Identification International Inc. (i3) of Blacksburg, Timber Truss Housing Systems Inc. of Salem, and  Universal Companies Inc. of Abingdon were among 12 Virginia companies chosen for a Virginia Leaders in Export Trade program. Here is a press release from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership:

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the acceptance of 12 Virginia companies into its two-year Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program. Launched in January 2002, the program assists exporters in the Commonwealth that have firmly established domestic operations and are committed to international exporting as an expansion strategy. Read more »

Regional cooperation: Where do we go from here?

It’s not a new question, of course. But two regional projects – the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute and the Creative Connectors’ “81 Reasons to Connect” initiative – have returned the issue to the forefront.

These projects have raised both hopes and questions in the business community: How much growth can they bring? What happens next? And how does the community leverage these initiatives?

Join the Blue Ridge Business Journal and Cox Business Oct. 13 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center for a discussion about the future of regional cooperation. Panelists Beth Doughty, Jay Foster, Elmer Hodge, Ray Smoot and Ralph Whatley will share their perspectives, and we’ll leave plenty of time for questions.

The session is free and open to the public.

The Roanoke Arts Commission and the city of Roanoke are teaming up to develop a plan to enhance arts and culture in the city. Here’s more information from the city, including a link to a public survey:

The City of Roanoke is developing an Arts and Culture Plan to identify strategies that will achieve the following:

• Address the goal of making the City of Roanoke a vital and innovative hub of creativity

• Identify how the city can support individual artists and the creative industry

• Determine how the creative industry can help the city achieve its goals of economic development, increased tourism, excellence in education, and a vibrant downtown and neighborhoods

• Determine how to sustain Roanoke’s artists and cultural organizations Read more »

The Virginia Bioinformatics Institute’s has created the Industrial Affiliates Program to foster stronger relationships between industry and university research. Read more about the program in this press release from the institute:

The Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech has launched a new program aimed at bridging the gap between industry and university research.

The institute’s Industrial Affiliates Program is designed to facilitate strong cooperative relationships and partnerships, as well as research and information exchange opportunities, with industry.

“Teaming with industry will help us target opportunities, tune our commercial translation process, and thereby move our research advances and inventions from the notebook or publication to valuable intellectual property, then ultimately into real products and services,” said Virginia Bioinformatics Institute Executive Director Harold “Skip” Garner.
Read more »

There is still time to sign up for Bean and Rice Inc.’s First Step FastTrac class. Here are the details from the organization:

If you were not available for the First Step FastTrac orientation on Saturday, there is still time to get your application to Beans and Rice, Inc.

First Step FastTrac connects entrepreneurs to the best resources available to help them pursue and realize their entrepreneurial dreams. The program provides individuals who have an idea or a passion the opportunity to analyze the feasibility of their idea and develop a solid plan to move forward. They also receive exposure to professional networking connections and other resources, which prepares them to create a new business or enhance an existing enterprise.

Applications will be accepted at the Beans & Rice office in Pulaski, VA.  Applications can be faxed to 540.980.4070, mailed or hand delivered to 246 N Washington Ave, Suite B, Pulaski, VA 24301.  Please call Sam Hensley at 540.980.4111 for more information and directions to the Competitiveness Center

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling says that the owners of the Martinsville Speedway have guaranteed the track will get two NASCAR races per year. The state’s Tobacco Commission has kicked in some money for improvements to help seal the deal, which he says is important to jobs in the region.

Here’s the full text of his release: Read more »

Roanoke County supervisors this afternoon approved the creation of a community development authority for the South Peak project at U.S. 220 and Virginia 419.

The Roanoke Times has more on this story.

A full house has turned out for this afternoon’s Roanoke County Board of Supervisors meeting on the proposed South Peak development authority.

This is the property formerly known as Slate Hill.

We have more on this story from The Roanoke Times.

What will happen to the city-owned Countryside golf course in Roanoke now that it’s no longer a golf course?

The Roanoke Planning Department is looking into options and announces the following open house:

The Planning Department will hold an open house on Tuesday, Aug. 31, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of William Fleming High School to present options for the future use of the Countryside property.

After 11 meetings with neighborhood residents and stakeholder groups, city Planning staff has compiled options for public review. Planning staff will have maps and information to share, and citizens can come by anytime during the designated hours to take a look at the displays, ask questions, and make comments. Feedback from this open house will be summarized and included in a report on the planning process to Council, scheduled to be rpesented at its Sept. 20 meeting.

For more information, contact Planning Administator Chris Chittum at 540-853-2356.

The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors grappled today with how to market the Center at Greenfield, its business park midway between Daleville and Fincastle.

We have more details on The Botetourt View, our community news site for Botetourt.