Franklin County Office of Economic Development

11/02/2026

Congratulations to Maranda “Gracie” Edwards on being named a 2026 Student Innovator! 🎉🌟

Gracie, a senior at Ferrum College studying Agricultural Sciences, was recently recognized by the Southern Piedmont Technology Council (SPTC) at its annual Innovation Stars Awards Banquet in Danville! This recognition celebrates Gracie's outstanding contributions to agricultural technology, scientific research, and environmental conservation throughout our region.

Through her work at the Virginia Tech-IALR Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, Gracie has helped advance research in hydroponic growing techniques and crop management. She has also contributed to Ferrum College's Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program, helping track environmental changes and support the preservation of one of our region's most valuable natural resources. 🌱💧

Gracie's dedication to research, innovation, and academic excellence is a wonderful example of the talented young professionals helping shape the future of agriculture and technology in Southern Virginia.

We're proud to see a Ferrum College student recognized for making such a meaningful impact here in Franklin County, VA, and look forward to seeing all that Gracie accomplishes next! 👏🎓

10/30/2026

Our Franklin County Economic Development team attended the 13th Annual Executive Briefing on The Economics of Early Childhood, co-hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. 🧩

The event brought leaders together to explore the important connection between early childhood investments, workforce development, and long-term economic growth. Discussions highlighted how access to quality early childhood education and care can support working families, strengthen employers' ability to attract and retain talent, and contribute to a more competitive workforce across Virginia.

Opportunities like these remind us that economic development extends beyond business investment and job creation. Building a strong economy also means supporting the resources and services that help families, businesses, and communities thrive.

We're grateful for the opportunity to be part of these important conversations and look forward to continuing efforts that support Franklin County's workforce, families, and long-term economic success! 🤝🌱

10/29/2026

‼️ Don't forget to register for our upcoming workshop with the Greater Roanoke and NRV SBDC! Join us this Monday, November 2, from 5:00–6:00 PM at the Franklin Center to learn more about how you can make the most of your business this holiday season! 🌟

The holidays are just around the corner, and now is the time to start planning how your business can make the most of the season! 🛍️

Join us at The Franklin Center for a FREE holiday marketing workshop with the Greater Roanoke and NRV SBDC that is designed to help small business owners attract customers, increase visibility, and make the most of holiday shopping opportunities.

Workshop Details:
📅 Monday, November 2, 2026
🕔 5:00–6:00 PM
📍 The Franklin Center | 50 Claiborne Avenue, Rocky Mount, VA
👉 Scan the QR code or use the link in the comments below to register!

10/28/2026

Building a stronger future for rural Virginia starts with collaboration! Earlier this month, members of our Franklin County Economic Development team attended the 2026 Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity in Lexington! 🌄🤝

The two-day summit brought together leaders, policymakers, economic development professionals, and community partners from across the Commonwealth to discuss opportunities and challenges shaping the future of rural Virginia. Conversations focused on business growth and investment, workforce development, agriculture and forestry, infrastructure, healthcare access, and the importance of strong regional partnerships.

Events like these provide valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, strengthen connections, and explore strategies that support long-term economic growth and prosperity in our rural communities.

We're grateful for the opportunity to be part of these important conversations and look forward to continuing our work to support businesses, residents, and economic opportunities right here in Franklin County! 🌱📈

10/27/2026

Looking to strengthen your Microsoft Word skills and create more professional documents? 💻📄

The Microsoft Word Essentials Series through Patrick & Henry Community College offers hands-on training designed to help participants build confidence, improve efficiency, and learn practical tools for creating, formatting, and managing documents.

Each 2-hour session is offered individually, allowing participants to choose the topics that best fit their needs!

Upcoming Sessions:

📊 Working with Tables, Images & Visual Elements
📅 October 28 | 5:30–7:30 PM
Learn how to create tables, insert images, and incorporate visual elements while maintaining professional document formatting.

📑 References, Navigation & Long Documents
📅 November 4 | 5:30–7:30 PM
Explore tools for organizing longer documents, creating tables of contents, managing references, and improving accuracy.

🤝 Collaboration, Templates & Productivity Tools
📅 November 11 | 5:30–7:30 PM
Discover features like Track Changes, comments, templates, and other tools that make collaboration and document management easier.

