For more than 40 years the Salem Civic Center has been Southwest Virginia’s Sports and Entertainment Mecca, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that in 2009, the Taliaferro Complex continued to be a hot ticket for stimulating the local economy.
Nearly one million people attended events at the Salem Civic Center, Salem Stadium and Salem Memorial Ballpark-Lewis Gale Field in 2009 and those patrons helped the complex generate an economic impact to the Greater Roanoke Valley of more than $59 million.
“In spite of the slow economy nationwide, the Salem Civic Center has been able to host more 
events than facilities that are comparable to our size in the southeast,” says Carey Harveycutter, Salem’s Director of Civic Facilities. “We actually had several events exceed expectations, so I’m pleased we were able to overcome both the economy and the weather.”
Promoters are more selective than ever when times are tough and Salem was able to attract three successful concerts based largely on the Civic Center’s experienced staff its proven track record.
“The Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean and The Old Crow Medicine Show were all good fits for us, but we got them because of our longstanding relationship with the promoters and our staff’s ability to stretch an envelope to ensure a successful show,” says Harveycutter.
Events like these concerts or larger scale productions like the Salem Fair, the NCAA Championships and the Roanoke Valley Horse Show also generated indirect spending that was felt far beyond the box office.
“When the Civic Center has concerts and other large events during the work week we ramp up our staff level to equal that of a weekend night because we know we will be busy both before and after the event,” says Mac and Bob’s President Bob Rotanz. “With the recent NCAA Basketball championship and teams from softball over at the Moyer Complex coming in on that same weekend, our sales increased $5000 on Friday alone.”
Numbers were up on several fronts including attendance for the Salem Fair. In 2009, nearly 300,000 folks toured the fair’s 14-acre midway at some point during its 11-day run. That turned out to be an increase of 10 percent, despite 2 nights of rainy weather.
“It’s difficult in a down economic time to get programs like the Salem Fair that do so well,” says Harveycutter. “ODAC basketball and VHSL State wrestling aren’t huge moneymakers, but they are good for the community.”
“The Civic Center is one of the top producers of business for us and we recently enjoyed a 20 percent increase during the recent NCAA Division III and ODAC Basketball Championships,” says Blaine Shively, the General Manager of the Hampton Inn in Salem. “The Civic Center sponsored concerts, business meetings, horse show and Stagg Bowl provides the area with a much needed infusion of revenues from visitors throughout the year.”
A Look Behind the Roanoke Region’s Foreclosure Numbers
0 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/23/2010 09:15:00 AMThe news came out last week with great fanfare: foreclosure activity in the Roanoke, Virginia region is up. Yes it is. Foreclosures increased at the national and state lev
els and in many communities in the southeastern United States.
And, though higher than in February, the March numbers are lower than many other communities. There were 147 foreclosure filings in the Roanoke MSA in March, up 31.2 percent from 112 in February. The percentage increase is below the state average of 34.5 percent.
Activity is up in the first quarter of 2010 17.3% compared to the same period last year. Roanoke Region fares better than other communities with which we often compete in the quarter-to-quarter comparison.
VA Tech’s College of Engineering Ranked 25th U.S. News and World Reports
0 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/23/2010 09:13:00 AMVirginia Tech’s College of Engineering jumped two spots to crack the Top 25 in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Graduate Schools 2011 survey. It was tied with engineering schools at Johns Hopkins University and The Ohio State University and was the highest ranked engineering school in Virginia.
Other high rankings for Virginia Tech in the survey include: the College of Science’s psychology department, ranked 33rd among clinical psychology programs; the Career and Technical Education graduate program of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences School of Education, tied for 4th; the public affairs program of the School of Public and International Affairs, tied for 27th, and the Pamplin College of Business, 41st among the nation’s best part-time MBA Schools.
Read more about the rankings Here>>>
Roanoke, Virginia Region Climbs 40 Spots on Forbes’ List of Best Places for Business and Careers
0 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/23/2010 09:12:00 AM Roanoke (39th) is one of four Virginia metro areas in the top 50 among Forbes.com’s 200 Best Places for Business and Careers, along with Lynchburg (28th), Virginia Beach (45th) and 
Richmond (50th).
Roanoke jumped 40 places from the 2009 list. Forbes uses cost of doing business, projected job growth and educational attainment to determine the areas with the most economic opportunity. This is the 12th annual list.
“Roanoke continues to make progress economically, particularly in a climate where so many metros are losing ground,” said Beth Doughty, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. “The Forbes.com ranking is just one more example of Roanoke attracting the attention it deserves.”
