Local Business and Economic Development | News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR

And the winner is … The Town of Floyd and Floyd County. The readers of Blue Ridge Country magazine voted for the 2026 Best of the Mountains awards – and Floyd took home more than 40 top finishes. 29 in the Platinum category, 11 more gold silver or bronze recognitions. for categories like Best place for Agritourism, Farmer’s markets, to savor southern cooking, to hike or go antiquing, for the arts and much more. The Director of Tourism for Floyd County Kathleen Legg says with gas prices and living expenses higher, come check out Floyd as a nearby getaway destination.  WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

An event in the New River Valley this fall plans to celebrate the so-called Appalachian banana. WFIR’s Clark Palmer explains:

Virginia Western Community College will be able to offer what it calls “enhanced credentialing opportunities,” that are recognized nationally and are transferable among many industries. The National Coalition of Certification Centers has awarded Virginia Western the NC3 Leadership School designation, related to Mechatronics, a blend of mechanical and electronic disciplines. With that designation, Virginia Western will now offer three certificate courses with national skill standards, covering topics like fluid power, applied mechanical systems, smart sensors and industrial automation. The school says it works closely with local employers to help create certificate programs that can place students in good jobs.  Local and state economic development officials gathered this morning at the Virginia Western Colonial Avenue campus to hear more about the new applied mechatronics certificate courses that will be offered, using Western’s hands-on STEM lab as the program anchor. Amy White is the Dean of Stem at the school:

An Austrian company is bringing 435 jobs and 85-million dollars in investment to Roanoke. RINGANA — a maker of skincare products, nutritional supplements and beverages — will establish its North American headquarters at the Blue Ridge Commerce Park near Interstate 581 in northwest Roanoke, the former site of a Johnson and Johnson facility. The company will use the location for manufacturing, warehousing and research and development. Governor Spanberger approved a five-million dollar state grant to help secure the project. RINGANA has more than 800 employees worldwide and currently distributes products across Europe and Central and South America. A job opportunities website is already live. Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb today about this major economic development announcement:

(from news release) RINGANA plans to establish its first U.S. headquarters, production and distribution facility in the City of Roanoke. The Austrian life sciences company will invest $85 million over five years.

The project expects to create 435 new jobs in Virginia. It represents the largest capital investment by a foreign direct investment project in the history of the Roanoke Region. This is also the largest jobs announcement by a newly locating manufacturer in more than 30 years.

Founded in 1996, RINGANA specializes in preservative-free, vegan skincare and nutritional products. The company produces items in small batches to ensure maximum freshness.

Because the products have shelf lives of four to 12 months, local production and distribution are essential to the company’s quality standards. The Roanoke site will serve as the company’s North American production and distribution hub. The facility will also house research and development capabilities.

“We are convinced that our freshness philosophy will inspire American customers just as much,” founder and CEO Andreas Wilfinger said. “The location in Roanoke is perfect for our plans.”

RINGANA’s selection of Roanoke followed a coordinated recruitment effort involving regional economic development officials and life sciences leaders. The campaign highlighted the region’s growing life sciences sector and its ability to attract and develop workers.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger approved a $5 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the project.

“Virginia offers the ideal environment for businesses to grow and succeed in the United States,” Spanberger said. “We are excited to welcome this state-of-the-art facility to Roanoke.”

Mayor Joseph Cobb said the investment will create advanced manufacturing and workforce opportunities. He noted the facility’s proximity to the Day Tec Career Technical Education Center could inspire students to consider new career pathways. City Manager Valmarie Turner called the investment a testament to the city’s workforce, location and commitment to economic opportunity.

The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program will provide customized workforce support for the project. Delegate Sam Rasoul said the regional investment will bring hundreds of stable employment opportunities to the community.

RINGANA currently employs more than 800 people worldwide. The Roanoke facility marks its entry into the North American market following expansions into Mexico, Colombia and Peru.

The Roanoke Regional Partnership has helped create more than 19,000 primary jobs since 1983. Other companies it has brought to the region include Google, Amazon and New Belgium Brewing. Information about the project and future career opportunities is available at ringanavirginia.com.

Olde Salem Brewing Company’s location on Market Street in downtown Roanoke today officially launched its Happy Little Munchies food menu, which includes several items including a hot ham and beer cheese sandwich. Kitchen manager and part owner Andrew Novell tells WFIR News this idea to have food service at the location has been in the works since July of last year:

Novell says they will rotate the menu so customers can always have something new to enjoy. For now, the kitchen will be open Wednesday through Sunday from noon until 8 pm.

The City of Roanoke and Carilion Clinic have worked with other local partners to establish a biotech incubator on South Jefferson Street, in the heart of what is called Roanoke’s “Innovation Corridor.” Today they cut a ribbon on RoVa Labs at Carilion Clinic, a shared lab space where startups can lease an office and wet or dry lab space time.  Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance Chief Executive Officer Erin Burcham worked with local state lawmakers and the City of Roanoke Economic Development Department to help secure almost 16 million dollars for the RoVa Labs project. Carilion Clinic Innovation, Virginia Western Community College’s STEM program, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine are other partners in the RoVa Labs at Carilion Clinic.

