The Roanoker - January/February 2019 - VL54

VALLEY LIFE

Business

land in eight international hubs via more than 20 daily Roanoke
departures. During the first half of 2018, growth was better than
at any other time since 2007, partly driven by the arrival of
Allegiant Air. That put the airport in position to have its busiest
year since 2011.
Timothy Bradshaw, executive director of the Roanoke
Regional Airport Commission, says, "Passenger demand is a
critical factor when speaking with airlines regarding improving
and increasing air service to our region. Our customers are using
our existing air service and the carriers have taken note."
The airport serves 616,000 passengers a year through four
airlines (American, Delta, United and Allegiant) with nonstop
service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia
and D.C. hub cities. The airport is a major regional hub for
FedEx and UPS with its long runways accommodating the huge
jets.
Roanoke serves as a highway crossroads with I-81, U.S. 460 and
U.S. 220 converging and providing four direction, major highway
access, especially for the trucking industry.
Taking one of the earth's most beautiful places and dressing
it up for recreation remains a priority, especially when recruiting
younger workers into an aging work force. Erin Burcham, director
of Talent Solutions for the Roanoke Regional Partnership says,
"The strength of the region's outdoor recreation infrastructure
can be a magnet for talent attraction." She calls it "a
differentiator that will help the region stand out" in attracting

54 2019 VALLEY LIFE

talent. That, of course, also brings in "a lot of tourist dollars,"
she insists.
Roanoke (along with nearby Blacksburg) was recently ranked
as one of the 10 best metro job markets in the U.S. by Zippia,
a job search company. Among the reasons for the ranking was
the Regional Partnerships' Accelerate 2022 plan, a program that
emphasizes livability and connects with local college students.
The Partnership also has a team of professionals concentrating
in specific areas of expertise, says Burcham. Pete Eshelman, for
example, has created quite a story in outdoor "branding" for the
region, emphasizing opportunities for boaters, runners, hikers,
campers, cyclists, climbers and the like.
Programs like CoLab, The Gauntlet, CityWorks (X)po and
Anticipating 2050/Acting Today bring in new ideas and help
create new companies, something the Roanoke Valley has been
good at for many years, says Regional Chamber President/CEO
Joyce Waugh. Keith Hartman, new Roanoke Regional Small
Business Development Center director, says "We are more of a
journey" and the programs are "an entrepreneurial ecosystem."
Waugh also points with some pride to the Chamber's K-12
workforce push, a program that helps children understand
the world of work. "Kids are generally not exposed to career
opportunities," she says, noting that "not everybody needs to
go to college."
It is a wholistic approach in attracting and retaining both
good companies and good workers to help solidify the future. n

AMY PEARMAN / COURTESY OF ROANOKE-BLACKSBURG REGIONAL AIRPORT

Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport
The Roanoker - January/February 2019

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