Welcome

Welcome to the latest issue of The Point, the e-newsletter that offers a refreshing slice of business and life from the Roanoke Region of Virginia.

Whether your company is considering a move or you’re just staying informed about our region, in this issue you will read about a new year of change, growth, expansion and more retail options:

• German Company at Home in Region
• Chuck Terrell: Lifelong Learning Vital to Economic Growth
• Bicycle Sales Boom With Expanded Greenways

The Point is a publication of the Roanoke Regional Partnership, which has assisted in expansions and locations representing more than $1.2 billion in announced new investment and more than 13,400 direct new jobs since 1983.

Please tell us what topics you would like to read about in The Point.

IN THEIR WORDS

Chuck Terrell: Lifelong Learning Vital to Economic Growth

Chuck Terrell leads Learn Connect, the workforce development services and lifelong learning division at Virginia Western Community College. This one-time college counselor helps businesses identify and implement customized training to help them recruit and retain highly qualified and skilled employees.

How does a program like Learn Connect help businesses?

“We provide up-to-date training resources, skills information, and educational support to the existing business community and to new and expanding enterprises. Learn Connect is solution-focused training that is customized for just about any industry. This helps businesses eliminate the need for a training staff and reduce non-productive training time. We also help new and smaller companies provide the training necessary to remain competitive. And for companies or industries setting up shop, we can help them be fully operational when they open for business.

So how do you customize training for companies in different industries? 

“When looking to work with a new industry or business, we find out their needs. Our solution-focused training specialists – that’s what we call them – will sit down with a client and ask questions about their business, take a tour, get a history of the company, listen to the needs and then do an assessment. We identify the training needs and where training should take place – on site or at one of our locations. Training is completely customized for the client.”

	The Learn Connect program stresses customized training -- in or out of the classroom.

What are some of the hot fields in training right now?

“Short-term training is popular across many different industries. The manufacturing community here is still running strong, especially in advanced technology, so we are responding to those needs. We initiated a six-week training program called Quick Connect. It provides training in the evening to focus on the underemployed and dislocated workers or high school students. We created a consortium of business partners who are supporting the tuition for participants to finish six weeks of training. We’re developing a truck-driver training program that can be completed in eight to 10 weeks. We’re also focusing a lot on entrepreneurship.”

You also offer pre-employment training. How does that work?

“An employer can put a candidate through a one-day or two-day training session where they learn team-building, communications and other skills. Employers can see the person interact with others. It helps them decide whether to hire an individual. Pre-employment training is a smart investment.”

What kinds of companies rely on your training programs? 

“Quite a variety. We do a lot of work for the health community. Another client is Advance Auto Parts, manufacturers – really anyone who needs highly trained and skilled employees.”

What role does -- and should -- education play in economic development? 

“It’s about lifelong learning. Because of technology or global competition we have to find ways to enhance our skills so that companies and businesses remain competitive.

PEDDLE POWER

Bicycle sales boom with expanded greenways

An expanding network of greenways in the Roanoke Valley – not to mention those rising gas prices -- are keeping local bike shops spinning.

Sales of new bikes and accessories are up and repair work is in demand as people hit the pavement or trails. Meanwhile, one local bicycle club has seen an increase in membership as area residents rediscover the simple pleasures of peddling.

 “Historically our club’s members have been true enthusiasts who go out four to six times a week,” says Wes Best, vice president of public relations for the 400-member Blue Ridge Bicycle Club and co-owner of East Coasters Bike Shops. “That’s still the case, but what we’re seeing now is a lot of folks who are just interested in bicycling and where there are opportunities to ride for fun, with kids, and ride to work.”

 And what opportunities there are.

 From an expanding greenways network to the Blue Ridge Parkway or the rugged mountain-bike trails of close-in Mill Mountain featuring volunteer mountain bike patrols and Carvins Cove – at 12,700 acres of reservoir-protected land one of the largest urban wildernesses in the country – bikers of all types have more choices in the Roanoke Valley than ever.

Best says the Roanoke Valley is ideal for bicycling – with varied terrain, year-round biking and new places to peddle every year.

“Ten years ago, there wasn’t much here for the average person to go out and ride and enjoy themselves,” Best says. “I can now ride paved trails to Mill Mountain, ride to the top on trails and come back -- without getting into a car.”

Check out everything you need to know about riding a bike in the Roanoke Valley.

Greenways system expands with completed river route

The expanding network of greenways in the Roanoke Valley now includes a 5-mile continuous stretch along the Roanoke River.

These paved paths – no cars allowed – provide the ultimate way to walk, run or peddle along the river for a weekend outing, lunchtime workout or commute to work.

Ultimately, the Roanoke Valley will have more than 30 miles of greenways for walking and biking.

Bike-borrowing a new way to travel

For those who need two wheels, a Roanoke group has launched a bicycle-sharing program that lets people sign out bicycles at area businesses and organizations.

The not-for-profit program, called Sharebike, is modeled after similar programs in Europe and such U.S. cities as Portland, Ore.

The goal is to provide inexpensive, environmentally friendly, calorie-burning transportation for people who don’t drive, prefer not to or don’t need to. Participants simply provide identification, contact information and a signed release to borrow a bike in one location and return it to another.