Brian Hamilton, CEcD Economic Development Director hamiltonbt@montgomerycountyva.gov
Brenda Rigney, CEcD Project Manager - Existing Industry rigneybb@montgomerycountyva.gov
Rachel Cline Project Manager - Marketing and Business Development clinerf@montgomerycountyva.gov
Carley Graves Project Manager - Broadband gravescm@montgomerycountyva.gov
To the Honorable Chair, members of the Board of Supervisors, and the citizens of Montgomery County:
The Montgomery County, Va., Department of Economic Development (MCDED) has prepared this annual report to showcase the organization’s activities and accomplishments during 2022. The report is also intended to be an economic development marketing tool for Montgomery County, and features the achievements of local companies, entrepreneurs, and other key allies.
The Department of Economic Development is dedicated to improving the quality of life throughout Montgomery County –including the incorporated towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg – by encouraging positive economic growth that:
• CREATES meaningful career opportunities;
• EXPANDS the commercial tax base to support the delivery of vital public services; and
• PROTECTS our enviable quality of life.
Our department accomplishes its mission through strategies that support the startup, retention, and expansion of businesses already in Montgomery County, as well as the attraction of new targeted industries to the community.
#1
Virginia earned Site Selection magazine’s top spot for business climate, up nine places from the year before. Criteria for the rankings included workforce skill, tax climate, and commitment to workforce development.
14,360 251K
YesMontgomeryVA.org was visited 14,360 times from 70 different countries and nearly all 50 states.
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FedEx Ground decided to locate in Falling Branch Corporate Park this year in a brand new 251,000 square foot distribution center in Phase II of the park.
10,114
The Department visited 54 local companies through its Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program. Of the 54 companies visited, 14 required follow up support services, bringing the overall total for the year to 70 visits.
The Department saw 39 prospects inquiries from new businesses, as well as 6 inquiries from existing Montgomery County businesses looking to expand or relocate.
Montgomery County’s two Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) grant projects received approval from the State Corporation Commission to proceed as planned, meaning broadband will soon be made accessible to 10,114 homes and businesses throughout the County.
Virginia Tech’s online master’s degree in information technology was ranked the third best in the nation in 2022, and was also ranked the top IT program for veterans.
Since 2018, the Department has made 25 total announcements from new and existing businesses. These announcements have resulted in 1,559 total new jobs, with over $86,380,000 in total investment.
Out of 50,000 cities across the nation, Blacksburg came in second for the most affordable cities with high quality education. The rankings considered a wide range of financial and education factors, including tax rates, the cost of living index, childcare expenses, and the number of blue-ribbon schools.
The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
MSA was named the #8 metro for recovery job growth nationwide due to the percentage gain in total employment from May 2021 to May 2022 based on U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics data.
Blacksburg was named the ninth best place to live in Virginia, thanks primarily to low crime rates and the quality of local schools. Christiansburg also made the top 20, coming in at #16 on the list.
Montgomery County Public Schools were ranked the tenth best school district in Virginia based on factors such as graduation rates, test scores, teacher quality, and access to extracurricular activities.
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The Economic Development Department uses its Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program to maintain good relationships and communication with companies in Montgomery County. Department staff arrange BRE visits with local businesses to identify and help solve any problems or barriers that may be undermining their overall success and growth in our community.
In 2022, the Department visited either in-person or virtually with 54 separate companies. Many of those companies also required follow up information or services, resulting in 14 additional visits and an overall total of 70 BRE visits for the year.
In 2022, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) announced that two Montgomery County companies were accepted into the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. The two-year program assists Virginia Companies dedicated to growing their sales through international exports by connecting them with a team of experienced international partners.
“The VALET program positions Virginia businesses for success utilizing a proven combination of knowledge and resources to catalyze global sales,” said VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi in a press release. “International trade makes companies stronger, more resilient, and more competitive in the global marketplace, and VALET is a critical vehicle to facilitate connections.”
