Business News - September 24

Welcome CBIZ to Downtown 📈

Author

Joya Garris
September 24, 2024

Happy fall, y’all! 🍂 Let’s start the season by making connections. Read through the newsletter to see all of your opportunities to meet people and get involved.

Today’s Top Three:

  • RPD invites you to a meeting in preparation for winter festivities.

  • Come downtown Saturday to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and stay for our Night Market.

  • Let’s extend a warm welcome to a new business: CBIZ!

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Community Engagement and Communications Manager

Get Involved

Join RPD for Holiday Crime Prevention

You’re invited to the Roanoke Police Department’s holiday crime prevention meeting at the Berglund Center on October 9th, 6-8pm. Prepare for the holiday season and learn how to keep your business safe.

Shop the Night Market

Join us for our evening craft and vendor market this Saturday, September 28th, 4-8pm on The Historic City Farmer’s Market!🎨 We will have 30+ craft & retail vendors, along with some regular Farmer's Market vendors setting up for an extended day to fulfill your shopping needs.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Saturday, September 28th | 12-4pm | John Nolen Plaza

The Local Colors 5th annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration is a free, family-friendly event that spotlights the rich cultures of Latin America and recognizes the positive contributions of the Latino community in our area. The 4-hour-long event features dance and live music performances, educational segments, storytelling, and more. Vendor booths will be present with a diversity of Latin American cuisine, artisan crafts, Latino-owned businesses, and community services.

Vend at Dickens of a Christmas 🎄 

It’s hard to believe we’re already accepting vendor and parade applications for Dickens of a Christmas 2024! Dickens takes place on the first three Friday nights in December. We need vendors for all three nights, so please complete the application below if you want to participate!

Dickens Vendor Application 2024Please complete the form and return to Tyler Mundy.220.66 KB • PDF File

Schedule:

  • December 6, 6pm - 10pm: Featuring The City of Roanoke Christmas Tree Lighting

  • December 13, 6pm - 10pm: Featuring The City of Roanoke Christmas Parade presented by Ridge View Bank

  • December 20, 6pm - 10pm: Featuring the Roanoke Valley SPCA Pet Costume Contest

Dickens Parade Application 2024Please return your completed parade application to Tyler Mundy.188.66 KB • PDF File

Stay Informed

Celebrating 2 Years 🎉

Last week, we celebrated 2 years of the Downtown Roanoke Ambassador Program!

Take a look at the impact they've had from year 1 to year 2:

  • Outreach Contacts for those in need of services increased by 20.4%

  • Outreach Referrals for assistance programs increased by 50.4%

  • Sweeps and small cleanups increased by 708.%

  • Special Project hours increased by 229%

The numbers are just a snippet of the impact our Ambassadors have had over the last 24 months. We are excited to continue the program for a third year.

Thanks to our partners, The City of Roanoke, Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge, and other various stakeholders.

Help Us Welcome CBIZ

Whether you need accounting and tax services or insurance and HR services, or both, you can rely on your team at CBIZ for national-caliber expertise and technical depth combined with highly personalized, local service

Ribbon Cutting

Join the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and community leaders on October 9th at 11am for the CBIZ ribbon cutting. Meet leadership and tour the facility downtown (110 Franklin Road SE, Suite 300).

The Gift Guide Returns 🎁 

Many of you probably remember the holiday gift guide that Jaime created a few years ago. We’re happy to announce that we’re bringing it back this season! The guide is published around the end of November to coincide with Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

The categories are listed below so you can get a head start on planning. We haven’t confirmed our photoshoot days yet, but we will let you know the deadlines as we approach November.

Categories:

  • Gifts for Her

  • Accessories

  • Gifts for Him

  • Gifts for the Home

  • Food & Beverage

  • Self Care

  • Gifts for Kids

  • Gifts for Pets

  • Gifts Under $20

Please reach out to Joya with questions.

Gain Knowledge

Elevate Your Business: Conference

November 7-8 | Freedom First Credit Union (207 Bullitt Ave SE)

Are you a business owner looking to take your business to new heights? Or a nonprofit leader ready to double down on your mission and connection with the community?

Elevate is a conference designed to provide local businesses and nonprofits with information, resources, and motivation to generate growth. FFCU will bring you valuable content and engaging speakers. Learn new tactics to implement in your business or nonprofit and make valuable connections with other business owners and leaders in the community.

Elevate has general and breakout sessions designed around Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Women and Minority-Owned Businesses.

Connect with Relevant Organizations

Set your business up for success. Connect with local organizations in the business and tourism sectors.

Events, Street Closures, & Parking

Downtown Events and Street Closures 🚧

The following street closures and associated events may affect Downtown traffic and business for the week of September 12 - 29.

Check out our Event Calendar for a full list of events.

Find Downtown Parking 🅿️

With more than 1,300 on-street spaces and 7,000+ off-street spaces, plenty of free or paid parking options exist.

DRI - Your Downtown Partner

Put DRI to work for you! 💼

Our mission is to make Downtown Roanoke the preferred place to Work, Live, and Play. As a Downtown business, you have a valuable FREE resource at your fingertips. Let us help share your story!

Website Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Our business listings often come up among the first in Google searches. Help us enhance your listing by providing us with vital information including website, phone number, description, hours, menus, and images.

Job Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Downtown Roanoke is the most vibrant workplace around and a destination for job seekers. Let us help get the word out when you’re hiring!

Event Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Our Event Calendar is THE place people go to find out what’s happening Downtown. Get your event in front of the audience you’re looking for.

Important Contacts 👤

Often businesses need phone numbers for government services, such as solid waste, permitting, etc., and other services, such as private parking and transportation.

Check out our list of frequently requested information!