Outdoor Industry
Outdoor Industry

Get Outside … and Get to Work

The Roanoke Region has always been an outdoor wonderland. Did you know that it’s an outdoor business center, too? With a rich mix of outdoor amenities and a burgeoning outdoor industry cluster, there is limitless potential for growth.

Build your brand at the crossroads of outdoor amenities in Virginia. For mountain or road biking, hiking or camping, bass or fly fishing, climbing or caving, whitewater or flatwater, Roanoke is your ideal testing ground. With more than 21% of all land designated for public recreation, five state parks, lakes, trails, and bike paths galore, it’s no wonder that Roanoke is an East Coast destination for outdoor adventure and business development.

Strategic Advantages

  • A top East Coast destination for outdoor activities.
  • A culture of outdoor recreation that supports service providers.
  • Millions are being spent promoting the region’s outdoor image.
  • Two-thirds of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive, providing fast, convenient access to your markets.
  • Access to a young, vibrant population with more undergraduate students per capita basis than in San Francisco, Austin, or Boston.
  • The cost of doing business and cost of living are well below national averages.
  • Workers comp and unemployment insurance costs are among the lowest in the U.S.
  • Virginia is a right-to-work state.

Perfect Testing Grounds

Build your business in an active community of outdoor users. From hiking to mountain biking, the Roanoke Region has a solid reputation as a metro-mountain community on the East Coast. And there’s plenty to explore.