Joining the VALET program from Montgomery County in 2022 was Alacran Consulting, Inc. and Inorganic Ventures. Aeroprobe Corporation also completed the program and graduated from VALET this year. They all join a growing list of Montgomery County companies that have benefited from participating in the program.
Three Montgomery County businesses were named to Virginia Business magazine’s 12th Annual “Best Places to Work in Virginia” for 2022.
Selections for the list were made based on surveys completed by the companies and their employees asking them to rank values such as leadership, communication, job satisfaction, training and benefits, pay rates, and more. The 100 companies selected were also split into three categories based on the size of their U.S. workforce: small (15 to 99 employees), midsized (100-249), and large (250 or more).
In the small employers category, Modea (Blacksburg) took the No. 11 spot. Aeroprobe Corporation (Christiansburg) also came in at No. 45. On the list of large employers, Community Housing Partners (Christiansburg), was ranked at No. 16.
In July, Torc Robotics in Blacksburg was visited by Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Caren Merrick, and Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) President and CEO, Jason El Koubi.
After touring the company’s headquarters, they were able to climb aboard one of Torc’s autonomous trucks created in partnership with Daimler Trucks to learn more about the technology developed here in Montgomery County. They also stopped by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) for a tour of their facilities.
The visit to Blacksburg was part of a larger tour of the New River Valley hosted by regional economic development partner, Onward New River Valley, to familiarize the officials with what the region has to offer. In addition to Onward NRV and Montgomery County Economic Development staff, Secretary Merrick and El Koubi also met with representatives from the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) and the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. The visit also included roundtable discussions at both Radford University and Virginia Tech featuring elected officials and leaders in higher education and local business.
In November of 2022, Montgomery County formally welcomed FedEx Ground as the newest tenant of Falling Branch Corporate Park (FBCP). Located on 41 acres in Phase II of the park, the new 251,000 square-foot distribution center is projected to be operational in 2023.
This project included over $20 million of investment and is expected to bring nearly 200 jobs to Montgomery County, a mix of full and part-time positions. FedEx will also contract out locally for several package delivery-related positions.
The Department first began working with FedEx Ground’s developer, the Charlotte-based SunCap Property Group, in Spring of 2021. The project took on an accelerated timeline from the start, with less than a year between SunCap’s initial inquiry regarding FBCP and ground breaking in early 2022. Construction on the new distribution center also moved very quickly, and the building’s exterior and parking lots were completed before the end of 2022.
Part of the construction process for the new building also included the extension of Parkway Drive from its existing intersection with Technology Drive in Phase I of FBCP. The road was paved to connect with FedEx’s parking lot entrance, but was graded to the edge of the property line, as Parkway Drive will eventually be extended to serve the remaining 25-acre lot in Phase II of the park.
In 2022, the Economic Development Authority approved the sale of Lot 2 in the first phase of FBCP to biotechnology firm United Therapeutics to expand the presence of their Blacksburg-based subsidiary, Revivicor.
The state-of-the-art 50,000 square foot building currently under construction in the park will be used for research and development of Revivicor’s pig-to-human xenotransplantation technology. Their work aims to cut down on the huge number of people left waiting on organ transplant lists each year, and United Therapeutics and Revivicor made international headlines in January of 2022 after performing the first ever pig-to-human heart xenotransplantation.
The EDA sold the roughly 16-acre Lot 2 to United Therapeutics for $1.066 million. A portion of those funds will be used to develop Corporate Drive, the road that serves both Lot 2 and the park’s electrical substation. The new R&D facility is expected to employ about 20 people.
“OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND HAVING FEDEX GROUND CHOOSE MONTGOMERY COUNTY AS THE HOME TO BUILD ONE OF ITS MOST RECENT DISTRIBUTION CENTERS SERVES AS TESTAMENT TO THE WORK WE DO EVERY DAY TO MAKE MONTGOMERY COUNTY A THRIVING AND GROWING PLACE FOR BUSINESSES AND FOR OUR CITIZENS TO LIVE AND TO WORK.”
