There is good economic news in the Roanoke Region.  Employment in the Roanoke Region is at its highest level since January 2009.  Nearly 1,600 jobs were added in the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) from July 2011 and nearly 4,300 jobs have been added from one year ago.  The unemployment rate in the MSA in August 2011 was 6.7 percent.   

While unemployment is slightly higher than the 27-month low experienced in May 2011, it likely is due to recent graduates entering the workforce.  There is also the possibility that those workers, formerly discouraged by the tight labor market, may be restarting their job search.

Roanoke is ranked 63rd best in the nation (in terms of a low unemployment rate), putting it in the top 17 percent of all metros nationally.  The Roanoke MSA's unemployment rate continues to be lower than that of Lynchburg, Richmond,  Asheville, Piedmont Triad, Charlotte, Knoxville,  Chattanooga, and many other competing southern metros.

 

The decision of Backcountry.com, the largest online specialty retailer of premium outdoor gear, to locate its new fulfillment center in our area is one more example of how Greater Roanoke is growing the outdoor sector.  A recent study found that the Roanoke region ranked highly against peer regions in its concentration and number of greenway trails, recreational land, lakes, and outdoor events.

The Roanoke Regional Partnership caught the attention of the online retailer at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Utah last year and hosted several visits.  "Attracting Backcountry.com reinforces how attractive the region is to people and businesses who love the outdoors," said Beth Doughty, executive director of the Partnership.  

"It was important to Backcountry.com to be centrally located to serve our customers," said Jill Layfield, CEO.  "But we wanted an environment that supported our brand focusing on the outdoors and adventure."

The Roanoke Regional Partnership began its outdoor branding efforts approximately three years ago through a serious of signature events and national marketing. 

The Roanoke Regional Partnership was named Small Business of the Year in the Not-For-Profit Arts & Culture category at the 25th Annual Small Business Awards sponsored by the Roanoke Regional Chamber. Selection committee members appreciated the uniqueness of the regional public-private organization and its record in job creation. They were especially impressed with our work promoting the outdoor sector.  This was a first time nomination for the Partnership which competed with eleven organizations in the category.  

If you didn't make it out to the Roanoke Outdoor Circus this past weekend, you missed a really big show.

"Showing off Roanoke's incredible natural assets and connecting people with the outdoors is one of our primary goals," said Paul Chapman, Roanoke Parks & Recreation. "If people walk away wanting to try a new outdoor sport, or even if they're just motivated to get outside more, then we've done our job".

Approximately 5,000 people attended the event.  Attendees were treated to exhibits, demos, and clinics that promoted a variety of outdoor experiences from climbing and biking to sustainable living and fly tying.

Highlights of the weekend included the Gibbon Slackline pro team demo, Sustainable Living Roadshow, Jeff Lenosky bike trials show, MountainFilm Festival, and the Gear Junkie Treasure Hunt,  

"At one point I was sitting on the grass, listening to a local band with Ghana roots, sipping a beer" said Stratton Delaney of Roanoke. "I looked around and saw kids on the climbing wall, people learning to cast a fly rod, tons of people riding bikes, about 300 people watching the bike trials show, and another 100 watching the slackline pros. It was pretty cool to see this happening here in Roanoke."

"This event can grow into a significant east coast festival of the outdoors," said Pete Eshelman, director of outdoor branding for the Roanoke Regional Partnership.  "It made the most of the best of the Roanoke Region.  And it's only going to get better next year."

If you attended Roanoke's first annual outdoor sports festival please take a moment to provide some feedback. Your comments will help ensure 2012 is even better. 

After years of experiencing declines in the number of young adults living in the area, the Roanoke MSA is seeing its population of young adults grow.  According to population estimates from the US Census Bureau, the Roanoke Region's population of those between the ages of 25 and 34 saw net increases on average of 305 per year between 2005 and 2010.  The same young adult cohort grew by more than 600 per year between 2008 and 2010 suggesting that the region was more successful in both growing and retaining its young adult population over the last few years.  

Data on geographic mobility and migration from the American Community Survey (2008 to 2010 averages) suggest that approximately 1,200 young adults move into the region from other states and from abroad each year.  Among Western Virginia metros, Roanoke's performance in attracting out-of-state young adults is similar to Blacksburg's.  Lynchburg and Harrisonburg saw smaller numerical increases among this cohort.

The influences of this younger cohort are easily seen in the Roanoke Region.  From a growing nightlife scene that includes an appreciable increase in live music offerings to successful events like the recent Roanoke Outdoor Circus, the evidence of a vibrant young professional community is more readily apparent.