For Employers
Discover essential employer resources in the Roanoke area to help you connect with local talent, enhance your workforce, and access valuable tools for business growth.
Relocation Information
Life is easy in the Roanoke region and our "moving here" page makes it easy for you to sell the benefits why someone should call Roanoke home. The Roanoke Region offers the perfect balance of big-city amenities and small-town community.
Summer Onboarding Program
Onboard|ROA is an eight-week summer onboarding program that gets new hires, remote workers, interns, and young professionals, ages 18-26, connected to the Roanoke Region. Equal parts adventure and exploration, career development, and network building; to help your employees get connected, fast. Applications for Onboard typically open in January/February, with the program beginning in early June.
Get Connected on Campus
Research shows that the #1 way to connect with talent earlier is to be seen and engage on campus. The career and employer services departments on campus are a HUGE resource that will pay off big time in long-term talent pipeline development. If you are not on campus, you are missing a huge opportunity. Your employees can teach, they can speak in classrooms of specific majors, they can host interview days on campus, attend intern/career fairs...so many options!
- Virginia Tech Employer Engagement and Recruitment Services
- Radford University Career and Talent Development Center
- Virginia Western Community College Career Center
- Roanoke College Purpose, Life and Career Exploration Center
- Hollins University Career and Life Design Center
- Ferrum College Office of Career Development
- Liberty University Employer Relations Team
- Mountain Gateway Community College (Clifton Forge)
Start an Internship/Apprenticeship Program
The top three ways to get engaged with young talent are to be seen on campus, build awareness early in the K-12 journey, and create work-based learning opportunities such as internship and apprenticeship programs. Below are resources that will help you get started and connect with schools and students.
- Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (VTOP) - GO Virginia Funded Intern Support
- Summer Intern Onboarding Program with Get2KnowNoke
- Post Your Internships to our Jobs Board
- Get Engaged on Regional College Campuses
- Roanoke Regional Apprentice Showcase
- What is a registered apprentice, and how can my company benefit?
Roanoke Regional Partnership
Founded in 1983, the Roanoke Regional Partnership is dedicated to connecting businesses to the resources they need to relocate or expand in the Roanoke Region. Representing the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Franklin, and Roanoke; cities of Covington, Roanoke, and Salem; and the town of Vinton, the Partnership is a joint venture among the eight governments and more than 200 private sector businesses committed to spreading the word about all the natural and human resources the Roanoke Region has to offer.
Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board Services
The Virginia Career Works - Blue Ridge region provides workforce development services to job seekers and employers in the Roanoke area. They offer resources such as job search assistance, career training, and recruitment support to help individuals find employment and businesses meet their staffing needs. The organization aims to enhance the local workforce and support economic growth in the region.
- Custom Training
- On-the-Job Training
- Registered Apprenticeships
- Tax Credits & Workforce Incentives
- Section 503 Compliance
- Disability/Workplace Accommodations Support
- Labor Market Data
- Recruitment and Candidate Pre-Screening
- Greater Roanoke Region Referral Form
- Workforce Verbiage Terms for Lay People
- Email the Workforce Board
VEDP State-level Incentives for Growth
Virginia is consistently rated among the best states for business and has incentive programs that reduce the costs of opening or expanding a business facility. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) offers a range of incentives to attract and support businesses in the state. These incentives include tax credits, grants, and financing options designed to encourage job creation, investment, and economic growth in Virginia.
Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council
The Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) fosters innovation and growth in the technology sector by connecting tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and businesses in the Roanoke and Blacksburg region. The RBTC offers networking opportunities, educational events, and resources to support the tech community.
Chambers of Commerce
Learn more about the local Chambers of Commerce that make up the Roanoke region.
Industry Groups & Training
Need industry-specific assistance, these local organizations are here to help:
- Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing
- Blacks In Technology SW Virginia Chapter
- Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors
- Virginia Tech Industry 4.0 Resource Portal
- Botetourt County Farm Bureau
- Blue Ridge Masonry Association
- American Advertising Federation (AAF) Roanoke
- Roanoke Region Home Builders Association
- Roanoke Bar Association
- Women On Site Roanoke Chapter (Construction/Building Industry)
- Project Management Institute (PMI) Southwest Virginia Chapter
Economic Development Offices by Locality (BR&E)
Local economic development offices specialize in Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E). Here is a list of local economic development offices, here to help you succeed.
Goodwill Warehouse Services
Goodwill of the Valleys now offers business services including custom wood crate manufacturing and custom wood outrigger pads and CNC Routing components for the furniture industry - all made locally in Radford, Virginia.
Civics@Work
Civics@Work is a nonpartisan initiative by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that gives employers the tools and resources they need to elevate civics knowledge, skills, and disposition among a workforce that’s 168 million strong, and growing. Through Civics@Work, employers can take simple yet meaningful steps to promote basic civics among their employees, leading to more productive, supportive workplaces, and more prosperous communities.
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