RiverStone Ranch auction set for Oct. 28
The 979-acre RiverStone Ranch in Buchanan will go to auction on Oct. 28, rural real estate firm Hall and Hall announced last week. The Botetourt County estate, which has remained in private ownership for more than 200 years, includes tunnels, canals and stone walls from George Washington’s James River Kanawha Project. The pr[...]
Mack medium duty trucks on the road again
Founded by two brothers 120 years ago, Mack Trucks Inc. is an iconic American brand and image — snub-nosed trucks adorned with bulldogs because of a nickname earned in World War I. And since Sept. 1, all of Mack’s medium duty trucks are being built in Roanoke County’s Valley TechPark. The company, part of Sweden’s [&hell[...]
Roanoke regional accelerator receives nearly $1M federal grant
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Monday it has awarded nearly $1 million in grant funding to the Valleys Innovation Council (VIC) for its Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP), which is targeted at helping to grow startup companies in the Roanoke and New River Valley region. “This grant will give us the runway we […]
Christiansburg shopping center sells for $3.25M
A shopping center in Christiansburg has sold for $3.25 million, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced last week. Located at 290 Peppers Ferry Road, the 9,525-square-foot retail center sold to Collegiate Investment 290 LLC as an investment. Pepper’s Ferry Plaza was owned by Family Peppers Ferry LLC and its tenants inclu[...]
Richmond Times-Dispatch, Roanoke Times, Daily Progress see newsroom layoffs
Updated Sept. 11 At least five newsroom staffers at the Richmond Times-Dispatch were told Friday that they were being laid off by owner Lee Enterprises. Four people laid off were part of the bargaining unit for the Richmond Newspapers Professional Association, the Times-Dispatch’s newsroom union, a representative confirmed. They include a business reporter, a photojournalist, […]
Virginia Tech stakes claim on data science territory
Collecting and interpreting data has always been important in science, but Tom Woteki is at the start of a process that will teach Virginia Tech students how to make better use of information in scientific fields and possibly receive lucrative job offers. Director of the university’s data analysis and applied statistics progra[...]
More college students head into quarantine as COVID-19 cases rise
RICHMOND — As more universities open, they’re collecting and releasing COVID-19 data and grappling with contingency plans for those who contract the disease. As of Thursday evening, universities across Virginia were reporting that more than 550 students, staff and faculty members have tested positive for COVID-19 since s[...]
Torc Robotics expanding, creating 350 jobs in Montgomery County
Torc Robotics plans to invest $8.5 million and create 350 jobs in Montgomery County, not far from its current operation in the Blacksburg Industrial Park, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The company produces self-driving vehicles and was started in 2005 by a group of Virginia Tech students who were on a robotics team together. In […]
Roanoke Regional Partnership executive director to retire
Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, announced Monday she will retire after 22 years with the public-private economic development organization. She plans to leave in December. Roanoke Regional Partnership covers the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke, the town of Vinton and th[...]
Former Volvo Trucks exec launches commercial vehicle company
The former chief operating officer for Volvo Trucks North and South America, Patrick Collignon, announced Wednesday that he has launched Trova Commercial Vehicles (TrovaCV), located in Pulaski County’s Fairlawn area. The company will focus on the engineering, design and production of fully electric commercial vehicles, wit[...]
S.L. Nusbaum names VP corporate brokerage, development
Norfolk-based real estate company S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. announced Wednesday it has hired Fenton Childers as vice president of corporate brokerage and development. With 35 years of experience, Childers was most recently real estate manager with The Kroger Co., where he managed its brokerage team. His experience has been focus[...]
Virginia Tech launches COVID-19 dashboard
Virginia Tech on Wednesday launched an online dashboard that the university will use to keep track of COVID-19 test results and the number of students in on-campus isolation spaces. “Our comprehensive plan to manage the additional cases expected as the Blacksburg campus is repopulated includes close collaboration with our campus experts and community partners,” Virginia […]