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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 sin[...]
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 […]
Montgomery County, Blacksburg, Christiansburg launch small business relief grants
Montgomery County and the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg on Wednesday launched a grant fund to support small business recovery in response to COVID-19. Eligible businesses can receive one-time grants of up to $27,500. The Small Business Recovery grant program is funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic[...]
Ferrum College receives $100K gift
Ferrum College alumnus Michael Christian donated $100,000 to his alma mater, which will establish the Michael T. Christian ’63 Center for First-Year Experience at the school. The center — intended to connect incoming first-year students to professors, mentors and classmates — will be located in the college’s libr[...]
Lee Enterprises plans newsroom cuts at Virginia publications
The Daily Progress newspaper in Charlottesville will lay off its four-person copy desk in early October, as Iowa-based owner Lee Enterprises eliminates local jobs in favor of a consolidated copy desk in Indiana or Wisconsin, according to a memo sent to affected employees Friday. The cuts at The Daily Progress are possibly just the beginning […]
Radford faces budget cuts, tough decisions
Due to the pandemic, Radford University is faced with an unprecedented strain on its budget, which is likely to cause faculty and staff layoffs. Because of state budget cuts, the university is faced with an $8.1 million decrease in funding over the next two fiscal years. And at the same time, Radford administrators predict the [[...]
Mariners Landing has new owners
Smith Mountain Lake housing community Mariners Landing in Bedford County has new owners, Mariners Landing Development Co. LLC announced Thursday. Waller S. Perrow III of Mariners Landing Development Co. LLC did not disclose financial terms for the May sale, saying it was contractually protected. Commercial real estate develope[...]
Virginia Tech — Montgomery Executive Airport names director
The board of directors for the Virginia Tech — Montgomery Executive Airport (VTMEA) announced Thursday that Keith Holt has been named as airport director, effective July 27. VTMEA is a regional authority that includes Virginia Tech, Montgomery County and the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Holt has been hired to repl[...]
