“Why should I stay in the New River Valley?”

April 5, 2010 in Posts | 1 comment

Ok, hold on ONE second.  This is not a question I am asking, this is a question I have been asked a great deal lately.

I know some talented people.  Some are photographers, others web-designers, and many other disciplines.  I have watched these friends of mine interact with the local governments and businesses and in many cases they hit a wall.

There is a lack of support and places to work and interact with people.  Some have referred to a condition that seems to happen to some that live here that they call “Brain Drain.”  The longer they are in the valley the more their creativity is dried up, yet the moment they leave (permanently or temporarily) they find inspiration, people to dream and work with and businesses and localities that value their contributions.

Anne from Handshake 2.0 has informed me of her vision for the New River Valley, a place where entrepreneurship is encouraged and has space to grow.  I recently spoke with Aric from the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance, that organization has spent the last twenty years marketing this valley to larger businesses to bring in jobs and opportunities for both current and future residents.

I have been excited to see the opportunities that have begun to present themselves to me through my relationships with local businesses, but my experience feels extremely individual and unique.  Even then I have only found opportunities, nothing solid (I am still working on that!).  But I can see that there are people older and wiser than me working to make this area great.

So I ask, if you had the chance to talk to someone under 30, single, and talented who felt that trying to live and work in the NRV was a waste of time; what would you say?

Often I find I am at a loss to point to direct work of businesses and the local government to encourage this demographic (my demographic) to stay, and perhaps the circle of friends are just those who should go elsewhere while others stay.  But I hate to see my friends leave, what am I overlooking?

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  1. Eric’s avatar

    Eric on April 29, 2010 at 1:18 am

    Get the hell out.

    I take it you haven’t spent an extended amount of time in NYC or any other big metros. There’s a good reason why there’s nothing to speak of, economically in this area. It’s a tiny blip on the map with more cows than people, in some parts.

    Metros, or at least cities more dense than Blacksburg, are where big things go down. Technology? You want Silicon Valley. Why waste it here, if you have to? This is comfortable place with friendly folk, don’t get me wrong, but not a place you can hustle to the top because there is no top, here. (As much as Anne struggles for there to be. I commend her, but it ain’t happening Anne. It’s Blacksburg, not San Francisco.)

    Trust me. I’m a graduating senior, have been around with internships, and just as passionate about technology as you are. My first stop post-graduation? West coast.

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