Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission

Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission Serving member governments, businesses and residents in the region since 1969. We recognize the web is a 24/7 medium, and your comments are welcome at any time.

RVARC is a leader in driving collaboration and strategy within our communities on issues critical to the economic growth, quality of life, and sustainability in the region. The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (RVARC) has been serving its member governments for over 40 years. Formed in 1969, the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission is one of 21 regional planning agencies in the

Commonwealth of Virginia. The Regional Commission is not a State agency, but was established by its member governments through a charter agreement under Virginia law as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. The Regional Commission serves the governments, businesses, and citizens of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke Counties, the cities of Covington, Roanoke, and Salem, and the towns of Clifton Forge, Rocky Mount, and Vinton. The Commission brings together local governments and other organizations to promote discussion and actions on issues of regional importance. PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY
The purpose of this site is to present matters of public interest in the region, including its many residents, businesses and visitors. We at the Regional Commission encourage you to submit your questions, comments, and concerns, but please note this is a moderated online discussion site and not a public forum. However, given the need to manage our staff resources (your tax dollars), we generally only monitor comments and postings during regular business hours. We want to publish your comments, but we expect comments generally to be courteous. To that end, we have established the following policy in regard to the posting of comments, and we reserve the discretion not to post comments that are inconsistent with our policy. Comments should avoid:
1. Vulgar language
2. Personal attacks of any kind
3. Comments or content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, genetics, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or intellectual disability or sexual orientation
4. Spam or links to other sites
5. Clearly off topic
6. Advocate illegal activity
7. Promote particular services, products, or political organizations. (Note that non-commercial links that are relevant to the topic or another comment are acceptable)
8. Infringe on copyrights or trademarks
9. Personally identifiable medical information
10. Information that may compromise the safety, security or proceedings of public systems or any criminal or civil investigations. Please note that the comments expressed on this site do not necessarily reflect the opinions and position of our member government, its officers and employees. If you have any questions concerning the operation of this online moderated discussion site, please contact the Communications Office at the Regional Commission. [email protected]

Identical posts by the same user (please don't submit over and over expecting the post to show up faster) or multiple users (a group of people sending identical messages or one person submitting under different aliases). In the case of identical posts, we will post the first submission. Copyrighted and other proprietary material should not be posted or submitted in any form unless permission to do so is clearly indicated. In posting his or her own comments or other work, a commenter grants the Regional Commission and anyone viewing the Regional Commission’s site/page irrevocable permission to copy, distribute, make derivatives, display or perform the commenter's work publicly and free-of-charge.

🎊Wonderful news to celebrate for economic development in our region!
06/12/2026

🎊Wonderful news to celebrate for economic development in our region!

RINGANA, an Austrian life sciences company specializing in premium skincare and nutritional products, today announced plans to establish its first U.S. headquarters, production, and distribution facility in the City of Roanoke. The company will invest $85 million over five years and expects to creat...

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is June 6-14, celebrating the largest estuary in the United States. Waterways within the R...
06/09/2026

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is June 6-14, celebrating the largest estuary in the United States. Waterways within the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany region feed into the Upper James River, then flow nearly 350 miles to the Chesapeake Bay.

💦How we Act Regionally for a Clean Watershed:

🌳1. Supporting Tree Plantings in the Region
Tree plantings enhance water quality by slowing rainfall, increasing infiltration, and reducing stormwater runoff. They absorb water and remove nutrients and contaminants like nitrogen and phosphorus, while stabilizing erosion and improving watershed health along streambanks.

🌧️2. Rain Barrel Workshops
Rain barrels improve water quality by capturing rainwater from rooftops before it flows into storm drains and nearby streams as polluted runoff. This helps reduce erosion, flooding, and the amount of fertilizers, sediment, and other pollutants that reach local waterways.

⏺️3. Septic Pump-Out Program
Regular septic maintenance prevents system failures that could release untreated wastewater into groundwater, streams, and lakes. By removing accumulated solids, pump-outs reduce the risk of contaminants reaching nearby water, protecting drinking water sources and help keep watersheds healthier.

🚰4. Water Quality Education
We engage in public education and outreach to promote environmental sustainability and encourage participation in water protection efforts. We partner with nonprofits, schools and public agencies throughout the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany region.

✨🍃Learn more about regional water quality and sustainability initiatives at https://rvarc.org/resiliency

Chesapeake Bay Program

The first Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission meeting at the Regional Commission office took place on May 27, joined by t...
06/03/2026

The first Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission meeting at the Regional Commission office took place on May 27, joined by the new Greenway Coordinator, Molly Maxwell.