– Sherri Blevins, Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Chair
FedEx exterior from the Falling Branch Corporate ParkIn 2022, the Department and its allies generated 45 prospect leads. Of these 45 leads, 39 were from new businesses not previously located in Montgomery County, and 6 came from existing businesses. At year end, 11 were still actively considering projects in our community, while 6 were successfully located in Montgomery County.
The Department actively markets Montgomery County to prospective businesses and site consultants at industry trade shows. The goal of these efforts is to develop leads on new projects that may have an interest in locating in our community.
In April 2022, staff traveled to Orlando for AUVSI Xponential 2022 at the Orange County Convention Center. This annual conference by AUVSI, or the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, is a top pick for the Department each year as autonomous systems are a target industry that is already thriving in Montgomery County. The event was also attended by Montgomery County companies Aeroprobe Corporation and Moog, Inc., as well as Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP).
Along with other localities and autonomous-related businesses from across the state, the Department helped sponsor the Virginia Pavilion hosted by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation’s (VIPC) Unmanned Systems division.
In June 2022, staff attended SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, representing the entire region on behalf of Onward New River Valley alongside staff from Pulaski County. SelectUSA featured representatives from 70 different international markets across a wide variety of industries, including IT/Software, healthcare, and transportation.
Yesmontgomeryva.gov is the official website of the Department of Economic Development, and showcases the quality of life and business climate in Montgomery County. In 2022, the website had 14,360 visits from 70 different countries and 48 states.
In May, the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) hosted the 2022 TechNite, an annual awards banquet celebrating the innovative technology companies and leaders in the Roanoke and Blacksburg area.
Each year, the Department sponsors one of the many awards presented at the event. For 2022, the Department sponsored the STEM-H Educator Award, which recognizes an educator in the region who uses creative methods to promote science, math, and/or technology to inspire students. This year the award was presented to Christiansburg Middle School math teacher, Kathleen O’Dell, who was also named the 2022 Teacher of the Year by Montgomery County Public Schools.
Montgomery County companies and leaders were also recognized for two other awards at the event. Wendi Pannell, Vice President of Content Production at Blacksburg-based company Ozmo, Inc., received the Regional Leadership Award, which is presented to an RBTC member who leads by example and contributes significantly to the RBTC community throughout the year. The Entrepreneur Award, recognizing risk-takers in the technology field, was presented to Martin Angst, co-founder of the Blacksburg company Rendyr. Angst and Rendyr have raised over $730,000 from nearly 450 backers via a campaign through Kickstarter to put toward their portable Optic laser cutter.
The Department sponsored several events and programs in 2022 for business outreach and to support the initiatives of its many partners and allies:
•Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament
•Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet
•AUVSI Ridge and Valley Chapter 5th Annual Uncrewed Systems Chapter Symposium
•Montgomery County Chamber Street Map & Resource Guide project
•Virginia Pavilion at AUVSI Xponential conference in Orlando
•Retail Reimagined Southwest Virginia Summit with Blacksburg Partnership
Throughout 2022, Montgomery County and its internet service partners continued to make progress on the two Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) grant projects awarded to the County through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
VATI 2021 is a $1.4 million project between Montgomery County and its official broadband partner, GigaBeam Networks, LLC., to connect unserved areas of the eastern portion of the County, which received a nearly $920,000 grant through the VATI program. VATI 2022 is a multi-jurisdictional project with Montgomery and Bland Counties, GigaBeam, and Appalachian Power Company. Montgomery County was awarded $27.6 million in VATI funding to put toward the $50 million project, which will cover the remainder of unserved areas outside of the two incorporated towns. The two projects combined will bring service to approximately 10,114 homes and businesses in Montgomery County.
A key time and cost-savings element of these broadband projects is the Utility Leverage Program, which will allow GigaBeam’s new broadband fiber to be built off of Appalachian Power’s existing fiber network rather than starting from scratch. However, this meant that the work required a six-month review by the State Corporation Commission prior to the start of any construction.