Roanoke ranked 61st for cost of doing business, based on cost of labor, energy, taxes and office space; 90th for projected job growth, and 140th for educational attainment.
Des Moines, IA placed first. Merced, CA is 200th.
Read the whole article Here>>>Roanoke, Virginia Region adding LEED-certified buildings
0 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/23/2010 09:12:00 AMGreen construction continues to gain momentum in the Roanoke, Virginia, region. A variety of new and renovated properties now boast LEED certification for incorporating features that reduce their environmental impact.
LEED is the rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which sets national standards for excellence in green construction.
The latest company in the region to achieve the recognition is highway-repair contractor Lanford Brothers, which achieved silver LEED certification for its 8,800-square-foot facility in Botetourt County. Its headquarters features a roof with plants, natural light, low-water fixtures, recycled steel and other energy- and money-saving examples.
For instance, 418 tons of existing asphalt were removed, recycled and reinstalled in place, without leaving the site. This reduced landfill waste and transport emissions and saved costs by reusing existing material.
The Lanford Brothers building joins three properties in the City of Roanoke that have achieved LEED designation: the Claude Moore Education Complex (gold), Williamson Road Fire Station (gold) and State and City Building renovations (certified).
In addition, eight other projects in the region have expressed an interest in pursuing LEED certification, including the renovation of downtown Roanoke’s City Market Building, the new Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke County and Carilion Clinic’s new outpatient clinic in Roanoke.
Taliaferro Complex Impacts Region in 2009
0 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/13/2010 09:17:00 AMOutside Magazine Names Local Outfitter Best
0 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/13/2010 09:16:00 AMROANOKE, Va. (April 6, 2010) – Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing near Roanoke has been named to Outside magazine’s third annual “Best Places to Work” list. Wilderness Adventure was ranked No. 25 of 50 selected companies. The full list and related story will be published in the May issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands April 13.
Outside’s “Best Places to Work” list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The year-long selection process began with an outreach effort that 
identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in the
“It’s gratifying to see a national magazine recognize our devotion to our loyal, hard-working and hard-playing staff, “said Gene Nervo, founder and president of Wilderness Adventure. “We would be nothing without our staff, and that’s why we provide a workplace that is rewarding, challenging and fun.”
Among the perks: meals, personal cabin, flexible work schedule, staff outings, ongoing training and use of any outdoor equipment, including gear discounts for new equipment. There’s also a “staff happiness fund” to provide fun events and activities for the team. “Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing employs people with a high standard of moral character and a desire to teach in a wilderness setting,” Nervo says. “This is a special group of employees with a passion for the outdoors.”
Julia Bradford, group program director, credits Nervo for making it such a great place to work. “Colonel Nervo is an amazing man who has always put the needs of his employees above the needs of himself and even sometimes the company,”
“These 50 companies come from a vast array of industries but they're all following the same enlightened path,” said Michael Roberts, Executive Editor of Outside. “They’re successful businesses in a challenging economy precisely because they support a proper work-life balance. They know that benefits like on-site gyms and fitness classes, reimbursements for ski passes and sports racing fees, and support for community service efforts during work hours make their employees happier and thus more productive.”
Salem Working To Make Greenway Impact-Neutral to the Roanoke River
1 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/13/2010 09:16:00 AM In August 2009, as part of its commitment to the environment, Salem pledged to offset any loss of natural riparian areas along the river due to construction of the Roanoke River Greenway.
Now that the greenway is in place, fulfilling that goal has become a priority for the city. This weekend, volunteers from all around Salem, representing a wide variety of organizations and age groups, will assist city staff members by planting 205 seedlings along the trail.
The volunteer groups include: The Salem Garden Club, The Salem Rotary Club, Salem High School, Roanoke College Earthbound, Roanoke Tree Stewards, Novozymes Biologicals and the Virginia Department of Forestry.
At maturity, this new area will offset any vegetation that was removed during the construction process, making building the greenway as impact-neutral to the river, as possible.
“The Roanoke River is a great natural resource for all of us, and the ever-expanding greenway is allowing more and more people to enjoy this treasure, “ says Salem Mayor Randy Foley “By planting these trees, we’re minimizing any impact the greenway construction may have had on the river’s eco-system.”
The tree planting ceremony will be held on the greenway, near the intersection of Orchard Dr. and East Riverside Dr. It will begin at 9:45 a.m. with comments by the Mayor. Last Saturday, volunteers installed plants along the riverbank in Riverside Park to stabilize that area and, hopefully, prevent erosion along that section of the greenway.
