FCTech, Inc., an Austrian company  announced it is establishing a U.S. subsidiary in Botetourt County

Karl Bauer, CEO and Managing Director of NBG Holding and President of FCTech.

to manufacture and market specialty optical fiber, investing $5 million in new construction and equipment and creating 25 high-tech, high-paying jobs. 

FCTech, Inc., a subsidiary of NBG Holding, plans to build a new facility at the Botetourt Center at Greenfield in Daleville. The company's optical fiber will be used in high-performance sensor applications for the global energy, healthcare, industrial and defense industries.         

Average wages for the new jobs will range from $70,000-$80,000.         

The $4 billion global market for distributed fiber optic sensors is forecasted to double over the next four years, driven in large part by the continued growth of fiber optic sensing applications. Market segments that will see the most growth are in well oil and gas sensing, homeland security applications, and defense underwater monitoring.

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The Jefferson Center isn't necessarily where you would expect to find mountain bikers, snowboarders, skiers, and rock climbers.   But on September 14^th, approximately 450 outdoor enthusiasts filled the Jefferson Center for the 2011 tour of the Banff Radical Reels Film Festival which was accompanied by the Roanoke Regional Outdoor Expo featuring 25 outdoor-related businesses and adventures. 

This was the third year for the festival in Roanoke and the first time free to all thanks to sponsors Star Light Bicycles, Just the Right Gear, Roanoke Parks & Recreation, Ride Solutions and Alleghany Highlands of Virginia. A donation of canned food was requested for admission.  All together enough food was donated to provide 571 meals for the hungry according to Feeding America Southwest Virginia.  

The Roanoke Region has been recognized as a strong market in the Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal ranking of minor league sports cities.   The region was ranked 43rd out of 241 minor league sports markets.  The publication considered tenure (or how long a team has been in the market), attendance, and the region's economy in making its rankings.

To see how Roanoke stacks up against other minor league sports cities, check out the full ranking here>>>

The Roanoke Outdoor Circus (ROC) is coming to town October 21-23, but don't come looking for lions, elephants and trapeze artists. 

What you will find is a new annual event that combines what outdoor enthusiasts love - activities, camping, music, gear, races, and demonstrations -- in a unique outdoor weekend for the entire family.   Special features include the $40,000 Gear Junkie Treasure Hunt, Gibbon Slackline team,  MountainFilm festival, and Sustainable Living Roadshow.

Come for the day, or bring your tent and plan to stay for the weekend.  You'll have to bring your own clowns to this circus.  

Here's your chance to compete for $40,000 worth of the coolest, newest outdoor equipment when nationally syndicated columnist Stephen Regenold (aka The Gear Junkie) makes a return trip to Roanoke for the 2^nd annual Gear Junkie Treasure Hunt on October 23^rd.  Approximately $40K worth of outdoor gear will be hidden in downtown Roanoke to add a distinctive urban twist to the hunt.

"The Partnership worked with Regenold last year to develop this "one of a kind" event to showcase the Roanoke Region to a national audience," said Pete Eshelman, director of outdoor branding for the Roanoke Regional Partnership. "It allows us to build relationships with the 30-plus outdoor manufacturers who are providing prizes."

This event is for novice and experienced geo trackers alike.  For more information or to register go to http://gearjunkie.com/Treasure-Hunt-Roanoke.

Pssst. . . Preregister and you'll be eligible for gear drawings in the weeks leading up to the event.

The 2011 Employer Conference, sponsored by the Virginia Employment Commission, is designed for employers, human resource professionals and payroll administrators.  This one-day conference will provide information on a variety of workforce topics including: workplace safety, workers compensation costs, social media policies, strategic planning for your business and more.