In late November, the SCC approved the use of Appalachian Power’s fiber network for the project, and in December, GigaBeam released a webpage dedicated to Montgomery County’s broadband build-out where citizens can learn more about the VATI grant award, view an estimated timeline for the two projects, and sign up to receive email updates and to express their interest in receiving service.
Construction is expected to officially kick off in spring of 2023 and will begin in the VATI 2021 project area in the eastern part of Montgomery County.
Citizens can learn more about the project by visiting https://gigabeam.net/projects and selecting the Montgomery County service area.
HIGH-SPEED FIBER INTERNET IS COMING TO UNSERVED AREAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, AND CITIZENS CAN SIGN UP NOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN GETTING SERVICE AT THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
As Montgomery County continues working toward the goal of making broadband service available to all citizens, this year the Board of Supervisors approved the creation of a new position in the Department of Economic Development.
Carley Graves joined the Department in September of 2022 as the Broadband Project Manager. The role was developed to oversee Montgomery County’s broadband expansion efforts, particularly the implementation of the ongoing VATI grant projects. Graves works as liaison between the County and a variety of broadband-related partners, including internet service providers and DHCD, and also serves as a point of contact for citizens seeking broadband information or assistance.
Graves comes to the position with a Bachelor of Arts from Concord University and a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Tech, and most recently served as a Program Coordinator for Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education (CPE).
“I look forward to working alongside our broadband partners toward the goal of ensuring all Montgomery County citizens have access to adequate service and helping to close the digital divide,” said Graves.
From redevelopment of older properties to completely new construction projects, the northwest, or uptown, area of Christiansburg saw continued growth throughout the past year.
• Work continued on the Town of Christiansburg’s signature park on Peppers Ferry Road, including construction on the facility itself as well as the creation of a new turn lane at the intersection leading into the property. The park, now officially dubbed Christiansburg Huckleberry Park, is expected to open to the public in 2023 and will feature amenities such as an all-inclusive playground, several multipurpose fields, and two dog parks.
• Significant progress was made on the redevelopment of Christiansburg’s Marketplace property in 2022, starting with the grand opening of anchor store, Earth Fare, in January. Several other new businesses have also opened their doors, such as LL Flooring, uBreakiFix, and the freestanding Skyline National Bank. Other businesses planned for the shopping center include a 55,000 square foot Academy Sports + Outdoors, Noodles & Company, Spoons Frozen Yogurt, an English Meadows apartment development, and a Marriott hotel.
• Throughout 2022, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) conducted feasibility studies on potential sites for the planned Amtrak station that will connect the NRV to Roanoke and beyond. The search was narrowed down to two sites adjacent to the Uptown Christiansburg Mall, and the VPRA will continue to study factors such as cost and environmental impact as they make their final decision. The New River Valley Rail Station Authority, made up of key stakeholders throughout the region who will have a hand in the station’s construction and management, also held their first official meeting in late 2022.
• Located on Peppers Ferry Road at the intersection between Panda Express and Red Robin, Take 5 began construction on a small service station that will provide quick oil changes, not even requiring customers to leave their vehicles. Take 5 has additionally submitted plans to the town to build a car wash on North Franklin Street near Aldi, a development that would also feature a Bojangles and a Discount Tire retailer.
• Plans filed with the Town of Christiansburg in 2022 will see the construction of a new Chick-fil-A restaurant near the Uptown Christiansburg Mall on the site of the former Golden Corral, which permanently closed during the pandemic. Chick-fil-A is currently located on North Franklin Street in the Spradlin Farm shopping center.
The Marketplace property redevelopment continues as new retailers such as Earth Fare opened their doors this year.
Photo Credit: The Roanoke Times
Carley Graves, Broadband Project Manager Montgomery County, VA Economic Development Department
In April 2022, Montgomery County completed construction of Creed Fields Park in Elliston. Located on Lee Highway just off the South Fork of the Roanoke River, the new park was named in honor of the late Board of Supervisor member Gary Creed, who represented Eastern Montgomery County from 2002-2017.
