THE ROANOKE REGION OF VIRGINIA

A Salem company has introduced a new way to care for loved ones – and it’s generating interest from around the world.

N2Care’s MedCottage is a portable, modular medical home designed to make it possible for families to take care of loved ones on their property as an alternative to long-term care facilities.

Shortly after the MedCottage was unveiled in the Roanoke, Virginia Region, the company received national media coverage, leading to thousands of inquiries from people looking for an alternative model for healthcare as 78 million baby boomers prepare for their senior years.

The 12-by-24-foot MedCottage is loaded with technology and amenities for the health, comfort and safety of the elderly or those recovering from illness or injury.

“The MedCottage model for healthcare offers a totally new paradigm,” says the Rev. Kenneth Dupin, founder and CEO of N2Care and the innovator behind the MedCottage. “With a daunting reality looming, we must, as a society, consider every option to take pressure off the system. The MedCottage is such a cost-effective alternative – and baby boomers are ready for new options for aging in place.”

The MedCottage can be purchased or leased and temporarily placed on the caregiving family’s property. Like an RV, it connects to a single-family house's electrical and water supplies.

It’s already authorized for use in Virginia and is designed to comply with local zoning ordinances throughout the nation. Earlier this year, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell signed into law HB 1307, “Zoning Provisions for Temporary Family Healthcare Structures.”

The Virginia-made MedCottage is equipped with the latest technology to monitor vital signs, filter the air for contaminants and communicate with the outside world via high-tech video and cell phone text technology. Sensors alert caregivers to an occupant's fall, and a computer can remind the occupant to take medications. The technology also provides entertainment, offering a selection of music, reading material and movies.

Botetourt County places in the top 5 "Hidden-Gem Wine Regions" at number 4.

4. Botetourt County, Virginia
Louis and Clark began their fabled journey in Fincastle, Virginia, the town where you should start your own exploration of the three family-run vineyards of Botetourt County. All three sit in the valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains, boasting spectacular views, close proximity to the scenic drives of the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, and canoeing on the James River. The vineyards of the area produce a variety of wines, ranging from Rieslings to Cabernet Franc.

Roanoke is about 30 minutes to an hour away, depending on which vineyard you visit first. But it's possible to stay right on Fincastle Vineyard and Winery property, which has its own tranquil bed and breakfast. Check out the wooden hiking trails of the 300-acre Blue Ridge Vineyard before packing a lunch and heading for the Virginia Mountain Vineyards, which welcomes picnickers in its gazebo. If you plan your trip in the fall, stop by Ikenberrry Orchards for a variety of apples, a corn maze, and homemade apple butter and preserves.

If you listen closely, you can often hear echoes in the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding the Roanoke, Virginia, Region.

Sure, you’ll hear birds chatter, hikers murmur or mountain bikes clatter. But more and more you’ll hear music.

Bluegrass. Classical. Country. Rock. Gospel. Jazz. Blues. Funk. Hip-hop – you name it. Whatever your taste, we’ve got it here.

A combination of new venues, diverse demographics, affordable entertainment, community leadership and proximity to music roots are all reasons why the Roanoke Region is drawing artists from throughout the nation – and growing throngs of fans.

“Music lovers in Roanoke are creating a culture that transcends this region,” explains Robyn Schon, assistant general manager of the Roanoke Civic Center, which in the past few months has hosted diverse artists ranging from Celtic Woman to Keith Urban to ZZ Top and Dokken.

“Bands and artists of every genre are surfacing in this community; music venues are taking greater financial risks by booking more eclectic performers; and the demographics in this area are diverse enough to ensure that every genre of music will have a decent audience,” Schon says. “As a result, the region is being recognized for the artistry and diversity of the music available here.”

And the music isn’t just in large venues. There’s music on mountains, at wineries, at festivals, in clubs and restaurants, in concert halls seating a few dozen, even on top of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“Live music is always central to the perception of whether a community has a healthy cultural scene or not,” Schon says. “I think the fact that people are talking more about the increased number of concerts, the variety of music venues hosting good music, and the diversity of music genres makes our music scene thrive.”

