Commuting between the Roanoke and New River Valleys is getting smarter. In a big way.

The Smart Way, a regional public transportation service operated by Valley Metro, on December 17 introduced the first of its four new, larger 57-seat motor coaches manufactured by Motor Coach Industries (MCI) that will replace the current fleet of 32-seat buses traveling between Roanoke, Christiansburg and Blacksburg.



The new, 45-foot-long coaches feature more space, additional luggage capacity, overhead luggage bins, wireless Internet access, six 10-inch video monitors and LED lighting. There’s even a wheel chair lift and bike rack on each bus.

Smart Way ridership is up 6.2 percent this year, and officials believe the new buses willsmartbus2w_200.jpg help drive additional demand. Through October, 48,927 commuters have traveled the Smart Way this year – an average of nearly 5,000 per month. Since Smart Way began service in 2004, the number of commuters is up almost 150 percent.

Four buses are joining the Smart Way fleet. Each costs $490,000, paid for through federal, state and local sources. The coaches go into service January 4.

The Smart Way links the Roanoke Region and the New River Valley for a current fare of only $3 each way. It begins service at Campbell Court in downtown Roanoke, with stops at Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke Regional Airport, two park-and-ride lots along Interstate-81 at exits 140 and 118A, the Christiansburg K-mart, the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Main Street in downtown Blacksburg and Squires Student Center on the Virginia Tech campus. Maps, schedules and additional information are available at www.smartwaybus.com.

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RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the formation of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority (IEIA). Governor Kaine also announced the appointment of members of the Board of Directors to the IEIA.

“This legislation streamlines government, saves resources and mandates thevirginiaorg.jpg development of a consistent, long-term plan for identifying research priorities,” Governor Kaine said. “That will in turn foster economic development opportunities in the Commonwealth and encourage cooperation between the public and private sector in research and development-related initiatives.”

Created by the General Assembly and signed into law earlier this year by Governor Kaine, the new Authority continues the work of the Innovative Technology Authority, which was established in 1984. The legislation consolidated two existing entities with research and development (R&D)-related responsibilities – the ITA and the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission – into a single authority — the IEIA. The new Authority continues the work of the Innovative Technology Authority, with the added duty to create a strategic R&D roadmap for the Commonwealth.

“The new Authority and its Board will help accelerate the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)’s expanded role in new company formation and strategic development of research and innovation priorities,” said Leonard M. Pomata, Secretary of Technology. “It will help all regions of the Commonwealth achieve solid footing in the growing innovation economy.”

The thirteen-member Board, appointed jointly by the Governor and General Assembly, consists of:

The Honorable Leonard M. Pomata, Secretary of Technology, Commonwealth of Virginia*

Daniel Bannister, President, Bannister Enterprises*

Ted Cahall, Chief Technology Officer, AOL, LLC

Dr. Ray O. Johnson, Sr. Vice President & CTO, Lockheed Martin Corporation

Dr. Lydia W. Thomas, Board of Trustees of The George Washington University and retired President and CEO, Noblis, Inc.

Hooks Johnston, General Partner, Valhalla Partners

Suzanne H. King, Partner, New Enterprise Associates*

Wayne Hunter, Managing Partner, Harbert Venture Partners

Eric Hansen, Chairman, CEO/President, Co-founder, Innovative Wireless Technologies Inc.

Rick Kapani, Managing Partner, Vision360 Solutions*

Dr. Charles W. Steger, President, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University*

Dr. Linwood H. Rose, President, James Madison University

Dr. Alan G. Merten, President, George Mason University

Originally, CIT focused on enhancing the research and technology transfer activities of Virginia universities. Having accomplished that mission, today CIT is focused on creating new technologies, entrepreneurs and technology companies that enhance the Commonwealth’s global competitiveness. Its operating structure consists of four service lines: CIT Entrepreneur, CIT Connect, CIT R&D and CIT Broadband.

In addition, CIT is working with the General Assembly and the Commonwealth’s 10 Technology Councils to create the Commonwealth Innovation Index, a long-term innovation assessment tool that is creating both a road map to the innovation economy, while providing elected officials and business leaders with valuable guidance and expertise so that they can make targeted and wise investments that benefits all regions of the Commonwealth.