CONTACT:
Benjamin W. Tripp
City Planner
City of Salem
PH: 540-375-4001
btripp@salemva.gov
Mike Stevens
City of Salem
Communications Director
(540)375-4112 office
(540)353-2041 cell
mstevens@salemva.gov
Bassmaster Elite Series - Blue Ridge Brawl returns to Smith Mountain Lake
0 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/13/2010 09:15:00 AM April 15th- 18th, 2010
2010 Blue Ridge Brawl returns to Smith Mountain Lake
The local 2010 ESPN Bassmaster Blue Ridge Brawl Tournament Committee is pleased to announce 
that Parkway Marina will again be the host facility for the Elite Series tournament on April 15-18, 2010. Television coverage of the tournament will be shown on ESPN2 on Saturday, May 1st. The use of Parkway Marina was a huge success during the last Brawl in 2007 & 2009, providing a quality experience for spectators and anglers alike. Parkway will be the location for the daily weigh-ins, as well as all tournament related festivities. Back by popular demand the Tournament Committee will offer shuttle services to bring spectators from Bernard’s Landing in Franklin County by water to the tournament area. For more information about these and other exciting events please visit the official Blue Ridge Brawl website at www.blueridgebrawl.com or call 540-483-9293.
College Day – Show your School Spirit-April 16th
Adding to the excitement of the Bassmaster Elite Blue Ridge Brawl launches and weigh in, we would like to invite you to spend the weekend with us and participate in some extra special activities planned. Friday, April 16th is College Day at the Brawl. Plan to hang out after the weigh in for some food, beverages and terrific entertainment with County Bound formally known as Pickin Buds. Get your pitching arm ready because there will also be a Single/Double elimination Corn Hole Competition. Youth and Adult categories. There is no charge to participate in Friday’s activities however there will be a $10 fee to participate in the Corn Hole competition. Special tribute to Virginia Tech University planned.
Take Me Fishing – Fish Like the Pros Youth Fishing Tournament –April 17th
Registration begins a 9 am for the Take Me Fishing-Fish Like the Pros Youth Fishing Tournament. The only thing the kids will need for this competition is bait, tackle and of course their fishing poles. Door prizes, t-shirts and lunch for all the participants. Children will be allowed on the ESPN stage to weigh and display their fish caught. So bring your camera. Participants with the most weight wins!!! Visit the Blue Ridge Brawl website for complete details. This event made possible by a grant through the Take Me Fishing Foundation and Franklin County Parks and Recreation.
Who will be crowned the 2010 Blue Ridge Brawl Karaoke Idol? You have heard of the American Idol well we want to know who is going to be the Blue Ridge Brawl Karaoke Idol. Do you like to sing karaoke? Do you have lots of friend/fans? Bring them out to the weigh in Saturday afternoon and then participate in the one and only Blue Ridge Brawl Karaoke Idol competition. Cash prizes to 1st through 5th place. Cost for competition is $10. If you don’t want to participate stick around for the food, beverages and fun.
U.S. Sportsman Alliance to participate in this year’s Blue Ridge Brawl
Beginning at noon on Saturday and running through Sunday’s final weigh in the U.S. Sportsman’s
Alliance will be on hand offering archery, sport shooting with BB guns and outdoor advocate groups. Also, involved with the U.S. Sportsman Alliance this year is the BASS Casting Kid’s Program. Similar to the NFL’s Punt, Pass & Kick event, this allows children the opportunity to Pitch, Flip and Cast onto a target. Winners from this event will get to go on to the state level this fall.Commercial Vendor and Volunteers still Needed for Blue Ridge Brawl Tournament
The local 2010 ESPN Bassmaster “Blue Ridge Brawl” Tournament Committee is asking for assistance from the public to put on a successful tournament in April. There are dozens of jobs that need to be done and volunteers are needed to make sure the event goes smoothly. Volunteering not only helps make the event more successful, but it is a great way to get a better view of the behind-the-scenes action. Interested persons should contact Debra Weir, Committee Co-Chairman, at 540-420-8501 or debraweir@frankincountyva.org sign up.
There is also limited number of commercial and non-profit vendor spots still available. Certain restrictions apply so call Debra today.
Valley Business Front Magazine- Going Green Edition
0 comments Posted by Lee Crawford at 4/13/2010 09:14:00 AMThe Roanoke Regional Partnership’s efforts to catalog and promote the area’s outdoor assets are featured in the cover story in the April issue of Valley Business FRONT.
In keeping with the “green” theme of the issue, it is accessible only online. Click here to read more about the Partnership’s work and to see how our region is going green:http://www.vbfront.com/VBFront_Apr10/index.html
Also, check out Roanokeoutside.com for things you can do personally or
Other sites to check out:
Posts
