Marketplace

The Blacksburg Metro Area is consistently named to Forbes.com's list of the "Best Small Places for Business and Careers".

Blacksburg Partnership

The Blacksburg Partnership is a non-profit, independent economic development organization formed by the town, business and university communities. The purpose is to bolster the vitality of Blacksburg through projects that attract visitors and retail prospects. Partnership projects include development of property, the revitalization of retail districts, special events and the creation of marketing programs.

Blue Ridge Business Journal

The Blue Ridge Business Journal serves the business community of Southwest and Central Virginia. Subscriptions are free for Virginia subscribers.

Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. (DBI)

DBI is an association of merchants, property owners, and downtown advocates whose mission is to sustain a dynamic, vital, and diverse community through marketing, events, economic development, and leadership.

Go Green NRV

Our mission is to promote a Green Business Program for businesses in the New River Valley, including modified programs addressing industry specific green initiatives for the various businesses in the Valley.

Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC)

The MCCC was formed in March 2003 when the Blacksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Christiansburg-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce merged. Their mission is to promote and develop a positive environment for the operation and growth of business in Montgomery County and the New River Valley.

Montgomery County Department of Economic Development (MDDED)

MCDED is a one-stop resource and the single point of contact for companies looking for help with their relocation or business expansion plans in Montgomery County. As part of their mission to ensure the success and growth of the local economy, they are committed to helping national businesses find a home here while providing services to companies already located in Montgomery County, Blacksburg, and Christiansburg. They can provide vital business tools such as demographics, financing, site selection and redevelopment services, and can put you in touch with public and private-sector partners.

New River Valley Economic Development Alliance (NRVEDA)

The mission of the NRVEDA is to market the New River Valley, to foster job creation, to facilitate new investment, and to nurture and improve quality of life in the Valley. Through forward-looking leadership and an effective marketing program, the Alliance recruits businesses and industries that both benefit from, and contribute to, the quality of life of the citizens of the New River Valley.

NewVA Corridor Technology Council (NCTC)

The NCTC is a non-profit member-driven association of businesses and organizations in the greater NewVa Region (encompassing Roanoke and Blacksburg, VA), working together to promote the growth and success of the region's technology sector. Their membership includes more than 200 organizations from the smallest, emerging technology firms to some of the largest employers in the region. The NCTC is building a technology community that is a catalyst for innovation, inspiration, success, and leadership within our region.

Virginia Tech Business Technology Center (BTC)

The BTC helps emerging and evolving technology-based businesses assess and quantify their business opportunities. It is a resource available to entrepreneurs and businesses throughout Virginia; and is part of Virginia Tech’s statewide economic development support activities. Typical BTC studies include market research, market opportunity assessment, competitive analysis, market strategy development, business plan development, financial modeling and pro-forma development

VT KnowledgeWorks

VT KnowledgeWorks is a regional business acceleration center serving technology-based enterprises at all stages of the corporate lifecycle. With conference and incubation facilities located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, they encourage and support entrepreneurs, executives, and investors as they plan, launch and grow companies to financial independence.

Text Box: You can tell a lot about a community from the health of its marketplace, and Blacksburg’s is notable throughout the region for both its vitality and charm. Over 150 new business licenses were issued in 2009 to individuals and organizations wishing to make Blacksburg their commercial headquarters. The value of their investment is everywhere apparent. The new Main Street Inn, MainLee Art gallery and studios, Tech Bookstore and Kent Square have entirely transformed the intersection of Washington and Lee streets, creating a new south entrance to our central business district. Farther along Main St., a greatly expanded Kroger supermarket joins the shops and restaurants of First & Main in welcoming a prominent new CVS pharmacy. And the Gateway Center on University City Boulevard is bursting at the seams with successful technology startups and the amenities that serve them – good news for members of the creative class wishing to remain in or return to Blacksburg. Private investors in Blacksburg can bank on the support of town government and the university. Theatre 101, Virginia Tech’s experimental “black box” theatre, opened on College Avenue in 2009; and groundbreaking for a new 1,300 seat Virginia Tech Center for the Arts is slated for summer of 2010. In conjunction with the performance hall, improvements to North Main Street will create a pedestrian-friendly boulevard, with ornamental pavers, plantings and wide sidewalks, including spaces where diners can sit street-side to enjoy the townscape. In addition, Blacksburg Town Council voted in 2008 to direct federal community development funds to private investors in the form of matching grants. Five commercial facades in the historic central business district are presently under renovation with town support. On this page is a partial list of resources available to business owners in Blacksburg – check them out or contact me directly for assistance in starting or relocating your business.

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