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Virtual call center to hire 100 in Southwest Virginia

DirecTV is offering a work-at-home employment opportunity to 100 residents of Southwest Virginia. The virtual call center workers will earn $10 an hour plus benefits. One hundred new jobs will be a real boost for the local housing market. The money injected into the economy could be used to buy new homes or avert foreclosure for those homeowners near the brink.

Read more in these local news outlets:

Posted on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - 3:31pm

Montgomery County May Increase Car Tax Bills

By changing the method by which they value vehicles, Montgomery County could bring in an estimated $700,000 against the back drop of a $4.2 million budget shortfall.  The Board of Supervisors was supportive of the idea at their recent meeting, and liked the concept of expanding the tax burden.  Homeowners and vehicle owners could take effect for the December 5th billing. The change would mean moving from the "loan value" to "trade value" for assessment purposes.


Read the full Roanoke Times story...

Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 2:39pm

Roanoke City Council Debates Stormwater Management Fee

Roanoke City Council is considering a plan to impose stormwater management fees on area businesses and city residents in order to impove its current infrastructure. The plan would likely cost homeowners about $36 per year, but businesses could incur substantial costs based on the amount of impervious surfaces they own.  Stormwater management is a major environmental concern, as impervious surfaces such as asphalt and concrete do not absorb water and rain runs off and eventually ends up in a body of water, which causes pollution.  Some members of the council are opposed to the  plan because of the long-term effects on economic development.

Read the Roanoke Times story...

Posted on Monday, January 18, 2010 - 8:40am

Wal-Mart Officials Prepare for Christiansburg Sam's Club

A Sam's Club may be coming to Christiansburg in the Marketplace shopping center, according to the Roanoke Times.

If the project is approved, this will be the first Sam's Club in the New River Valley. Currently, many residents who enjoy shopping at the warehouse-type store tend to travel to the store in Roanoke.

The opening of this store would be great for homeowners because it will make use of a shopping center that is underused, increase the tax base and provide a new amenity to the community.

"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will seek permission to open a Sam's Club at the underused Christiansburg Marketplace shopping center, company spokeswoman E.R. Anderson said.

Paperwork will be filed 'in a month or so,' according to Anderson.
If the project comes to fruition, it would create the first Sam's Club in the New River Valley.

Sam's Club is popular for selling food in bulk packages to clientele who pay $35 for an annual membership ($40 for a family) to shop in a warehouse-type store with a pharmacy, tire and battery shop, floral department and cafe.

The chain generated $11.9 billion in second-quarter revenue for Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, which operates Sam's Clubs in Roanoke, Lynchburg and Beckley, W.Va.

Town Manager Lance Terpenny said project representatives have spoken informally with the town's planning and zoning office about using the store to reinvigorate the 18-year-old Marketplace center, which is laden with vacant storefronts even as nearby shopping centers are full.

Although many details require attention, including the issuance of building permits and signing of a lease, Marketplace merchants and shoppers are delighted by the prospect for the store."

Read the full story.

Posted on Friday, October 2, 2009 - 6:09pm

Montgomery Supervisors OK Tyler Road Rezoning Requests

Montgomery County officials have approved zoning requests that will pave the way for three new hotels, 40 homes, three restaurants and a two-story retail/office building in the Tyler Road area, according to the Roanoke Times.

It will take up to a year for the plans to make it through all the necessary approvals, and after being built in phases it will take five to 10 years to complete.

The new businesses will increase the county's tax base, which will help keep property taxes down, and be of service to visitors at the nearby hospital.

"Montgomery County leaders have approved plans that pave the way for new hotels, restaurants, businesses and homes for the Tyler Road area.

At its Monday night meeting, the board of supervisors approved three rezoning requests that span almost 51 acres for properties previously zoned for agricultural use.

The requests are to rezone the properties, near Interstate 81's Exit 109, to general business with some residential uses.

Steve Semones with Balzer and Associates Inc., which is representing the applicants involved, said via e-mail that 'eight to 12 months would realistically be the earliest a project could get through all the approvals necessary to start construction.'

He added that there are no firm plans for any projects to begin immediately.

Semones said there is transportation and utility infrastructure work that is required for the projects, including working with the state Department of Transportation on specific plans for the road work.

Semones has said it will likely take about five to 10 years to complete the projects. Also, the developments will likely be done in phases."

Read full story.

Posted on Thursday, September 17, 2009 - 4:39pm

Chesapeake Bay Reports Call For More Livestock, Runoff Regulations

Last week federal officials released parts of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, according to NewsDay.com.

The report focuses on expanding regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff. Although details of the expanded regulations have not been decided, the report did mention that federal leadership and "muscle" would be used when necessary to enforce the new regulations.

This report, along with others wll be used to develop a bay restoration strategy scheduled for release on Novemeber 9th.

Because many of the Virginia localities in the Chesapeake Watershed are heavily farmed areas, many Virginia property owners could be affected. Property owners will need to ensure that their rights are protected in the process of restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

"Federal officials on Thursday began revealing the building blocks of a strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay, using federal leadership to encourage states to cut pollution and federal muscle, when necessary, to ensure it happens.

Among recommendations in draft reports from federal agencies: expanded regulation of large-scale animal farms and municipal stormwater runoff, and requirements that increases in pollution be offset by reductions from other sources.

The details, such as how many more animal feeding operations would be regulated, have not been decided, but 'the message here is that there will be, there is a commitment at EPA to increased enforcement and increased oversight of state programs,' EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said Thursday.

