Roanoke-based Internet development firm, SiteVision has developed a new website for the Near Southwest Preparedness Alliance.  The new website allows NSPA to easily communicate and update the site with content and notifications. NSPA is a regional healthcare emergency preparedness organization.

Here is the press release from SiteVision.

Roanoke, VA November 19, 2012: The Near Southwest Preparedness Alliance (NSPA) was created in 2004 to advance and improve the state of disaster preparedness for healthcare organizations within the jurisdictions of the Near Southwest Region. The new website, developed by SiteVision, was created to better communicate goals, events, current and ongoing projects with its members, board of directors, committees and the general public. Read more »

The American Cancer Society recognized Kroger with the 2012 Excellence in Philanthropy Award. Kroger was recognized for its support of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Relay for Life events.

Here is the press release from Kroger.

ROANOKE, VA. (November 26, 2012)—Kroger has received the 2012 Excellence in Philanthropy Award from the American Cancer Society. Read more »

A presentation Thursday in Blacksburg will highlight the emerging concept of Internet-based crowd funding.

The event is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at TechPad, 432 N. Main St. More than 100 people are expected, according to a Tweet by TechPad director Bob Summers, who has rented an additional 80 chairs for the event.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who is making presentations on crowd funding around the state, will participate by Skype.

Speakers expected to be present include Austin Choi, general counsel of Kiva, a microlending nonprofit that orchestrates small-scale loans to fight poverty; Daniel Gorfine, director of special projects and legal counsel at the Milken Institute; Mary Miller of Blacksburg-based Interactive Design & Development; and Tom Weithman, CIT GAP Funds managing director. Read more »

Virginia Tech’s School of Architecture + Design has earned recognition from DesignIntelligence. The School’s landscape architecture programs for undergraduates and graduates have both earned a second place ranking in the nation on the America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools 2013 report. Robert Dunay, director of the Center for Design Research in the School of Architecture + Design and T. A. Carter Professor of Architecture was named one of the Most Admired Educators for 2013. This is the fourth time he has been awarded this distinction. The undergraduate industrial design program, undergraduate interior design program, and the architecture program were also ranked highly.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 28, 2012 – Virginia Tech’s School of Architecture + Design, part of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, has once again earned high marks in national rankings. Read more »

Financial advisers at Ameriprise Financial in Roanoke volunteered at Feeding America Southwest Virginia as part of a national day of service. Participants sorted and packed donated food to be shipped to local food pantries.  Stewart L. Barnes, Edward R. Barnes and James A. Harlow from the  Roanoke office volunteered time at Feeding America.

Here is the press release from Ameriprise.

Roanoke, VA – (November 28, 2012) – Ameriprise financial advisors from Roanoke recently joined forces with their colleagues, clients, family and friends, to help fight domestic hunger. On November 16, the group of 35 participants volunteered at Feeding America Southwest Virginia where they sorted and packed donated food items for distribution to local food pantries. The event was part of a national day of service organized by the company. Ameriprise financial advisors, staff and employees across more than 45 states have committed to volunteering at approximately 350 hunger relief organizations in their local communities. Read more »

Pictured from left to right with the items they donated are: Denny Early, Dianne McGuire, Jennifer Callahan and Debbie Montgomery.

Employees of TowneBank Mortgage in Roanoke delivered food for Thanksgiving while visiting the Salvation Army.

Here is the press release from Rubin Communications Group.

Towne family members from TowneBank Mortgage in Roanoke visited the local Salvation Army to deliver food for the Thanksgiving holiday. They arrived to find more than a dozen families waiting in line for donations, living proof that their efforts will go to good use this week.

A symposium addressing the mobility needs of seniors will take place Dec. 6 at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. The community is invited to attend a session and express concerns about transportation and the aging population. This event is hosted by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech, and is sponsored by the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence. For more information,  email jantin@vtti.vt.edu  or call 231-1579.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 27, 2012 – As the U.S. population ages, there are more people, including drivers, over the age of 65. To address seniors’ mobility needs, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech are hosting the Senior Mobility Awareness Symposium: Integrating Science, Policy, and Practice, sponsored by the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence. Read more »

U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency is offering loans to women and minority farmers who are interested in purchasing and operating a family-sized farm. Applicants must met requirements such as being able to obtain credit, be a U.S. citizen, and have a satisfactory history of meeting credit obligations. For more information about minority farmer loans, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

Here is the press release from the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Roanoke, Virginia  November 26, 2012 — Women and minority farmers interested in buying and operating family-sized farms may be eligible for loans from the Farm Service Agency, according to C. Jean Hazlegrove, the Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke Farm Service Agency County Executive Director. Read more »

Global Landing Pad has been launched by VT KnowledgeWorks in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. The landing pad provides workspace for businesses who want to set up a home office in the U.S.

Here is the press release from VT KnowledgeWorks.

(Blacksburg, VA) – The Global Landing Pad provides a low-cost, high-quality workspace experience for businesses desiring to set up a home office in the USA.  Until now, having a presence to conduct business in the USA has required a commitment of money, time and effort that challenges most small- to medium-sized companies.  That has changed with the launch of the Global Landing Pad in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. Read more »

SiteVision has developed the Content Management System for the West Virginia Veterinary Medical Association. An enhanced design, coding and implementation was put in place so that the WVMA could easily maintain its website.

Here is the press release from SiteVision.

Roanoke, VA November 16, 2012: The West Virginia Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) has implemented a new website to better meet organizational goals. The Content Management System was developed by SiteVision, Inc. Read more »