The $2.7 million park features multiple fields for softball and baseball, as well as a multipurpose field that can be used for football and soccer. The park has a picnic shelter, a half-mile walking trail, and a playground with a rope climbing dome. A similar park is also planned for the Riner area of Montgomery County.
In March 2022, Blacksburg Town Council approved a rezoning for an affordable housing development aimed at helping the town combat the housing shortage impacting communities all across the country.
Legacy on Main is being developed by the non-profit Community Housing Partners and will be located on three acres at the corner of Country Club Drive and South Main Street. Due to the use of low-income hosing credits, the 56-unit apartment building will be reserved for residents earning up to 80 percent of Blacksburg’s Area Median Income (AMI), or roughly $63,000 per year. The property is close to public transportation and the university, and will also feature two picnic areas and a playground.
In addition to developing the property, Community Housing Partners is also working to change perceptions about who qualifies for low-income housing, emphasizing that the $63,000 threshold for the housing project would include many public school teachers, police officers, and even Virginia Tech employees.
Creed Fields Park opened in April, bringing new recreation options to Eastern Montgomery County
Rendering of Legacy on Main, an affordable housing project planned for Blacksburg.
THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES:
The Economic Development Authority (EDA) was created in 1970 by the Mongomery County Board of Supervisors. The EDA has the authority to issue industrial development bonds as well as acquire, lease and/or sell real estate property. The EDA meets the third Tuesday of every month. The Department provides staff support to the EDA.
EDA Directors
Joe Ferrell Chair
Mark Husband - Vice Chair
Eric Johnsen
Michael Miller
Reid Broughton
Elli Travis
Pamela Simpkins
Staff Support
Brian T. Hamilton - Secretary Treasurer
Brenda Rigney - Assistant Secretary Treasurer
Marty McMahon - Legal Counsel
Craig Meadows - County Administrator
Angie Hill - Deputy County Administrator
The MBC Development Corporation is a 501(c) 3 organization created in 1985 to enhance and broaden the employment base in Montgomery County by providing small business with low interest loans not available from conventional sources. Since its creation, the MBC has provided 40 small business loans totaling over $1.8 million.
Board Members
Tom Via - President
Brad Denardo Vice President
Michael Barber
Jason Hardy
Nathan Hockersmith
Robert Parks
Michael Sutphin
Jeanne Symanoskie
Mary Biggs
Stephanie Jennelle
Ken Miller
In 2022, the Department began working with Sunshine & Bourbon, a creative agency based in Virginia Beach, on a refresh of various marketing materials.
The Montgomery Regional Economic Development Commission (EDC) was created in 1982 by a resolution of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. The EDC acts in an advisory capacity on economic development matters for the County. It meets the fourth Thursday of every month. The Department provides staff support to the EDC.
EDC Directors
Peter Anderson - Chair
John Overton - Vice Chair
Darrell Sheppard
Steve Baffuto
Wendy Glass
Michael Barber
Angela Joyner
Lauren Colliver
Paul Lancaster
Brett Malone
Staff Support
Brian T. Hamilton - Department Director
Brenda Rigney Secretary
Sunshine & Bourbon were selected for the undertaking thanks in large part to their familiarity with Montgomery County, having already worked with the Tourism department for a number of years, including the development of their “Go to Town!” campaign.
The main focus of the Department’s marketing refresh has been on placemaking, making sure that new business prospects can tell exactly what Montgomery County, Virginia has to offer them. This process began with the Department’s logo, transitioning to a new simplified design showcasing both the Blue Ridge Mountains and the New River and incorporating the color scheme already used by Montgomery County.
In the months to come, the Department will continue rolling out redesigned marketing materials – including this report – that will help staff to better market our community to both new and existing businesses alike.
Staff Support
Brenda Rigney - Secretary Treasurer
Marty McMahon - Legal Counsel
Brian Hamilton - Department Director
