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

A record 760,000 passengers in 2024, and projected 2025 totals that will “blow those numbers out of the water,” says the Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport executive director. ROA executive director Mike Stewart says extending the east-west runway over I-581 for safety reasons has been on the wish list for a long while – and is part of the Master Plan which must be approved by the FAA. The Federal Aviation Administration will let the Airport Commission put together the runway extension plan, but Stewart says the passenger numbers aren’t there yet to receive federal funding. That’s a future project says Stewart; for now the security checkpoints will be addressed. WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

A representative of the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District went before the Botetourt County Supervisors to urge them to seek energy efficient and sustainable cooling practices at the proposed data center coming to the county.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Freed Cathcart spoke to Botetourt County Supervisors as a district manager of the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District. As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno tells us the topic was data center cooling systems.

Downtown Roanoke’s newest music venue is opening tonight with a sold-out concert by Grace Potter and Holy Roller.  As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports the former First National Exchange Bank is now a boutique hotel and swanky venue.

The former First National Exchange Bank at the corner of Jefferson and Campbell will come to life tonight.  Now it’s the Exchange Music Hall with a boutique hotel and soon to open restaurant.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Friends of Mountain View recently appeared before Roanoke City Council, unveiling plans for the future of the Historic Fishburn Mansion. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

The Friends of Mountain View and Roanoke Parks and Rec officials touted the value of the Historic Fishburn Mansion historically, culturally and it’s potential to bring in revenue when they presented the Mountain View Master plan to Roanoke City Council recently. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

Mountain View Master Plan

As area high school students wrap up the first semester of their senior year, attention turns to college.  Leaders at VWCC want to remind students and parents there’s a free option to eligible students. WFIR’s Den

ise Allen Membreno has more.

The Community College Access Program or CCAP offers area high school students a chance to continue their education for free. As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports the deadline for applying to the program is approaching.

A major American freight railroad company with strong ties to Roanoke has distributed $100,000 in grants to several local nonprofit organizations, aiming to help build stronger communities across the Valley as WFIR’s Conner Arthur reports:

A Downtown Roanoke Attraction is turning 42 and getting a little work down to keep it fresh.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more on what’s happening at Center in the Square.

Center in the Square has been carrying out its mission of attracting visitors to downtown Roanoke for 42 years.  To celebrate some changes are in the works to make it even more visitor friendly.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

Consumer Sentiment is much higher in Virginia than it is in the nation as a whole – and that might be good news for local businesses that often count on the Thanksgiving to Christmas stretch to jump into “the black.” More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

The Delta Dental Dickens of a Christmas starts tonight.  For the next three Fridays downtown Roanoke will be flush with the spirit of the holidays.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Dickens of a Christmas will return to Downtown Roanoke tonight for the first of three event filled Friday nights.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Dickens of a Christmas calendar

More than a dozen Roanoke County businesses got a boost from the county.  As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports the Economic Development Authority Business Equipment Acquisition Program or BEAP Grant handed out 108-thousand dollars.

Roanoke County Development Authority has awarded more than 100-thousand dollars in grants to businesses in the county and the town of Vinton.  As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports the matching funds are meant to help the businesses hire new workers or enter new markets.

BEAP grant recipients for 2025 include: