,000 square foot office and distribution facility with a total real
estate and capital investment of $2 million. This expansion is a result
of increasing sales and the need for a larger facility for future
growth.
Virginia Air is a wholesale distributorship of heating, ventilation and
air conditioning equipment and supplies. The company will receive an
Economic Development Grant from Roanoke County and the Roanoke County
Economic Development Authority in return for off site storm management
improvements to be constructed at nearby Walrond Park. When asked about
the newest location to the county, Economic Development Director Doug
Chittum said “This development is indicative of the positive results
that can be achieved when business and local government work together.”
Technology Education for Kids 2007
TEK Camp 2007 students examine a
circuit board from
an IntelliMat by
LevelVision on the Hollins University
campus.
In 2004, Roanoke County and Hollins University developed Technology Education for Kids (TEK) Camp as a
collaboration to meet a major concern for area employers - the future
entry level workforce. The target market for the program is middle
school to high school tweens and teens that will not be leaving the region
for post-secondary education. This workforce development initiative is
designed as a summer camp that exposes students to many different types of
entry level technology jobs within the Roanoke Region to “grow our own
workforce.”
The purpose of the program is to
identify students with
technical potential at an early age,
enhance their skills training in the
secondary school system
and have the graduate enter into an entry level
job that has
a sustainable career path.
Virginia Western Community
College and Roanoke County Public Schools became sponsors in 2007.
Regional businesses will also take part in the program with presentations,
demonstrations and financial support. This year, our business partners
are Virtual IT, LevelVision, Cox Communications, WDBJ-7, Wachovia
Operations Center, First Team Auto Mall, Western Virginia Water Authority
and Roanoke County Fire & Rescue and Roanoke County Police Departments.
Congratulations to James River
Equipment LLC in West County in celebration of their 30th Anniversary
TECTON PRODUCTS HOLDS
GRAND OPENING
Robb Plagemann (l) and the executive management staff
at Tecton Products located in Roanoke County's Center for Research &
Technology.
Supervisor Butch Church addresses the
grand opening
audience and talks about
the future of Roanoke County's Center
for
Research & Technology.
Tecton Products celebrated its Grand Opening
on June 26th in the Roanoke County Center for Research &
Technology with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The 73,000 square foot plant
currently houses 25 employees, but General Manager Robb Plagemann,
projects that employment will gradually reach 150 positions with the
starting wage production line trainees around $10 per hour. Tecton is seeking local talent and has hired graduates from Virginia Tech, Hollins
University and Ferrum College.
County Administrator Elmer Hodge
congratulates Robb
Plagemann,
General Manager of Tecton Products,
and presents him with a
Certificate
of Appreciation.
Tecton Products has become the world’s largest manufacturer of thin walled
complex shaped pultrusions. T he Roanoke facility is the
company’s first east coast manufacturing
facility. As a high tech manufacturer of pultruded composite products,
Tecton's pultrusion process is the best and
most cost-effective method for the production of lineal thermoset
composites. The company is headquartered in Fargo, ND. For more
information on the company, go to
www.tectonproducts.com.
Groundbreaking Ceremony at
New FNB
Tanglewood Office
Jon Wyatt, Chairman of the Board
of FNB Corporation;
Greg Feldmann,
President-First National Bank;
Courtney Hoge, Vice Chairman
of the FNB Corporation
Board; and
Alex Richardson, Regional Manager
for Roanoke Valley break ground on
the new Tanglewood office
FNB Corporation, holding company for First National Bank, held the groundbreaking
of a new office on June
22nd. The new branch will be located at 4203 Electric Road and the one
story facility will have over 2,200 square feet of floor space, three
drives up lanes and a drive up ATM.
Supervisor Mike Wray (l) smiles as
Board of
Supervisors Chairman
Joe McNamara (r) shares his
congratulations to FNB
Corporation's Bill Heath, President
and CEO, of FNB Corporation
(center) at the groundbreaking
event for
the inaugural site in South
County.
Bill Heath, President and CEO of FNB Corporation, commented that “Roanoke County is a vibrant area
with a strong focus on economic growth-coupled with a continuous
emphasis on quality of life.” FNB
Corporation is one of the largest publicly traded commercial bank
holding companies headquartered in Virginia with over $1.5 billion in
assets. For more information, go to
www.fnbonline.com.
NEWVA
CORRIDOR
TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
TECH NITE 8.0
MAY 10, 2007
| AWARD CATEGORY |
COMPANY |
AWARD STATUS |
| High Tech Company
|
Integrity Windows |
Finalist |
| High Tech Corporation |
Medeco Security Locks |
Winner |
| Innovation |
LevelVision |
Finalist |
| Leadership |
Ted Melnik
Novozymes Biologicals |
Winner |
| Educator |
Julie Barrett-Hidden Valley MS |
Winner |
| Kari Hancock-William Byrd HS |
Finalist |
| Michael Johnson-Northside HS |
Finalist |
R R Donnelley Celebrates 10th Anniversary
On May 8th, Donnelley’s Senior VP of Book Manufacturing, John
Pecaric, and Roanoke VP of Manufacturing Bob Jones hosted an employee
celebration of the company’s 10th Anniversary in Roanoke
County. John Pecaric, Don Robb, and Bob Jones were recognized
individually for their leadership as plant vice presidents during the
first decade. Catherine Hart from the VA Department of Business
Assistance and Beth Doughty from the Roanoke Regional Chamber (members
of the original VA location team) were also present to participate in
the tenth anniversary event.
The anniversary event was planned in honor of the employees.
Retirements and employee years of service were recognized and
applauded. RR Donnelley was the first business to locate in West
County’s Valley TechPark and still maintains the distinction of being
one of the most technologically advanced book printing facilities in the
world.
(Left to right) Three men equal ten years of
leadership. Don Robb and John Pecaric previously served as VP
Manufacturing and Bob Jones is currently the VP Manufacturing.
RVTV's
Roanoke County Business Partners
The current program on air features a workforce development program for
middle and high school students entitled TEK Camp held on the Hollins
University campus. The
purpose of the program is to identify students with technical potential
at an early age, enhance their skills training in the secondary school
system and have the graduate enter into an entry level job that has a
sustainable career path.
The TEK Camp
segment focuses on Roanoke County business partners who helped sponsor
the program. The program was also used as a promotional tool for the
2007.
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