On November 18, 2025, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development administratively approved the following Region 2 project aimed at growing the regional economy. Region 2 consists of the cities of Covington, Lynchburg, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem and the counties of Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Roanoke.

Ready for Anything: Strategies for Business Continuity and Sustainability in the NRV 

The Virginia Small Business Development Center, Greater Roanoke & New River Valley will build capacity to support existing businesses, mitigate risks, and foster long-term economic resilience through GO Virginia’s Helene Business Recovery Initiative.

The Helene Business Recovery Initiative is a special funding opportunity created to respond to the effects of Hurricane Helene. The initiative offers funding for business technical assistance for GO Virginia Regions 1, 2, and 3, with relaxed program requirements.   

“The effects of Hurricane Helene were significant for Southwest Virginia and have shown how important business resilience is for our small businesses,” said Paul Denham, chair of the Region 2 council. “We know this special funding will create a model for future planning in this region that can be replicated elsewhere to improve small business planning for the unexpected in the future.”

The goals of the Ready for Anything project include increasing the number of businesses prepared for future disasters; providing tailored resources to strengthen continuity, risk assessment, and financial preparedness practices; building economic resilience across industries that drive the New River Valley economy; and establishing and facilitating the NRV Small Business Collective as an ongoing peer support and resilience resource.

The program will deliver a series of six interactive workshops covering financial preparedness, insurance and risk management, crisis communication, cybersecurity and digital continuity, and marketing continuity. Content will be tailored to support the diverse industries and business models in the region including cybersecurity for manufacturers, supply chain continuity for outdoor and waterway operators, and visitor recovery strategies for hospitality businesses.

Two GrowthWheel peer groups will provide confidential spaces for up to 20 firms (10 per group) to solve problems collaboratively, and businesses will also be able to participate in one-on-one advising to develop a customized continuity and resilience plan.

“By strengthening business continuity practices, fostering collaboration among regional partners, and expanding access to capital and critical resources, this initiative will build a durable foundation for long-term economic resilience and growth,” said Heather Fay, director and executive regional administrator for the Greater Roanoke & New River Valley Small Business Development Center.

The GO Virginia board approved a total of $71,156 in state funds for the project, which is leveraging $36,279 in non-state sources.

GO Virginia is a statewide initiative designed to encourage Virginia’s economic growth through the creation of high-wage jobs. Virginia Tech’s Center for Economic and Community Engagement serves as Region 2’s support organization. 

Contact:
John Provo
540-357-2949
jprovo@vt.edu