A big factor, local music experts say, is the rise of a creative community dedicated to putting the region on the music map. Developer Ed Walker built the Kirk Avenue Music Hall, a downtown venue with a no-nonsense interior that’s attracting both up-and-comers and industry veterans.

Music promoter Gary Jackson, who brings in acts for Kirk Avenue Music Hall, credits live-music lovers, transplants like himself and long-time residents such as Walker, restaurant owner Jason Martin and Dylan Locke, the artistic director at Jefferson Center who owns DLP Concerts with his wife, Heather Krantz.

“There are many who are very engaged in bringing talent to the region,” Jackson says.

Through Jackson’s nationwide connections, he’s moved music from beyond the walls and into the community. The initial Down by Downtown music festival attracted thousands to Roanoke for an eclectic mix of rock, pop, jazz, classical, hip-hop, Americana and more throughout the city, culminating in an outdoor riverside concert.

“This one could be huge when it’s all said and done,” Jackson says.

Meanwhile, the Jefferson Center continues to attract sold-out shows. The building also hosts the Music Lab, a recording studio for budding musicians.

And even long-time organizations such as the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra are mixing it up. The RSO is bringing in Liza Minelli, Blake Shelton and Boz Skaggs, among others, to introduce symphony to different audiences.

“We believe strongly that the greater role of a symphony orchestra in any community is to serve the community with great live performances,” says Beth Pline, executive director. “Our versatility, and the caliber of our musicians and programming, means we can bring a unique and powerful experience to music lovers of many kinds. … People need these experiences -- they want and need live music!"

Then there’s the influence of the Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, which comes through the Franklin County area of the region.

“The Crooked Road is a big reason that the Roanoke Region is being put on the map,” Schon says. “Bluegrass, folk, Americana -- those are the roots of this region. It's no longer uncool to be a young person and listen to bluegrass.”
The Crooked Road was established in 2004 to promote tourism and economic development by celebrating Southwest Virginia's bluegrass and old-time mountain music traditions. The winding, 250-mile corridor covers 10 counties and three cities. Its new executive director, Jack Hinshelwood, is an award-winning fiddler from the greater Roanoke area.
The recent high notes are prompting local music supporters to think big. Is the region on the cusp of a true music destination?

“Yes,” promoter Jackson says emphatically. “I see a vibrant music scene that’s alive with people and great music all year round.”

RADFORD -- After three years of engineering and work, the first train to travel the Heartland Corridor through Southwest Virginia stopped shortly before noon today for a celebration and ribbon-cutting.

The first train to ride the route left the Port of Hampton Roads on its way to Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago with both domestic and imported goods.

At Radford, the 140-box train parked outside a Norfolk Southern Corp. celebration attended by dozens of transportation, state and railroad officials.

The Heartland Corridor project is an effort to increase intermodal freight capacity by raising clearances in 28 tunnels on a NS line. The first phase of the tunnel work began in October 2007. Using the corridor, trains will be able to shave off about 200 miles and up to a day’s transit time between the East Coast and the Midwest. Currently, double-stack trains must take routes by way of Harrisburg, Pa., or Knoxville, Tenn.

via roanoke.com

Biomedical and biotechnical jobs led the region in growth last year, outpacing all other sectors.

The trend for growth is expected to continue, according to an analysis by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission.

"The industry is fast becoming a strong and regionally significant engine for growth and prosperity," the report said.

Expanding on the region's growth in biosciences is partly tied to the maturation of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, which officially opened Wednesday with little fanfare.

The study showed that from 2006 to 2009, the region's overall rate of employment decreased 5 percent. However, employment in the biomedical and biotechnical sector increased nearly 8.9 percent during the same time.

