Claytor Lake State Park, Pulaski County

New River Valley

Virginia’s New River Valley provides both a small-town atmosphere and an innovative, collaborative culture with a dedicated workforce. Offering cutting-edge research and exceptional education programs from local universities, the region is a natural fit for leading industries.

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A Red Sun Farms female employee holding a vine of tomatoes.

Red Sun Farms, Pulaski County

Regional Highlights

Surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, the New River Valley consists of four counties (Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski) and the City of Radford. The region has a population of over 180,000 and combines with the surrounding labor area to offer an impressive workforce estimated at 395,000. With a lower cost of living than the national average, Virginia’s New River Valley affordability is one of the many reasons people choose to live, work, and do business in the region. The New River Valley is at once organic and innovative. Technical and agricultural. Artistic and scientific. It’s simply a natural fit.

Virginia's Smaller Metros Prove Fertile Ground for Tech Headquarters

Virginia’s smaller metro areas are showcasing their unique strengths and contributing to the Commonwealth’s technology landscape. Virginia’s New River Valley is leveraging their diverse and growing tech cluster to attract information technology and uncrewed systems companies. Home to an array of pioneering businesses, the NRV is a natural fit for those looking to make an impact for the future. In 2022, Modea nearly doubled its workforce in the region. Another area headquarters, autonomous vehicle manufacturer Torc Robotics, announced an $8.5 million expansion in 2020 that created 350 new jobs in Montgomery County near Blacksburg, while mobile software developer Ozmo announced an expansion in 2019.

Location

Virginia's New River Valley is located in southwestern Virginia in the midst of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains and bordered on the northwest by West Virginia. With Interstate 81 passing through the region and Interstate 77 just to the south, the area is strategically accessible to Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest markets.

NanoSonic, Inc., Giles County

The region offers easy access to I-81 and I-77, as well as other main interstates including I-64.
I-81 is the longest interstate in Virginia and rated one of the top eight truck routes in the U.S.
I-77, just 3 miles south, connects the eastern Great Lakes region with Appalachia and the Southeast.
Freight rail service is provided by Norfolk Southern, offering a wide range of reliable and efficient shipping options.
Passenger rail service provided by Amtrak is available from Roanoke (30 miles).
The New River Valley Airport is a port of entry for the region. The Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads is 291 miles east
The New River Valley Airport (PSK) and the Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport (BCB) provide general aviation services, and commercial air service is available from Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA). The ROA is a convenient 45 minutes (43.9 mi) from the New River Valley region and it is served by four airlines with approximately 40 arriving and departing flights per day and nonstop service to eight cities, as well as frequent connecting service.
Grantee for Federal Trade Zone #238

1901 Group, Montgomery County

Case Study - 1901 Group Expands Footprint with Third Virginia Location

Committed to a major joint expansion in Montgomery and Fairfax Counties, with a combined capital investment of $4 million and a total of 805 new jobs, this leading IT company created 225 jobs at the corporate offices in Fairfax County in 2021 and grew its Enterprise IT Operations Center in Blacksburg, in the New River Valley region, by 580 new jobs.

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A Center for International Business in the New River Valley

In collaboration with Danville, The New River Valley was awarded a Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant for Virginia’s Additive Manufacturing and Applied Materials Tech Hub (AM2). With the awarding of this grant, the New River Valley has positioned itself to continue to be a global destination for advanced manufacturing. Leveraging their strategic location on the East Coast and wide array of regional assets, the AM2 Tech Hub is supercharging the innovation economy and creating an ideal business environment for industry. A large percentage of the region’s 182,000 residents are between 18 and 24 and contribute to the pipeline of talent for area companies. That pipeline has proven to be a powerful lure for a diverse number of international manufacturers.

Talent Development

The New River Valley is home to Virginia Tech, one of the Commonwealth’s largest universities and a leading research center, as well as Radford University and New River Community College. These institutions contribute a steady pipeline of talent for area companies, strengthening the New River Valley’s target industry clusters of advanced manufacturing, food and beverage processing, IT, and unmanned systems. The region’s high-quality employment and unmatched educational opportunities are complemented by its cultural and social offerings and ample recreation options for the outdoor enthusiast.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech College of Engineering

The Department of Computer Science is part of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. Founded in 1970, the department has an energetic and engaged faculty of 52 tenured, tenure-track, and teaching faculty members. The department enrolls over 900 undergraduate majors and over 250 graduate students. During academic year 2018-19, the College awarded 300 BS degrees, 52 MS degrees, and 21 PhDs.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Smart Roads, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

The Virginia Smart Roads are state-of-the-art, closed test-bed research facilities managed by VTTI in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The Smart Road became one of the world’s most advanced testing facilities for transportation technology and safety research, with more than 30,000 hours of research conducted on the road since its opening.

Virginia Smart Roads, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation is one of the top programs in natural resource management in the U.S. From protected areas management and economic policy to forest soil productivity, urbanization, and genomics, we seek to discover new knowledge and technology to address the global challenges to come.

The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech

Living in the New River Valley

Virginia’s New River Valley offers magnificent mountains, an eclectic small-town vibe, arts and culture, and a business-friendly, academically enriched environment. All localities have bustling downtown areas, giving each town center an atmosphere of micro-urban living, and the beautiful outdoor landscape and local colleges and universities attract those searching for an affordable, dynamic location.

Rich in natural resources, outdoor activities, and breathtaking views, the region has something for everyone. Located at an elevation ranging from 2,000 to 4,500 feet above sea level, the New River Valley is the perfect setting to live an active lifestyle. From hiking in Jefferson National Forest and mountain biking around Pandapas Pond to lounging by the river in Bisset Park, there are ample opportunities for recreation.

With the influential presence of major universities, four major hospitals providing full health care services, and an abundance of culture and lifestyle amenities, the New River Valley is an inspiring place to live and do business.

Floyd Fest, Floyd County

A group of people drinking beer at Rising Silo Brewery

Rising Silo Brewery, Montgomery County

New River, Giles County

Key Companies in New River Valley