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Why Move to the Roanoke Area?

We're a business friendly region targeting manufacturers of transportation-related equipment, fiber optics and related electronics, food processing, plastics, and other industries. The Roanoke Valley has received national recognition for its education, quality of life and business environment. That may be why you’ll find such industry leaders as General Electric, ITT, Advance Auto, Norfolk Southern, Allstate Insurance, Yokohama Tire, Kroger Company, R.R. Donnelley & Sons and Johnson & Johnson located here benefiting from a business climate engineered to support productivity and profitability. Public schools provide a foundation for a skilled workforce with apprenticeships, technical programs, and schools that emphasize advanced technology.

The region offers prime real estate, low costs, a strong labor pool, low crime, arts and culture, outstanding outdoor recreation, professional and college sports teams, and a central location that is easily accessible by Interstates 81, 64, and 77 and by jet to Roanoke Regional Airport.

More than 280,000 people live in the Roanoke Valley. It is the largest metro area in western Virginia and serves as the commercial, medical, cultural, and retail center for a population of more than 1,000,000.

Since 1983, the Roanoke Valley has attracted more than 60 expansions and relocations. They represent more than 8,600 jobs and $541.8 million in investment. So far in 1999, Pharming Healthcare, Inc. of the Netherlands has announced plans to build two facilities in the region, a milk processing plant at Virginia Tech and a $17 million transgenic cattle facility in Craig Co. Koyo Steering Systems of USA has begun construction of a $38 million electric steering system plant and Innotech, a division of Johnson & Johnson has announced it will build a $125 million visions products plant. Maple Leaf Foods, First Citizens Bank, Levy Home Entertainment, Dynax America, York International, Tower Automotive, R.R. Donnelley & Sons, Transkrit, Fleetwood Homes, and Virginia Forge are some of the companies that selected the Roanoke Valley after extensive site searches.

Families and Individuals locate and prosper here because of:


Source: Roanoke Valley Virginia Economic Development Partnership


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