The Mount Rogers Regional Partnership region is composed of five counties and one city in southwest Virginia, with one of the leading trucking routes traversing the region. Interstates 81 and 77 intersect in Wythe County, and the region is bordered by Tennessee to the west, North Carolina to the south, and West Virginia to the north.
Agricultural Heritage Meets Strong Manufacturing Base
With a rich history in agriculture, the region is now made up of a strong manufacturing base, including everything from snack foods and Gatorade to leading human resources software and revolutionary plug-less power systems for electric vehicles.
MRRP’s strategic East Coast location is the driving force behind the recent growth in the food and beverage processing cluster. With access to three-fourths of the U.S. population within a day’s truck drive, the region is prime for companies that need quick access to their customer base. In addition to the food and beverage industry, the region’s manufacturing base includes automotive-related companies using sophisticated technology to make precision parts for the world’s leading automakers, as well as high-tech companies in the plastics, furniture, distribution, and defense industries.
Internationally recognized companies such as ABB, General Dynamics, Pepsi, and Utility Trailer have made the MRRP region their home. If your company is looking for a place to call home, new industrial and business parks are available throughout the region, as well as existing buildings that are move-in ready or can be adapted to various sizes for manufacturing, office, or warehousing requirements.
Rich Cultural Heritage meets Outdoor Recreation
Rich cultural heritage, coupled with outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities, make the MRRP region a great place to live, work, and play. The area is home to Virginia’s two highest mountain peaks – Mount Rogers and Whitetop – as well as the Appalachian Trail, Hungry Mother State Park, the New River, and many other outdoor recreation opportunities. The possibilities are endless in southwest Virginia. From hiking, cycling, and camping to ATV trails, kayaking, and rafting, the region has it all! In addition, the region boasts thriving downtowns, shopping, dining, arts, crafts, and music! Be entertained by historic theatres such as Barter Theatre and the Lincoln Theatre – home to Song of the Mountains – or tap your toes to music along the nationally recognized Crooked Road Heritage Music Trail! Find out more about what the region has to offer by visiting www.myswva.org.
The MRRP region is composed of five counties and one city in southwest Virginia, with one of the leading trucking routes traversing the region. Interstates 81 and 77 intersect in Wythe County, and the region is bordered by Tennessee to the West, North Carolina to the South, and West Virginia to the North.
Incubators and Technology
Two new business incubator and training facilities are located in the MRRP region in Galax and Abingdon. Training programs are available in the region’s two community colleges, at regional skills centers, through the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, and also through the educational and degree programs at several four-year colleges and universities in the area, including Virginia Tech.
Rich cultural heritage coupled with outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities make MRRP a great place to live. The region includes five hospitals, one designated as a teaching facility for a nearby medical school, and access to clinics and telemedicine facilities linked to Virginia’s major medical centers.
