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Virginia gets new digits
On Wednesday, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) announced that the North American Numbering Plan Administrator has assigned a new area code, 826, to relieve future exhaustion of the 540 area code, which is expected to occur in 2022. Residents and businesses in the affected region will not lose their existing 540 phone numbers under […]
Pulaski company prepares to launch pollutant filter system
Updated June 29 A Pulaski-based company is poised to go commercial with technology that removes coal ash and other chemical pollutants from the air — extracting chemicals that can be recycled and sold for industrial use. A team of scientists at Virginia Tech has released a preliminary report confirming proof of concept, MOVA [...]
Reopening weekend largely positive for restaurants
Reopening weekend was largely positive for restaurants and other businesses in Virginia localities that entered Phase One of Gov. Northam’s Forward Virginia plan on Friday. “It was actually very busy,” said Brad Smith, general manager of Quaker Steak & Lube on Bristol’s State Street. “We were bu[...]
Hotel Roanoke reveals $3.9M renovation plans
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Curio Collection by Hilton, announced Monday its $3.9 million plans to renovate The Pine Room Pub and the Palm Court Lobby. “The renovation will build upon the hotel’s premier four diamond status as a destination, dining and meeting facility in Virginia’s Blue Ridge and will c[...]
Floyd County EDA receives $2.3M federal grant for growth center
The Floyd County Economic Development Authority announced this week it has received a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to construct the first building for the Floyd Growth Center, a shared space in the Floyd Regional Commerce Center for small industrial companies. Different from a small business incubator, the center will allow […]
SW Va. businesses, officials urge Northam to reopen region
Southwest Virginia elected officials and business owners are ready to reopen for business, noting that the number of COVID-19 cases in their region is considerably lower than those found in the more populated regions of the state such as Northern Virginia and Central Virginia. “The [economic] effects of the COVID-19 pandem[...]
Pomp and absence
With the rest of the spring semester moved online, her graduation was the only thing Tannah Blair, an accounting major in Virginia Tech’s class of 2020, had to look forward to. “When they made the announcement that graduation was canceled and was being moved online, I was beyond devastated,” Blair says. Due to the COVID-[...]
Virginia Tech develops in-house COVID-19 testing
Virginia Tech researchers announced Wednesday they have developed in-house COVID-19 testing kits and lab processing services to assist Southwest Virginia health departments with patient testing. Test results can be returned to the health departments as soon as same day. The initiative is being led by Dr. Michael Friedlander, Te[...]
Roanoke County laying off 287 part-time workers
Roanoke County announced Friday it will lay off 287 part-time employees, many of whom work in the parks and recreation department. The layoff will start April 24 and “is intended to be temporary, pending future economic conditions,” according to a news release. The cuts affect 232 parks and recreation workers, 50 in public libraries and […]
Roanoke apartments sell for $2.3M
The West End Flats apartments in Roanoke has sold for $2.3 million, Roanoke-based Waldvogel Commercial Properties Inc. announced Monday. The apartment complex includes 24 one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments and A Few Old Goats microbrewery, which is located at 515 8th St. SW. The transaction closed on April 10. The property[...]
Carilion Clinic furloughs workers, reduces hours
With its regular ambulatory and inpatient care declining by 40% to 70% during the COVID-19 crisis, Roanoke-based Carilion Clinic announced Tuesday it is furloughing employees to reduce expenses. It follows similar measures taken by other health care systems operating in Virginia including Bon Secours Mercy Health and Ballad Health. The number of employees who will be […]
Student housing community to be built near Virginia Tech
A 517,000-square-foot student housing community will be built near Virginia Tech, New York City-based Eyzenberg & Co. announced Thursday. Financial terms of the development have not been disclosed. Charleston, South Carolina-based real estate developer Greystar will develop the 424-unit property on a 11.5-acre lot at 100[...]
