FROM CAMPUS TO CAREERS

Creating a pipeline for career success in the region.

Hats off to all the students graduating from higher-education institutions, especially the 43,000 within 60 miles of the Roanoke Region! They say it takes a village to raise a child, especially to the point of graduating college. The same adage applies to our region. This “village” works together toward greater economic prosperity by producing top-tier talent, recognizing educational and economic needs, and attracting and supporting business and talent.

Talent Pipeline for Business Investment

Our region graduates 43,000 students annually. Did you know that the 25 institutions in the region produce one graduate for every 25 people each year? In fact, the Roanoke Region has the most favorable graduation ratio among peer cities, producing more graduates per-capita than Raleigh-Durham, Boston, Atlanta, and Palo Alto (Source: Emsi/Burning Glass). That is a pool of 43,000 educated, qualified candidates for the regional work force. For current and prospective businesses considering expanding or relocating, that means the Roanoke Region has a dedicated pipeline of talent in our backyard.

Evolving Institutions that Adapt to Regional Needs

The Roanoke Region is fortunate to have many higher-education institutions that are poised to grow and adapt with employer and workforce needs. Healthcare is the largest sector in the region, and institutions that are leaders in the area recognized a need and reacted by forging strong educational partnerships. Carilion hospitals joined forces with Virginia Tech and Radford University to offer more healthcare-degree programs and certifications in Roanoke. Recently, Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) created a new biotechnology degree program. With the rise in healthcare-related jobs in the region, VWCC saw an opportunity to keep students in the region with a new degree option and to help supply the local demand for qualified talent in the field. This coincides with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, “one of the nation’s fastest-growing academic biomedical research enterprises and a destination for world-class researchers.”

Continued Support for Employers and Work Force

While a high-paying job and a healthy business climate are certainly the basis of choosing this region, the local workforce and employers have resources available to support their needs. Get2KnowNoke, the Partnership’s talent-attraction arm, is a valuable resource for talent and businesses. Professionals can join the Roanoke Regional Partnership Network to make connections, network, and attend professional development events such as the Experience Conference. Get2KnowNoke also hosts an internship program that takes fledgling professionals under its wing and provides networking and recreation opportunities to help them meet people and get comfortable in the region. And an exciting benefit that is in the works is a new Employer Toolkit to help businesses recruit and retain top-tier talent.

Now that they have walked across the stage, it is time for these graduates to trade their caps and gowns for a steady paycheck. Through strategic planning and partnerships, the Roanoke Region is in an advantageous position to provide the jobs, support, and livability that high-quality candidates require.

Würth Revcar Fasteners Expands in the Roanoke Region of Virginia

Würth Revcar Fasteners, Inc., a Würth Industry North America company and part of the worldwide Würth Group, has announced an expansion in the Roanoke Region. Würth Revcar Fasteners is adding 50 jobs and investing $5 million in renovations to an existing facility on Avery Row in Roanoke County.  The facility on Avery Row will serve as the company’s new headquarters and its primary distribution center for the East Coast. It will be used to ship directly to customers throughout North America and distribute inventory to eight regional branch locations.  The building will be the single largest Würth facility in North America and is expected to open in the third quarter of 2022.

Würth Revcar Fasteners is a full line/full-service assembly component supplier and an approved level one fastener distributor to many US Navy and military accounts worldwide. Revcar Fasteners was founded in Roanoke in 1969 and has been headquartered in the Roanoke Valley since that time. The Würth Group, the world’s largest industrial distributor and leader of innovative supply chain solutions, acquired the company in 1996 as part of the Würth Industry North America network of companies. Würth Revcar Fasteners has enjoyed steady growth over the years and has expanded its primary service area to include the East Coast and Gulf Regions of the United States.

“We are excited to relocate Würth Revcar to a new, larger headquarters in Roanoke,” shared Dan Hill, chief executive officer of Würth Industry North America, “This move represents another significant milestone for our fast-growing organization. The new facility supports our customer-centric distribution strategy in North America while accommodating our growing team. The additional space will also help drive innovation and provide the opportunity for further expansion.”

“We are excited about the opportunity for a world class headquarters that will allow us to attract, retain, and develop top talent in the same location as a highly efficient, large scale distribution facility,” said Chapman Revercomb, managing director of Wurth Revcar Fasteners. “We expect to add 50 office and warehousing positions as we ramp up operations in the new facility,” he added.

Würth Revcar Fasteners’ deep ties to the region guided the company as they conducted a thorough location search. “We are excited that 1 Avery Row will allow us to remain in the Roanoke Valley, where we’ve been headquartered for more than 50 years.”

According to Revercomb, their initial investment is expected to be in excess of $5 million in office renovations, sustainable energy solutions and warehouse infrastructure, with subsequent investments in warehouse automation and equipment to far exceed this first phase of investment.

The parties to the transaction express their appreciation to the Roanoke Regional Partnership and Roanoke County Economic Development for their role the project and for fostering a business environment that attracts new development and retention of Roanoke-based businesses.  Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer represented Würth Revcar Fasteners.  Binswanger represented the property owner, Blue Ridge Partners, L.L.C.

“As a family-owned company with a 75-year history, we place the utmost importance on positively impacting the communities we operate in, and we are thrilled to play a role in the growth of the Roanoke area through our new building,” says Dan Hill.

Virginia’s Talent Accelerator: A Leading Workforce Program

In 2019, the Commonwealth of Virginia realized that recruiting skilled talent and workforce development were crucial factors when it comes to location selection for businesses evaluating expansion and relocation projects.

That was the genesis of the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.

Since the program’s inception, state and regional partners have created a world-class, turn-key custom recruitment and training incentive program that marries the community college system and workforce partners with public and private entities. The state made a significant investment into this program, and it’s paying big dividends for businesses operating in Virginia.

In its second year of operation, the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program ranked second nationally by Business Facilities magazine.