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

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A recent economic impact study out of Virginia Tech finds that The Virginia Creeper Trail – 35-miles of railway-turned-recreational trail connecting Damascus to Abingdon and Whitetop – generates more than $60-million dollars for the region. WFIRs Emma Thomas has more:

There’s a new Mexican fast-casual restaurant in town and today QDOBA cut a ribbon on their new Colonial Avenue home, across from the Towers Shopping Center. Another QDOBA should open on West Main Street in Salem within a month; another location at Crossroads is also coming. The first 100 people to visit QDOBA today will be awarded with a year’s worth of burritos – one a month. Ron Welshman is director of operations for Qdoba franchises in the region – 114 and counting:

Many veterans face all sorts of well-documented challenges once they leave their military life behind. The financial hurdles often include keeping their houses in good repair. Locally one company wants to make their own small contribution to lessen that burden. For the past two years Mason Roofing Company based in Wirtz has reviewed nominations from or about a veteran who needs a new roof – but can’t afford one. Owner Marc Mason on part of his motivation with giving away a free roof makeover – and why he’s doing it again. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

Nominate a veteran who needs a new roof here

Federal funding coming to Roanoke County looks to improve the McAfee Knob trailhead. WFIR’s Conner Arthur has that story:

Hikers trekking to the most photographed overlook on the Appalachian Trail will soon find a more organized start to their journey. Roanoke County officials announced Thursday that $6.3 million in federal funding is earmarked for massive upgrades at the McAfee Knob trailhead parking area.

The grant, secured through Congressionally Directed Spending with support from U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, targets a site that welcomes more than 50,000 visitors every year. For those who have struggled to find a spot along Route 311, the project promises to turn a chaotic mountainside shoulder into a modern transit hub.

The National Park Service will lead the design and construction of a paved lot featuring 104 striped spaces, including ADA-accessible spots. Currently, the area relies on gravel and informal parking that often spills onto the highway.

“This funding is an important step forward for Roanoke County and the hikers who enjoy this iconic destination,” said Tammy Shepherd, chair of the Board of Supervisors. Shepherd noted the project will ease traffic congestion and improve safety at one of the community’s most valued landmarks.

Beyond parking, the upgrades include waterless restrooms to replace existing portable toilets and a permanent shelter for the McAfee Knob shuttle. Paula Benke, a transit planner for Roanoke County, described the engineering challenge as “trying to put a flat spot on the side of a mountain.”

Improving this trailhead was a top priority in the 2024 Appalachian Trail Triple Crown Visitor Use Management Plan. The project also focuses on better pedestrian flow, connecting the new lot to the pedestrian bridge that opened over Route 311 in April 2025.

Linda Shannon Mulheren, president of the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, said the infrastructure will make the area easier for volunteers to maintain while providing a “safer, more enjoyable” experience.

While the funding is secured, a specific construction timeline remains under wraps. Benke noted that because this is congressionally directed spending, the county is waiting for further guidance from federal offices on when the money will be distributed. In the meantime, the seasonal McAfee Knob shuttle is scheduled to resume service March 6.

The investment marks a collaborative effort between the National Park Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and 29 other regional partners. Officials say the goal is to ensure the “world-class” hiking experience remains sustainable for future generations.

Virginians are feeling upbeat in the latest measure of Consumer Sentiment from the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College. The US economy is estimated to be growing at more than 3 percent in the first quarter of 2026, twice what’s it grew at in 4-Q ’25. Wage growth continues to outpace inflation by 1.3 percent. Roanoke College surveyed 930 people statewide in mid-February. Senior analyst Dr. Alice Kassens then crunched the numbers; she also says any impact of how tariffs might affect Consumer Sentiment has been minimal. The Virginia Index of Consumer Expectations – another gauge of how 70 percent of the country’s economy feels about the current outlook jumped up a healthy two and a half points, with a third of Virginians feeling their household finances will improve over the next year. The numbers explain why, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

The 200-year-old Huntingdon farmhouse in Northeast Roanoke may not be torn down after all, as the proposed developer opted to go in a different direction. Roanoke Rambler reporter Jeff Sturgeon was “On the Record,” live in studio this morning; he said Vinton contractor Sullivan Moore learned in a recent meeting with Roanoke city officials that details of the initial proposal for 42 townhomes and 12 houses were “not up to code.” About the historic house – The Roanoke Rambler story also reports that renovating the Huntingdon farmhouse and turning it into apartments is one possible option.

And the Western Virginia Water Authority has turned over records showing how much water a Google data center in Botetourt County might use – after losing several appeals that threw out the Authority’s claim that they were proprietary. Hear the complete On the Record interview on the link below or or watch it on Facebook.

We’ve documented the development of “Tiny Cargo,” several times in recent years. Now their unique product – derived from ordinary milk – gets ready to scale up. From a testing bench at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute downtown to its new home in northeast Roanoke City – The Tiny Cargo Company features state of the art cleanrooms and filtration systems that separate tiny particles from milk – to be supplied by Homestead Creamery – exosomes, that can then deliver medicines to targeted areas of the body. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

The first-ever Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge Fall campaign in late 2025 attracted large numbers of visitors. Images captured and conveyed on social media channels had a lot to do with it. Hotel revenue for the same holiday period was up almost 7 percent in 2025 versus the same period in 2024; the number of rooms sold was up almost 5 percent. Yesterday Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge brought together its regional partners to celebrate and to remind them that regional cooperation – and joint funding of VBR – really makes a difference. WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

Things are looking up at the Volvo Trucks North America plant in the New River Valley, as a brand new “regional hauler,” is ready to go to market. First unveiled almost a year ago, the Volvo Trucks VNR model is built on a new platform and is designed for short haul regional companies that still need an 18-wheeler to deliver the goods. The Volvo VNR features a tighter turning radius and higher fuel efficiency; its available with a less fancy sleeper cab as an option, in case that out and back trip turns into a night on the road. One of the first production orders is earmarked for Clayton Homes, a regional builder of pre-fab houses – and an ideal customer for the Volvo VNR says Stadler. More than 7000 people work at the Volvo Trucks North America plant in Pulaski County. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano: