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

While anxieties regarding data center water demands at the regional level are “overblown,” according to one Virginia Tech Engineering Professor, there could still be some cause for concern regarding Google’s proposed Botetourt County project. With Google estimating that the project would require eight million gallons of water per day, questions are being raised about who will be shouldering the burden of local infrastructure expansion projects. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has details:

The Code of Virginia requires all localities to periodically update their long-range comprehensive plans, which provide roadmaps for future growth. The Town of Bedford is going through that process now. Updated and approved previously in 2017, the Town of Bedford will present the full draft of the 2045 Comprehensive plan to residents this Thursday from 5:30 to 7pm at the Municipal building on East Main Street. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

We previewed Star City Golf before it opened in December, just off Orange Avenue near the Berglund Center. Star City Golf gives patrons access to more than two-thousand courses across the country, including Pebble Beach and Augusta National – and local courses like Ballyhack. There’s also a full bar. Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb took a few swings at this morning’s ribbon cutting. The Mayor is no golf novice – he played in high school and college, and can be seen now seeking birdies on local courses that includes the Roanoke Country Club. At today’s official ribbon cutting owner Tim Horne says the response to the indoor simulated golf center has been tremendous:

The Board of Visitors for a university in the New River Valley approved two resolutions to advance planning for various building improvements across its campus. More from WFIR’s Conner Arthur:

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved resolutions Thursday to move forward with significant planning for renovating several campus residence halls and upgrading a key athletics facility. The multi-year strategy aims to modernize aging buildings and accommodate student growth, but it will come with a direct financial impact on students living on campus.

During a special virtual meeting, the board authorized planning funds for major renovations to Pritchard, Hoge and Slusher halls. The university is also continuing with previously approved plans for the renovation of Main Campbell Hall and the construction of 1,200 new beds to maintain housing availability while other projects are underway. Amy Sebring, the university’s executive vice president, noted the plan is built on an anticipated student capacity growth of about 1.2 percent each year.

The planned improvements for the residence halls are extensive. Simon Allen, vice president for finance, confirmed the projects would include adding air conditioning, improving ventilation and making the buildings more accessible. These renovations carry a significant cost, with the board approving a planning budget of approximately $27 million for the three residence halls.

“In order to fund the cost of the plan, we would have to be increasing the room rates,” Allen stated during the meeting. He projected that room rates would need to increase by an average of 7.2 percent annually over the next six years to service the debt required for the projects. For the upcoming fiscal year, the increase could be around 8.1 percent.

In a separate action, the board authorized $800,000 in planning funds to add insulation and a mechanical system for air conditioning to the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility. The facility, completed in 2015, serves football and other sports programs, including soccer, softball and baseball. The enhancement is part of Virginia Tech Athletics’ “Invest to Win” initiative, which focuses on strengthening infrastructure to support student-athletes.

The approved resolutions are part of a comprehensive, long-term framework to manage the university’s housing and facilities. The first phase of the residential plan alone is estimated to cost around $770 million. Sebring affirmed her confidence in the plan, stating it provides a clear path for addressing the university’s renovation backlog while managing financial impacts and student growth.

Record digital engagement and hotel room performance that outpaced state and national averages during the 2025 holiday season. Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge says its first-ever Regional Holiday Marketing campaign turned out to be a winner. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has that story:

(from VBR News release)

Holiday Tourism Performance Surpassed Benchmarks

The news broke last month that Yokohama Tire would be winding down its manufacturing plant in Salem, which will leave hundreds of employees looking for another job. The local franchise owner for a national job placement company will offer a helping hand this Thursday. WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports: Garry Norris owns the Express Employment professionals franchise for the Roanoke and New River Valleys. He’s offered free transition services to the almost 400 Yokohama employees scheduled to be laid off next month. This Thursday from 11am to 6pm at the Salem Civic Center, Norris says a job fair event is open to all but is focused on Yokohoma Tire workers who will lose their job – and the transferable skills they might have. WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

December 2025 marked the end of a roughly 14-month process of a boundary adjustment between Franklin County and the Town of Rocky Mount.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more on what it means for the town’s new residents.

The boundary adjustment adds about 700 acres to the Town of Rocky Mount as well as more than 500 new residents, roughly a 10-percent increase in population. Rocky Mount Mayor C. Holland Perdue III says this was a part of a larger deal that included money for a fire truck and water for the Summit view industrial park in the county.

“This was kind of just something that seemed like the right thing to do when you start looking at those areas, because you had certain neighborhoods that half were in town and half were not,” added Perdue.

Town services to the new residents will roll out overtime. Police patrols will start February 23rd. Street maintenance will transfer from VDOT to the Town on March 1st. And trash pick up starts March 17th.  New residents that already have town water service will see a reduction in their water bill and Perdue says new residents that aren’t on town water will have to wait.

“We’re already working with legislators in Richmond on increasing funding here,” continued Perdue.  “And we’ve got grant coordinators working on our more potential grants. There’s infrastructure work that has to be done. And so that’s going to take time. But over the course of the next two or three years, all that should roll out. I mean, it doesn’t happen overnight because obviously you’ve got to lay pipe.”

New residents will also be able to vote in the November town elections. Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

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The Town of Rocky Mount is growing through a voluntary boundary adjustment agreement with Franklin County.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Rocky Mount Mayor C. Holland Perdue III says the adjustment is a part of a larger deal that included water to the Summit View Industrial Park in Franklin County and money for a new fire truck. The process started in September of 2024.

“This is a voluntary boundary line adjustment between the town and the county,” said Perdue. “And so, the only approval that was needed is by the Franklin County Circuit Court after proper notices were given. And so we put the notices in the proper papers and then the circuit court approved the adjustment in December of 25.”

Services to the new residents will start to roll out this month with police patrolling the new neighborhoods beginning February 23.  The town will assume street maintenance March 1st and trash pickup March 17th.  Some of the new residents already have town water, service to new residents who are not on the water system requires infrastructure work such as laying pipe. Perdue says new residents will see their property change from the county rate  to the town’s 13 cents per 100 dollars.

“New residents will receive a bill this year in the mail with a 0 balance, but that way it lets them know what their expected taxes will be the following year,” explained Perdue.

Perdue says the adjustment adds about 700 acres to the Town’s area and 500 to 600 new residents.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

Media Release from the Town of Rocky Mount

For more information, contact:

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While there are many benefits of becoming a town resident, the extension of water and wastewater  treatment lines to these homes will take more time to become a reality. The Town is working with engineers to map out line extensions for these new areas and seeking funding (including grants) to cover the large cost of these extensions and upgrades. This will allow residents in the new areas to connect to water and wastewater service if they do not already have those services. This will also raise property values, and these upgrades will prove to be incredibly beneficial for new residents—especially those with failing water wells or septic systems.

Rocky Mount is also working to solve several significant safety and quality of life issues related to ingress and egress in the Diamond Avenue Extension area. For many years, residents in that area have expressed concerns regarding access to the neighborhood given that there is only one road (Diamond Avenue) in and

Mayor C. Holland Perdue III said, “We are excited to welcome the new residents to Rocky Mount. They have already been part of the Rocky Mount community for decades because of their proximity to the town limits, but now we welcome them as official town residents. We look forward to making sure that they get

Town Manager Robert Wood said, “Town Council and staff are working to make sure that this transition is as smooth as possible. We are excited to see our town continue to grow and we will be sharing more information on Town services with all new residents soon.”

Note on property taxes: Town property taxes are thirteen cents ($0.13) per $100 of assessed value for real estate and fifty-one cents ($0.51) per $100 of assessed value for personal property (vehicles, etc.). As a benefit to new residents and because of the varied time frames for the full implementation of town services, the Town will be waiving the first year of these new taxes. These new taxes will likely be offset by a reduction in monthly utility bills due to significantly lower in-town utility rates.

Its called the Entertainment District Focus Group, a mostly citizen group asked to weigh in on a possible casino at the Berglund Center – just for starters. The Entertainment District Focus Group is centered around the Berglund Center Complex, as the city looks to generate more revenue. Is there support for a casino as previously proposed (not from local General Assembly members, at least not this session), for dining and retail options – is a parking garage then needed. City Councilman Phazon Nash is presiding over five scheduled focus group meetings; the first which took place last night. Nash’s grandfather lost his home to the Berglund Center and urban renewal on Rutherford Avenue, where the Post office is now. His Focus Group placed extra emphasis on including residents from Gainsboro. In fact the Berglund Center needs about 30 million in deferred maintenance alone says Nash, a mid-20’s council member in his second year. The story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

Downtown Roanoke business owners are calling on members of Roanoke City Council to rethink changing policy related to special events. More from WFIR’s Clark Palmer.

Downtown Roanoke business owners are urging City Council to reconsider proposed changes to special events policies that they claim could significantly impact their revenue and operations.

During Tuesday’s Roanoke City Council meeting, city staff presented potential modifications to the special events guide that include increased fees for security barriers and new restrictions on the frequency and location of downtown events.

The proposed guidelines would limit street closures for a single weekend and specify that “no more than one race or parade impacting the same geographic area may be held on the same day, consecutive day, or on consecutive weekends.”

Ross Campbell, director of Roanoke’s Public Works Department, explained that the changes stem from an increase in special events since last year and concerns about potential security issues at large-scale gatherings.

“We’re seeing a significant increase in the number of events that are coming to the city, especially in the downtown area,” Campbell said.

City Manager Valmarie Turner cited financial considerations behind the proposed changes, noting that the city spent more than $200,000 on traffic control for special events in 2025.