The reports will be used to develop a bay restoration strategy, scheduled for release Nov. 9, that was mandated by an executive order issued earlier this year by President Obama.

The EPA said it was working with Chesapeake Bay states and the District of Columbia to establish limits for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments. States would have to develop detailed plans on how to reduce levels of those pollutants from sources such as farms, highways and lawns. The EPA said it would step in if states don't take sufficient action.

While large operations such as industrial chicken farms would be regulated, the EPA said it would also expand regulation of municipal stormwater programs to include high-growth areas.

Jackson said the goal was to use federal leadership, and 'federal muscle when necessary.'

Agriculture is responsible for about half the pollution entering the bay, but Jackson noted there is more turf grass in the bay watershed than corn acreage and the region is much different from when bay restoration efforts began decades ago."

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Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 10:50am

VA School Construction Projects Share $71.6M in Bonds

More than $71 million in federal bonds are going to eigh projects in the state to help with school construction, according to WTKR.

This is good news for all area homeowners, even those who don't have children in these schools that will get the assistance. Improvements to schools help to make neighborhoods more marketable to new families.

"Eight projects in Virginia are sharing more than $71 million in federal bonds for school construction.

The no-interest bonds were established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They are available to localities for K-12 school construction, renovation and land acquisition for schools.

Gov. Tim Kaine said Thursday that the bonds are part of about $191 million authorized for Virginia through the Qualified School Construction Bonds program in 2009.

The projects receiving the bonds are in Petersburg, Portsmouth, Lynchburg, Lexington, and Richmond, Fluvanna and Montgomery counties.

Allocation of the funds were made at Kaine's discretion. Later this fall, he will announce the use of the rest of the 2009 funds. Virginia expects to receive an additional $191 million from the program in 2010."

Read orginal article.

Posted on Friday, September 11, 2009 - 5:13pm

Southwest VA Residents Could See Improvements in Health Services

The Kingsport Times-News recently reported about efforts to improve the health of residents in Southwest Virginia. As of now, individuals who live in Southwest Virginia have a premature mortality rate that is 26 percent higher than the state average, in addition, to having higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Adapting health services to better suit area residents can result in a great improvement in their quality of life, and also make the area more attractive to businesses and new residents, which will improve property values.

"The Southwest Virginia Health Authority has unveiled a plan to improve the region’s health care network and access to health care that includes a push to establish a medical specialist training facility in the region and permitting an expanded role for dental hygienists.

The Blueprint for Health Improvement and Health-Enabled Prosperity is the first strategic plan developed to address health disparities residents of Southwest Virginia face, said Delegate Bud Phillips, D-Clintwood.

Phillips is chairman of the authority, which was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2006.

Residents of Southwest Virginia have a premature mortality rate that is 26 percent higher than the state average and have higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The “blueprint” identifies those issues and needs and sets short-term, intermediate and long-term goals and objectives to address those needs, Phillips said.

'We believe the authority’s approach is a model for the nation to follow because it was developed by the people who know health care and what Southwest Virginia’s needs are,' he said. 'By improving health care, we improve the quality of life in Southwest Virginia.'

Some of the blueprint goals include allowing dental hygienists to provide preventive care. Another goal — establishing a dental school/clinic in Wise County — is under way. The plan also proposes as an immediate goal establishing a Medical Specialist Training Center in the region so residents won’t have to travel long distances to see health care specialists.

Read full story.

Posted on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 - 3:03pm

Real Estate Reassessments Started in Montgomery County

Real estate assessors have started work in Montgomery County this month, according to the Roanoke Times. The assessors have been hired from Danville to establish fair-market values for the reassessments. Property owners will receive notices of the assessed values in November of 2010. As of now, it is too early to see how property taxes will be impacted.

"Assessors started visiting properties in Montgomery County this month as part of the real estate reassessment process.

And next year, property owners will get a better sense of how that process will affect their dollars and cents when they receive notices of their new assessed values.

The county has hired Wampler-Eanes Appraisal Group Ltd. of Daleville to conduct the 2011 general reassessment, and the firm will examine sales data and visit more than 37,000 parcels to establish fair-market values for the reassessment, according to county information.

Appraisers began their study Aug. 3 to verify information for properties sold during the past 18 months. Every property will be viewed by an assessor between now and fall 2010, and the appraisal firm also will verify property information, such as square feet and number of bedrooms and baths.

Property owners will then receive notices of the assessed values in November 2010.

County officials said it's too early to tell whether property owners will see an increase in property taxes."

Read full story.

Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 - 6:41pm

Va Tech's LumenHaus Shows Homeowners Future of Smart Energy Use

One of the Commonwealth's universities is paving the way to energy efficient housing, as recently covered by the Roanoke Times. Va Tech has entered in the 2009 U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathalon with their solar-powered home LumenHaus.

Virginia homeowners can take a peak at what the future may hold for energy efficiency and using solar power by reviewing the features and design of LumenHaus.

"Imagine the house of the future.

If it gets too hot outside, the house reduces the need for air conditioning by drawing its shade panels.

When temperatures drop in winter, high-efficiency insulation panels slide in place to conserve heat.

In fact, this house could brew your morning coffee and turn on your favorite music before you get out of bed.

Welcome to LumenHaus, Virginia Tech's newest solar-powered 'smart house' and the university's entry in the 2009 U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon.

The name comes from 'lumen,' meaning 'power of light,' and 'haus,' a nod to the Bauhaus architectural movement that inspired the new prototype."

Read full story.

Check out Va Tech's smart house, LumenHaus.

Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 6:37pm