"It's been quite dramatic in terms of the data," said John Hull, regional economic development manager for the commission and the person responsible for analyzing the trends for the report. "Things are happening here that aren't happening elsewhere."

Even as the sector has been identified as a significant area of economic growth potential nationally, the region's growth outpaced the nation's. Nationally, employment between 2006 and 2009 remained nearly stagnant, decreasing 0.29 percent, according to the report.

Building on the region's development in the biosciences means continuing to focus attention on things such as the new research institute, Hull said.

But for some in the community, the institute has seemingly taken a back seat to its partner the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, which began classes in August.

"We've heard a lot of talk about the medical school, but we hadn't heard a lot of people talking about the research institute," said Cory Donovan, executive director of the NewVa Corridor Technology Council. "A lot of people didn't know anything about it."

Donovan and other business leaders are looking to change the relative low profile of the institute, because they are convinced the institute is a key to the cultivating the region's economic growth in biomedicine, biotechnology and health care.

"People are just realizing that this is a huge opportunity and this is where a lot of the growth and job opportunities and economic development is going to come from," Donovan said.

In July, Donovan sought to galvanize the technology community about the potential by giving the podium to the research institute's executive director during the NCTC's monthly breakfast gathering.

It was a record crowd of nearly 150 people. After the presentation the hotel conference room was buzzing.

Michael Friedlander had been in his position as executive director of the institute for only six weeks and yet he had sparked an enthusiasm among the crowd that native business executives have long tried to elicit.

"We just got a glimpse of the future of Roanoke, and it's exciting," said Mary Miller, president of Blacksburg-based Interactive Design and Development Inc.

Friedlander ended his talk pleading for community support.

"We need community involvement," he said. "We can't do this in isolation."

An immediate response came in the form of a line as attendees with business cards in hand waited to speak to him.

Miller, who is also president of the NCTC board, said the institute allows the region to import an intelligence base that can help to stimulate more work force opportunities.

Fincastle, VA – Despite the current economic environment and the loss of the JTEKT auto assembly manufacturer, Botetourt County continues to maintain high financial ratings due to prudent financial management. The Fitch Ratings organization cited the following in support of its most recent AA+ rating of Botetourt county bonds:

• robust reserve levels
• strong commitment to pay-as-you-go capital financing
• low overall indebtedness
• above average amortization

Other factors that contributed to the rating rationale included: below average unemployment rates and above average wealth levels relative to the state and to the nation. The Fitch ratings also cited continued stability in the county’s economic base, and the maintenance of sound fund balance levels and balanced operations.

County Finance Director, Tony Zerrilla, explains that “the County has been able to withstand the current economic pressures by employing a proper blend of debt service and pay-as-you-go financings in combination with a high level of scrutiny regarding operational expenditures.” He also noted that “the County and Schools management staff contributed to the effort by applying preventative cost measures in order to contend with stagnant local revenues and revenue reductions from the State in FY10.”

The raters observed that “Botetourt’s financial position is strong.” To County administrators, the rating confirms that Botetourt County is well positioned to meet the fiscal challenges in upcoming years.

Foreclosure activity in the Roanoke, Virginia MSA is down from a year ago and home sales and prices are up.

Last month saw foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions) on 166 properties in the Roanoke MSA, according to RealtyTrac. That’s a 24.5 percent drop from April 2009. By contrast, foreclosure filings rose 12.9 percent statewide over the same period.

Some call it shopping. We like to think of it as retail therapy.

The Roanoke Region’s retail scene has remained resilient even as other areas held on to their pocketbooks during the recession, mirroring positive economic trends for the region. Consider:

• Per-household retail sales in the Roanoke MSA is $44,920 – 12 percent above the U.S. average of $39,837.
• Per-household retail sales ranked No. 93 of U.S. metro areas in 2009 – up 52 spots from 2008.
• Median household income within an hour’s drive is projected to grow at a faster rate than Virginia and the United States from 2000 to 2014, according to ESRI, a provider of geographic software and data.

