Roanoke/New River Year-in-Review: Meeting the demand
The Roanoke and New River Valley regions each had their most successful economic development year in recent history, according to John Hull, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. That’s thanks to $387 million worth of economic investments announced in 2023, potentially creating thousands of jobs. Roanoke County landed the biggest fish, with Wells Fargo […]
Roanoke/New River Valley Big Deal: Banking on Roanoke
When Roanoke County economic development officials pitched Wells Fargo on expanding its customer support center operation in the county, they emphasized how well they’d taken care of the nation’s fourth-largest bank previously and how they would continue to do so. The pitch worked. Now the bank’s $87 million expansion will be the largest commercial office […]
RAMP hires new executive director
The new executive director of RAMP, the Roanoke-based Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program, once worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. Now he’ll help startups get off the ground in Roanoke, after doing work in the startup ecosystem in North Carolina. John Hagy started as executive director of RAMP on Jan. 8. He takes the place […]
Brown Edwards CEO to retire in June
Brown Edwards partner and CEO Jason Hartman will retire this summer, the Roanoke-based public accounting firm announced Tuesday. Hartman joined Brown Edwards in 1986 and has led the firm for the past seven years. Laura Sprouse, Brown Edwards’ chief operating officer and partner, will become the next CEO on June 1. Under Hartman’s leadership, Brown […]
Roanoke fintech startup KlariVis closes $11M funding round
KlariVis closed an $11 million Series B funding round, the Roanoke-based banking data analytics startup announced Thursday. KlariVis provides data analytics solutions for community banks and credit unions. The fintech company has doubled its revenue and customer count year-over-year and has 100 clients, according to a news release. The $11 million will be used for […]
Ridge View Bank hires new SVP for New River Valley
Ridge View Bank has hired Todd Murray as senior vice president of commercial banking in the New River Valley, the Roanoke-based bank announced Wednesday. Murray will lead an expansion of bank’s commercial banking services in the New River Valley and will be responsible for loan and deposit production, collaborating with the bank’s treasury, private banking […]
Former Gentry Locke managing partner dies
G. Michael “Mike” Pace Jr., managing partner of Roanoke‘s Gentry Locke law firm for several years and a former Virginia Bar Association president, died Jan. 8 after a long illness. He was 66. Pace, a Salem native, spent nearly his whole career at the Roanoke law firm, starting as a summer associate in 1983 and […]
Renovating Roanoke’s ‘Grand Old Lady’
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Curio Collection by Hilton plans a $14 million renovation this year, bringing new technology, new design and new, custom-made Hotel Roanoke-logoed furniture to every one of its 329 guest rooms. The hotel’s most recent renovation, completed in 2020, upgraded its Pine Room restaurant, created the 1882 lobby bar and […]
Roanoke apartment complex sells for $7.25M
Mount Pleasant Villas apartments, a 90-unit community in Roanoke, has changed hands. Raleigh, North Carolina-based Sweetbay Capital, a real estate private equity firm, acquired the apartment complex from JC Capital Rutrough for $7.25 million in early December, according to Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer. It’s the company’s third acquisition in Roanoke. Clay Taylor from Cushman [[...]
Gov. proposes $90M to launch ‘Va. Research Triangle’
In a preview of his 2024-26 proposed budget, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday that he is including $90 million in one-time funds to create “Virginia’s Research Triangle,” a network between the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech to build collaboration in biotechnology, life sciences and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Youngkin’s bien[...]
Interim VP of Carilion Mental Health becomes permanent
Carilion Clinic has named Lisa Sprinkel its permanent vice president of Carilion Mental Health, adding to her duties as vice president of Carilion Clinic Home Health and Hospice department. With Dr. Robert Trestman, Carilion’s mental health chair, Sprinkel will lead the mental health team, which has a new location at Tanglewood Center in Roanoke County. […]
Nation’s first Goodwill-owned supermarket to open in NW Roanoke
Roanoke-based Goodwill Industries of the Valleys broke ground Nov. 14 on Melrose Plaza, a community hub that will be anchored by the nation’s first full-scale, full-service grocery store owned and operated by a Goodwill organization. Slated to open in December 2024 in a Northwest Roanoke food desert, the 25,000-square-foot Market on Melrose is expected to […]





