📍 Location: MET I
💲 Cost: $30 per session
🔗 Browse all Microsoft Word Essentials Sessions at the link in the comments

10/23/2026

Friends of Southwest Virginia is launching Tourism Ready Southwest Virginia, a new regional workforce training initiative designed to strengthen hospitality skills, support tourism businesses, and create memorable experiences for visitors across the region! 🌄🤝

This FREE training opportunity is open to frontline employees, business owners, managers, and tourism professionals working in restaurants, lodging, attractions, retail, and other tourism-related businesses. Participants can choose from two training opportunities:

🌟 Welcome & Engage: Build customer service skills, create positive visitor experiences, and learn how to better promote Southwest Virginia’s attractions and communities.
👥 LEAD: Strengthen leadership skills and learn strategies for building and supporting successful hospitality teams.

Upcoming Training Sessions:

📅 October 27 | Floyd – Welcome & Engage
📅 October 28 | Abingdon – Welcome & Engage
📅 October 29 | Norton – Welcome & Engage
📅 October 30 | Abingdon – LEAD

💲 All workshops are FREE, but space is limited.
🔗 Use the link in the comments to learn more and register!

10/22/2026

Join regional workforce partners in celebrating our veterans and helping build a stronger manufacturing workforce across Southwest Virginia! 🛠️

GENEDGE and Virginia Western Community College are hosting the inaugural Front Line to Production Line Manufacturer Expo on November 4! This event will bring together veterans, job seekers, and regional manufacturers for a day of recognition, networking, and workforce development opportunities.

The day will begin with a special veterans honor ceremony, followed by an afternoon manufacturer expo and job fair featuring employers hiring now, live robotics demonstrations, and information about pathways to industry-recognized credentials.

Whether you're a veteran exploring your next career, a job seeker interested in manufacturing, or an employer looking to connect with local talent, this event offers valuable opportunities to get involved!

Event Details:
📅 Wednesday, November 4, 2026
🤝 Veterans Honor Ceremony: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🍽️ Lunch: 12:00–1:00 PM
🏭 Manufacturer Expo & Job Fair: 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke, VA
💲 FREE for veterans, job seekers, and manufacturers!

🔗 Use the link in the comments below to learn more and register!

10/21/2026

Calling all Franklin County small businesses! 🛍️🎄🌟

Small Business Saturday is right around the corner, and our team is excited to once again partner with the Town of Rocky Mount, Virginia and Community Partnership of Rocky Mount to highlight our local businesses through a special Holiday Shopping Map!

If you own a small business in Franklin County, VA, we want to feature you! Help us encourage the community to shop small this holiday season! ❤️

📅 Form Submission Deadline: November 16, 2026
🔗 Use the link in the comments below to register!

10/20/2026

Looking for ways to strengthen your supply chain, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency? 🏭📈 The Danville Office of Economic Development & Tourism, in partnership with GENEDGE, is hosting an Introduction to Supply Chain Optimization Workshop on October 27!

Designed for manufacturers and other organizations looking to improve their operations, this hands-on workshop will explore practical strategies to reduce supply chain risks, improve efficiency, strengthen supplier relationships, and build long-term resilience.

Through interactive simulations and real-world manufacturing discussions, participants will learn how to:

⚙️ Align supply chain strategies with business goals
📊 Improve purchasing, sourcing, and production decisions
💰 Evaluate supplier costs and identify hidden expenses
🛠️ Identify supply chain risks and opportunities for improvement

Workshop Details:
📅 Tuesday, October 27, 2026
🕗 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Institute for Advanced Learning & Research | Danville, VA
💲 $375 per participant
🍽️ Breakfast and lunch provided

Space is limited to just 20 participants, so early registration is encouraged!

🔗 Use the link in the comments below to register!

10/19/2026

The holidays are just around the corner, and now is the time to start planning how your business can make the most of the season! 🛍️

Join us at The Franklin Center for a FREE holiday marketing workshop with the Greater Roanoke and NRV SBDC that is designed to help small business owners attract customers, increase visibility, and make the most of holiday shopping opportunities.

Workshop Details:
📅 Monday, November 2, 2026
🕔 5:00–6:00 PM
📍 The Franklin Center | 50 Claiborne Avenue, Rocky Mount, VA
👉 Scan the QR code or use the link in the comments below to register!