The region’s retail options range from upscale boutiques to down-home shops, and popular national-brand stores to the oldest continuously operating farmer’s market in Virginia.

Thriving retail is a reflection of the region’s economic health.

Roanoke jumped 40 places to No. 39 in the annual Forbes.com 200 Best Places for Business and Careers. Forbes uses cost of doing business, projected job growth and educational attainment to determine the areas with the most economic opportunity.

The Roanoke MSA’s unemployment rate dropped from 8.4 percent in February to 8.2 percent in March – the first such drop since November 2009.

Our unemployment rate tracked with the state (7.6 percent) and national (10.2 percent) rates, which also dropped by two-tenths of a percentage point from February to March. The Charlottesville, Virginia Beach and Harrisonburg MSAs show lower unemployment rates than Roanoke, as does the Washington, DC metro area. While Lynchburg and Richmond saw a two-tenths of a percent drop, their rate is higher than Roanoke’s at 8.4 percent. The Blacksburg MSA’s unemployment rate rose from 9.1 percent to 9.5 percent.

The region continues to have a lower unemployment rate than many communities in the Southeast.

Roanoke, Va., April 2010- RIDE Solutions and its partners are exited to launch Bike Month with three events to get your bike ready to ride and your family on the road:

• Bike Ready, Sunday, May 2nd from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. At Virginia Western Community College. Bike technicians from Cyclo-Ward Bicycle Repair and Bike Barn will offer safety checks and basic bicycle tune ups, all for free. Sharebike will offer a bicycle recycling service, where bicycles which are beyond repair may be offered as a tax-deductable donation. Sharebike will strip the bikes for usable parts and make sure the rest is recycled. Instructors from Wilderness Adventure will be on hand for riding and safety lessons. Sponsored by RIDE Solutions and Virginia Western Community College.
  

• Mayor’s Bike Ride, Saturday, May at 10:00 a.m. Starting from Roanoke Parks and Recreation, 210 Reserve Ave. Join Mayor David Bowers on a 2.5 mile family ride along the Roanoke River Greenway to Downtown Roanoke, where riders can enjoy the Strawberry Festival and Chili Cook-off. The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club will also offer their annual Bicycle Friendly awards. Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club.
  

It’s the Roanoke, Virginia Region’s first traditional neighborhood development – shops, restaurants and offices within walking distance of newly built green homes blending the ambiance of yesteryear with today’s technology.

Daleville Town Center, under construction in Botetourt County, is now adding medical offices to the mix -- a nearly 20,000-square-foot building for an outpatient imaging center and adjacent physician offices affiliated with HCA Virginia Health System’s Lewis-Gale Medical Center.

The first residents arrive this spring at the 117-acre Daleville Town Center. At its focal point is a town square with retailers, banks, entertainment and more.

Daleville is an example of the Roanoke Region’s many housing choices [http://www.roanoke.org/housingchoices] – from metropolitan living to suburban neighborhoods, lakeside homes and rural farms.

At Daleville, some 300 single-family homes and town homes are planned in neighborhood blocks over the next 10 years. They are being constructed under EarthCraft, a green-building program leading to healthier, more comfortable homes that reduce utility and water consumption and enhance indoor air quality.

This eco-friendly community will feature tree-lined streets, alleyways and
pedestrian-friendly sidewalks. Everything will be within walking distance. Abundant open space, greenways and walking trails will encourage outdoor activity.

Traditional neighborhood development is a form of master planning that melds the architectural heritage of the past with high-tech amenities to create communities reminiscent of early American towns. Daleville Town Center, developed by Fralin & Waldron, offers five architectural styles with historically accurate details.

Plus something historic homes didn’t have – fiber-optic cable.

The 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.

Virginia 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 33^rd 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 4^th; the public affairs program of the School of Public and International Affairs, tied for 27^th, and the Pamplin College of Business, 41st among the nation’s best part-time MBA Schools.

Read more about the rankings Here>>>