Jason Martin, who owns several downtown eateries including Martin’s Downtown, told council members the changes would threaten his business model.

“Most events I’ve produced are legacy events and we have been doing them for over 20 or 10 years,” Martin said. “Not being able to do the events we rely on would be extremely detrimental to not only my business but also my employees that count on the earnings they make to support themselves and their families.”

Martin emphasized the critical financial importance of these events, adding, “I cannot stress this enough. This is a huge part of our end-of-year money. We have to do these events to stay afloat.”

Molly Bullington, owner of Blue Ridge Racing, highlighted how multiple concurrent events create a synergistic economic benefit for the entire downtown area.

“Historically, busy days like St. Patrick’s Day work because there is more than just a single event. The parade brings people downtown and multiple street parties keep patrons here,” Bullington said. “Those layered experiences are what turn visitors into diners and customers. When restaurants make more money, the city makes more money through sales and meals tax.”

Turner pointed to staffing limitations as a primary factor behind the proposed changes.

“We are behind in striping some of our roads and our signs because the number of events have grown exponentially. And it boils down to staffing and costs,” Turner said. “We want to ensure safety. We do not have the staff to keep up with the number of events that we receive. And that is a challenge for us.”

Campbell added that the financial burden on the city is substantial. “While we are still closing out the books on 2025, we estimate that we have spent in excess of $200,000 on traffic control alone for special events,” he said. “This does not include the cost of public safety, which does increase when an event is held in the street.”

Vice Mayor Terry McGuire voiced concerns that the city could lose substantial revenue from downtown events by implementing these restrictions, suggesting the financial calculations might need further review.

Mayor Joe Cobb assured attendees that the potential changes will undergo discussion between city officials and downtown event planners before any policy is finalized.

The proposed changes come as downtown Roanoke has seen increased foot traffic and economic activity through special events in recent years, which many business owners credit with helping their establishments recover from previous economic challenges.

City officials acknowledge they must balance public safety and resource constraints with the economic benefits these events bring to local businesses and the city’s tax base.

Calling all entrepreneurs or want-to-be business owners, it’s time once again for The Gauntlet, billed as Virginia’s largest business program and competition. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

The 12th annual Gauntlet Business Program and Competition starts it’s 10-week course on February 3.  Annette Patterson, president of the Advancement Foundation which puts on the Gauntlet, says the program is for anyone at any level of business knowledge and success.

“We have entrepreneurs who want to start a brewery,” says Patterson. “We have entrepreneurs who are doing service type businesses, all kinds of main street businesses, cupcake shops, all of those sorts of things. It could be somebody that just has an idea. They’re not sure what they want to do. Or they could already be in business, you know, a year, five years, 10 years, and be looking to grow.”

There is also a second pathway called The Quest, specifically designed for Tech businesses.  There are online question and answer sessions tonight at January 27th from 6 to 7 pm. Here’s a link to register for those sessions. https://theadvancementfoundation.org/the-gauntlet

Next month business owners and those with an idea for a business throw their hats in the ring the prizes offered by the Gauntlet Business Program and Competition.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

Are you running a business and wanting to grow that business?  Do you have an idea you know will be a success?  Then you are the demographic the Gauntlet Business Program and Competition wants to reach.  Over its 12 years The Gauntlet organizers say it has grown into the largest business program and competition in Virginia. Annette Patterson, president of the Advancement Foundation which organizes the Gauntlet…

“The Gauntlet program in particular starts February 3rd with an orientation class online,” says Patterson. “We have about 10 weeks of activities and online classes leading up to the awards ceremony, which is scheduled for April 23rd. This year, we’re also introducing a second track called the Quest. It’s focused on scaling high growth potential tech.”

Get your questions answered at two online Q and A sessions tonight and January 27th from 6 to 7 pm.  Here’s a link to register for those sessions. https://theadvancementfoundation.org/the-gauntlet

According to the Advancement Foundation, for more than 12 years they have been connecting entrepreneurs to the training, mentorship, and resources needed for success.

As the entrepreneurial landscape across Southwest Virginia continues to evolve, The Advancement Foundation has refined its long-running business competition into two distinct pathways: Gauntlet and Quest.

Gauntlet now focuses on businesses built to serve a local or regional customer base, whether storefront, service-based, mobile, or run from home. Quest supports scalable, tech-enabled, innovation-driven ventures designed to reach cross-regional or national markets.

The Gauntlet is The Advancement Foundation’s business competition is designed to support entrepreneurs building or strengthening Main Street–focused businesses, including retail, service, food & beverage, and other community-facing ventures across Southwest Virginia, with a focus on the Roanoke Valley, Alleghany Highlands, and Rockbridge County.

The program helps entrepreneurs move from ideas to action—building sustainable, functional businesses through steady progress, practical learning, and supported implementation.