* denotes returning Board members

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BALLYHACK GOLF CLUB HAS BEEN RANKED #3 ON GOLF MAGAZINES BEST NEW COURSES IN AMERICA FOR 2009
1. Red Ledges Golf Club
Heber City, Utah
7,653 yards, par 72
redledges.com

The 200th U.S. course from Jack Nicklaus is another winner. Meandering through Utah's signature red rock landforms 45 minutes southeast of Salt Lake City, Red Ledges combines typical Nicklaus hallmarks (visual intimidation, supreme challenge) with atypical touches (jagged-edge bunkers, a blind shot here and there, carom-inducing contours and greens laced with false fronts).

Toss in stunning views of Mt. Timpanogos and the Heber Valley — most memorably from the 203-yard par-3 9th — and you've got a ledge that's worth the climb.

2. Wilderness Club
Eureka, Mont.
7,207 yards, par 72
thewildernessclub.com
Designers: Nick Faldo/Schmidt-Curley

3. Ballyhack Golf Club
Roanoke, Viriginia (VA).
7,294 yards, par 72
ballyhackgolfclub.com
Designer: Lester George
17th Hole at Ballyhack
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It’s still warm enough in the Roanoke Region for one last paddle.

The Jackson River and Cowpasture Rivers convergeriverback.jpg in northern Botetourt County to form the James River. These headwaters, called the Upper James, provide some of the finest canoeing, Kayaking and freshwater fishing in Virginia. A 16-mile stretch of the James River between Eagle Rock and Springwood is the only part of the James River that has been designated a Virginia Scenic River.

The James is renowned for its smallmouth fishing, and the 45-mile stretch that winds its way through Botetourt County is becoming one of the most popular muskie sections of water in the state. The river also offers excellent rock bass, bream and catfish fishing.

It’s easy to catch a ride on the river to see the last of the fall colors. For a list of outfitters, Click Here.

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ROANOKE'S PROFILE IS RISING- VIRGINIA BUSINESS
Once known as a railroad town, Roanoke is gaining mileage these days as a competitive business location. With a vibrant arts scene, new medical school and the continuing redevelopment of its downtown, the profile of this mountain community is rising.

In fact, the Roanoke region landed a national accolade in October. It was this year’s top pick from among 250 metropolitan statistical areas by Business Facilities, a national publication for site selectors and economic development. The magazine’s editors extolled the area’s low unemployment (7.1 percent compared to a national rate of 10.2 percent), rising home prices and diversifying economy as proof that it’s “positively pointing in the right direction.”

That kind of exposure is a big plus in the marketing of the region’s commercial real estate market. As Virginia’s fourth largest metropolitan area, the Roanoke region came through the recession pretty well. “Roanoke is insulated, to some degree, from the vast swings the economy sees,” says Bob Copty, a senior vice president in Thalhimer’s Roanoke office. While the region experienced some closings, its core industries of health care, automotive components and advanced manufacturing remained intact.

The region’s only Fortune 500 company, Advance Auto Parts Inc., continues to invest in the area. It plans to spend more than $4 million expanding its corporate headquarters at Crossroads Corporate Business Center in Roanoke. The move will allow the company to consolidate two locations into one, with 900 employees expected to work eventually out of the new office.

Overall, Copty describes demand for market office space as “surprisingly robust.” The region had a vacancy rate of 11.3 percent by the end of the third quarter, according to Thalhimer’s market report, well below the national rate of 13 percent. One success story can be found in the neighboring New River Valley, home to Virginia Tech and its Corporate Research Center (CRC).

As businesses spin out from research enterprises in the park, the area is benefiting, says Jeanne Stosser, president and CEO of GMC Leasing and owner of SAS builders. “It’s a great feeder spot,” she says.

The CRC includes 27 buildings with 140 tenants and 2,200 employees. It plans to roughly double its size with the help of a $1.9 million federal grant, which will cover much of the infrastructure costs. Research and businesses there now focus mostly on high-tech fields such as biotechnology, engineering and design through partnerships with Virginia Tech, a top 50 research university.

Northrop Grumman, the country’s second largest defense contractor, opened an office in October and already is talking about a second one. It plans to work with the university’s college of engineering on research contracts, nuclear engineering and alternative energy.

Not doing as well is the area’s industrial market. Some automotive related businesses, such as Johnson Controls and JTEKT of Botetourt County, have announced closings due to a slowdown in the industry. By the third quarter, overall vacancy in the industrial/flex market hit nearly 15 percent, according to the Thalhimer report. Buffering that spike was the recent opening of LiteSteel Technologies’ new North American plant in Botetourt. The Australian company built a $30 million facility that eventually will employ 55 people.

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