The new owner of Beale’s brewery says it will serve as a community space that people will always have a connection too. More from WFIR’s Clark Palmer:

With gas prices still hovering around the $4 mark in the Commonwealth, mostly due to the conflict in Iran, AAA provided tips as to how Virginians can save money at the pump. More from WFIR’s Conner Arthur:

Virginians are paying nearly a dollar more for gasoline than they did last year as geopolitical tensions and seasonal demand push prices toward the 4-dollar mark.

The primary driver behind the price spike is the ongoing conflict in Iran. Morgan Dean, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic, notes that 50 to 60 percent of the price at the pump is directly tied to the cost of crude oil.

Concerns over oil production and global supplies have intensified due to activity at the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes through this narrow waterway. While the U.S. does not import oil from Iran, it relies heavily on neighboring Middle Eastern nations.

“Traditionally, gas prices go up very, very quickly in situations like this where we have a geopolitical crisis,” Dean said. “They’re much, much slower to go down.”

The timing of the conflict coincides with the start of the summer travel season. Higher demand during warmer months typically leads to higher prices at the pump regardless of international affairs.

President Donald Trump recently stated that Americans should expect these elevated prices to remain “for just a little while.” However, regional variations offer some opportunities for travelers to save. While Washington, D.C., averages over $4 per gallon, neighboring states like the Carolinas offer lower rates.

AAA recommends that drivers “shop around with their steering wheel” by using mobile apps to find the cheapest local options. Dean suggests taking advantage of loyalty programs, credit card rewards, or warehouse club memberships like Costco or Sam’s Club.

Beyond choosing the right station, vehicle maintenance plays a vital role in fuel economy. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder and reducing miles per gallon. Regular oil changes and air filter checks also ensure maximum efficiency.

With market instability making it difficult to predict when relief will arrive, Dean says Virginians must currently “wait and see” where crude oil prices move next.

Roanoke Fashion Week is back for its seventh year, and organizers say this year’s events are unlike any others. This week, designers, models, and business owners from across the Valley are teaming up again to pull off four new style showcases.

Erica Jenkins – Owner, Executive Director, and Producer of Roanoke Fashion Week – says the multi-day event is about more than the clothes on display. She says it is about bringing the community together, with a focus on highlighting the creativity and style of people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences, “It’s a celebration of creativity, inclusivity, and community. It also brings together designers, boutiques, models, vendors, and local businesses to showcase and style.”

Roanoke Fashion Week kicks off Thursday, April 23rd at 6:30 PM with the free-to-attend Budget Chic Show at Roanoke’s Crafteria. Donations are encouraged, and a portion of all proceeds from the week’s events will go towards purchasing new clothing for local students experiencing homelessness.

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF THE WEEKEND’S EVENTS

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The days are getting longer, and you want to make your yard a place to enjoy the beautiful weather.  Choosing healthy plants for your landscape gives you the best chance to achieve your gardening goals.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

When you start scouting plants for your landscape inspect them for damage and signs that they may not have been well tended. Eric Stallknecht, Virginia Tech assistant professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences says make sure the plants you are purchasing are well hydrated.

“You quite literally see stems bending over, leaves drooping down,” explained Stallknecht. “First thing you want to check is to make sure that’s not happening. If plants reach a certain wilting level, at some point they will die and they won’t recover if you re-water them. So that’s the first step to look for.”

He says you should also inspect the roots. For summer annuals slide the plant out of its container and look for white roots visible around the outside of the root ball. If the plant pulls entirely free of the soil or if the clump of soil feels like it could fall apart in your hand, the root system is not well developed. And Stallknecht adds don’t be afraid of discounted plants.

“They’re just discounted simply because space needed to be made for new plant material,” said  Stallknecht. “The second is they might have slight damage to them. Plants and through your own nurturing of those plants have the capacity to grow out of some of that damage. So even if it has maybe broken stem, maybe it has slightly less quality than maybe its counterparts, you know, those discounted plants, if you are willing to take care of them, can look quite healthy, quite nice in a landscape.”

Before you head up to the cash register be sure to read the label.  It will tell you how big the plant will get, whether it likes sun or shade and the type of soil it likes.  This information will tell you where your plant will thrive.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

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You’re getting ready to make your yard an outdoor sanctuary and a trip to the garden center is on your list.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno got some tips from a Virginia Tech professor on how to choose the healthiest plants.

Garden centers have a cornucopia of choices when it comes to plants.  But which ones will thrive in your yard. You’ve inspected the foliage and blooms for damage. Eric Stallknecht, Virginia Tech assistant professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences says don’t forget to check the roots.

“For a lot of your spring annuals, if you were to gently remove that plant from that container, what you’re looking for is kind of a white net of roots around the exterior of that plant,” continued Stallknecht. “There’s a good sign. That means there’s all of a  kind of a negative indicators as well. So for something like a woody perennial plant, if you were to remove it from the pot and you saw a lot of circular roots growing within that pot, like call them a girdling root, that is kind of a negative sign that that plant has been developing in that pot for too long.”

Scoring the root ball may help the plant overcome girdling roots and allow the roots to spread out in a normal fashion. Stallknecht says when choosing plants, plan for the future.

“If you know you want to plant, you know, multiple hydrangea right next to each other, maybe it’s three feet wide by three feet tall,” said Stallknecht. “So in that sense, you know how wide or how far apart to space them in that space. So this is where understanding what it could grow into in its full size is really important.”

Stallknecht says when in doubt of what plant to put where he recommends contacting your area’s Cooperative Extension Agent or Master Gardener Association.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.