Molly shared that it was "an honor to finally meet the full membership of the Greenways Commission, the efforts of whom have culminated into hundreds of miles of trails throughout the Roanoke Valley over the past 30 years. I'm looking forward to working with this dedicated group to continue expanding this important community asset."

05/19/2026

Our building is now even easier to find on Luck Ave in Roanoke with our new branded sign! Thank you Vertex Signs!

We enjoyed participating in a farm tour at Garden Variety Harvests  last week to kick off the Roanoke Region Food and Fa...
05/18/2026

We enjoyed participating in a farm tour at Garden Variety Harvests last week to kick off the Roanoke Region Food and Farm Trail, an initiative organized by the Roanoke Foodshed Network. 🥗

Whether you’re looking for seasonal produce, farm products, or new places to explore, you can find local food and farm destinations at https://roanokefoodandfarmtrail.com/

This interactive, searchable website links people to farms and food businesses across the region, along with events and storytelling through a “Good Food, Good People” video series.

Amanda McGee, the Community Development Director for the Regional Commission, spoke at the event, emphasizing how supporting the local food system boosts economic development.

💵According to research from Capital One Shopping, 97% of individuals search online when shopping locally, and of every $100 spent, approximately $68 stays in the community.

The Roanoke Region Food and Farm Trail locations span across Roanoke and Salem cities, as well as Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, and Roanoke counties.

Support local and discover all that our region has to offer! 🌱🍅🚜

💬Use your voice to help shape transportation in our region's rural areas! Residents, businesses, and community stakehold...
05/13/2026

💬Use your voice to help shape transportation in our region's rural areas!

Residents, businesses, and community stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the Rural Roanoke Valley Transportation Plan.

✅Share your feedback at https://engage.rvarc.org/rlrtp

This plan will guide transportation priorities through 2050 for Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke, and Franklin Counties, the City of Covington, and the Towns of Clifton Forge, Fincastle, New Castle, and Rocky Mount.

Your feedback is crucial for identifying transportation needs, such as road conditions, safety, and connectivity. Public input will help develop strategies to enhance safety, maintain infrastructure, and improve access to jobs, schools, and healthcare.

Whether you drive, walk, bike, ride transit, or rely on community transportation, your perspective is important! 🚗🚚🚌🚴‍♀️🚶🏼‍♂️

Alleghany County, Virginia | City of Covington, VA | Clifton Forge, Virginia | Botetourt County | New Castle, Virginia | Town of Fincastle | Franklin County, VA | Town of Rocky Mount, Virginia | Roanoke County, Virginia

05/11/2026

Childcare is one of the biggest workforce challenges facing employers today, and we’re excited to partner with United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, and the Roanoke Regional Chamber to bring this important conversation to our region.

Join us for “Childcare Matters: What Employers Need to Know” on Thursday, May 28 from 9:00–10:00 AM at The Franklin Center. We’ll discuss childcare resources, state-level initiatives, and practical ways employers can better support their workforce. A virtual option will also be available for this workshop.

We hope businesses, community leaders, and partners from across the region will join us for this free workshop focused on strengthening childcare solutions and supporting working families.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/g/qAMHnhGxV5

05/08/2026
Learn about the Amtrak Station Area Asset Study and provide feedback at the link!
05/06/2026

Learn about the Amtrak Station Area Asset Study and provide feedback at the link!

It takes integrated strategy and collaboration to make economic development a success! 🙌

A key local example of this integrated strategy is the Amtrak Station Area Asset Study 🚉

This study aims to maximize the economic potential fo the Amtrak station and surrounding area through strengthening mobility and spurring redevelopment.

The project examines land use, pedestrian access, multimodal connections, and development opportunities around the Amtrak stop—linking transportation investment directly with economic opportunity and placemaking.

You can explore the project and provide feedback here:
https://engage.zencity.io/roanoke-va/en-US/projects/amtrak-station-area-asset-study"

RVARC staff and members of the regional Stormwater Committee turned out for a fun and impactful "Clean Valley Cleanup" d...
04/28/2026

RVARC staff and members of the regional Stormwater Committee turned out for a fun and impactful "Clean Valley Cleanup" day at Tinker Creek in Vinton. 🗑💦

🙌 Collectively, we filled seven bags of trash and hauled up 6 tires from the waterway while getting a Monday sunshine boost! ☀️

Thank you to Courtney Plaster from Clean Valley Council for providing materials and education, and Stormwater partners from Western Virginia Water Authority, Roanoke Stormwater, Mountain Castles Soil & Water Conservation District and Virginia Department of Forestry for joining us!

Address

313 Luck Avenue SW
Roanoke, VA
24016

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15403434417

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