GOVERNOR MCDONNELL VISITS SYNCHRONY, INC.
On June 16, Dr. Victor Iannello and his colleagues at Synchrony Inc. welcomed Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell for a VIP tour of their facility. Synchrony, Inc. is a business success story in spite of a down economy. The company's innovations in the magnetic bearing market improve reliability, reduce friction, minimize vibration and offer advanced health monitoring and diagnostics -- all without the potential environmental disadvantages of lubricants. In 2009, R&D magazine named Synchrony's FusionŽ bearing as a prestigious Editor's Choice and one of the 100 most technologically significant products of the past year and Synchrony was also prominently featured earlier this year in The New York Times.
Governor McDonnell was impressed by the long strides that Synchrony has made in a short time from R&D to taking its products to market. The governor learned of the many broad applications for Synchrony's technology and the implications for further economic development and job creation in the Roanoke Valley. During the tour of the facility, the governor viewed the company's leading products, including its monitoring software, which can utilize the latest iPad technology to monitor diagnostics.
To read more of this article:
www.synchrony.com/news/virginia-governor-tours-synchrony
www.synchrony.com
www.synchrony.com/blog
NEW FARMERS MARKET IN CATAWBA VALLEY
FARMERS MARKET OPENS IN CATAWBA VALLEY
On May 27th, the Catawba Valley General Store on Route 311 across from The Homplace restaurant became the site of a new area farmers market. The Catawba Valley Farmers Market is Roanoke County’s first farmers market. It will take place weekly from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. each Thursday. This initiative is sponsored by Virginia Tech Earthworks and the Catawba Sustainability Center.
The Catawba Valley Farmers Market has the most diverse specialty baked goods consisting of gluten free bread, freshly milled pizza crust, hot tamales, and homemade granola. Vendors also offer a wide variety of locally grown vegetables, fruit, and herbs for sale including the Catawba Meadow Salad Blend.
The Catawba Valley Farmers Market is a project of VT EarthWorks which is working to accelerate agriculture and natural resource business
opportunities (e.g., local food producers). VT EarthWorks is part of the Catawba Sustainability Center which is a new initiative in the Office
of Outreach and International Affairs at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center. The Catawba Sustainability Center is a 377-acre property located in
the rural Catawba Valley of Roanoke County. The Center addresses a multitude of sustainability issues faced by rural communities in the 21st
Century by focusing on the needs and opportunities for the people and the land of Catawba. The Catawba Sustainability Center is being developed
with a diverse partnership, including local community groups such as Catawba Landcare. To read more on the development of Catawba Sustainability
Center, and the university’s field of
studies being showcased through the work of the creating a sustainable farm,
see the article,
Catawba Sustainability Center: A Landcare Incubator,
from the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources newsletter.
For more information please call Christy Gabbard at (540) 767-6114 or send an email to
cgunnels@vt.edu
www.catawbalandcare.org
NEW BOUTIQUES IN LAMPLIGHTER MALL:
SECOND TO NATURE & A SPECIAL PLACE
Second to Nature, a new store specializing in reconstruction projects and wigs for chemotherapy patients held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Supervisor Richard Flora on June 15th at their new location in Lamplighter Mall on Williamson Road. Rebecca Whitehill is the owner of Second To Nature which is co-located with A Special Place Wig Boutique owned by Jamela Hodgson.
Rebecca Whitehill, a Certified Mastectomy fitter, opened a specialized boutique, Second to Nature. The boutique will feature post-mastectomy/lumpectomy and reconstruction products, wigs, Lymphedema garments and more. Medicare and most insurance companies cover the cost of post-surgical clothing and prostheses, and many insurance companies will also cover the cost of a wig for chemotherapy patients. Second To Nature will be filing insurance as a free service.
To read more on Second to Nature, see the Blue Ridge Business Journal article.
blogs.bizjournal.com
www.pinkribbonchic.com
VINTON WELCOMES RM COMMUNICATIONS
(L to R) Q Bear from the Q99 Radio Program;
Lee Frye of RM Communications Owner;
Mayor Brad Grose, Town of Vinton; and
Sabrina Weeks, Vinton Chamber President.
RM Communications opened a new 1,085 square foot store in Lake Drive Plaza at 995 Hardy Road (Route 24) on Friday, May 21st with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
The Q99 Valleydale Diner with radio personality and Q99 Breakfast Club co-host, Dick Daniels, and Q Bear were on site for the festivities and to help celebrate the
official grand opening.
The “RM” in the business title stands for Reliable Mobile Communications and the company is an authorized retailer of Verizon Wireless and an authorized retailer for Dish Network and DirecTV offering cellular, satellite TV and Internet. Lee Frye is the owner and the Area Manager in charge of the Vinton Store will be Chris Hurd at 540-981-9050.
www.reliablemobilecommunications.com
SAINT FRANCIS SERVICE DOGS'
NEW "STATE OF THE HEART" BUILDING
On May 7th, Saint Francis Service Dogs, an internationally accredited service dog training organization based in Roanoke County, celebrated the addition of a $1.2 million kennel and administrative facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The new building provides space for more dogs in training, office space for staff and administration as well as facilities for dog grooming, and other needs associated with the care of service dogs in training.
The Saint Francis Service Dog Center, located just off the Hollins exit of Interstate 81, is a converted horse farm. Saint Francis has been improving the site since it was purchased in 2002. Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Chairman Joe “Butch” Church presented Saint Francis Executive Director Cabell Youell with a certificate of appreciation for the contributions Saint Francis has made to the Community.
For more about the
Saint Francis
Service Dog Center.
www.saintfrancisdogs.org
VINTON CHAMBER SPONSORS VDBA WORKSHOPS
BUSINESS AND SALES GROWTH COUNSELING
with Sandy Ratliff, Business Services Manager
July 22, 2010
FREE 1 hour Appointments Available from 9 am- 3 pm
Topics Include:
-
Accessing new markets & getting new customers
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How to sell VA government & locate BIDS/RFP’s
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How to download & review BIDS/RFP’s
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How to register to eVA, Virginia’s State procurement system
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Getting SWAM certified
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Run reports to determine product/service market, customer/agency targets and private sector markets
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Using social media to build awareness of your business
Call Sandy Ratliff at 276-676-3768 or
e-mail sandy.ratliff@vdba.virginia.gov
Appointments will be at the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce office (116 S. Poplar Street, Suite 1-A Vinton, VA 24179)
USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Presentation by Sandy Ratliff of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance
on the Use of Social Media to grow your Business
August 5, 2010
Session 1: 10:00 am- 12:00 pm
Session 2: 1:00pm- 3:00 pm
Location: Vinton Chamber of Commerce office
116 S. Poplar Street, Suite 1-A, Vinton
RSVP: No later than Friday, July 30th, 2010 to
540-343-1364 or e-mail info@Vintonchamber.com
Cost: $5 Chamber Member, $10 non-member
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION PRESENTED FOR TWO RECENT BUSINESS LOCATIONS/INVESTMENTS
 AUDIOTRONICS
Supervisor Richard Flora with Alan Guyes and Matt Hartberger of
Audiotronics for a certificate of appreciation presentation.
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www.audiotronics.com |
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www.virginiaair.com |
 VIRGINIA AIR DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Hollins District Supervisor Richard Flora presents
Operations Manager Jennifer Roncaglione with
a certificate of appreciation.
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EXPORT COMPLIANCE 301
