Greetings from Return to Roots!

In this issue:

• First Annual Southwest Virginia Business Showcase & Job Fair
• Governor Kaine Announces Partnership With Dominion Virginia Power To Promote Clean Fuel Vehicles
• Send Us Your Success Stories
• Return to Roots Sponsorship Opportunities
• Purple Shirt Brigade
• Two Excellent Computer Training Opportunities Available!
• Entrepreneur Express
• Job Quest

Return to Roots Hosts the First Annual Southwest Virginia Business Showcase & Job Fair

Return to Roots is hosting its first Business Showcase & Job Fair in the Grand Hall of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Thursday, October 8, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with set-up from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Over the past three years, Return to Roots has consistently worked to promote both the economic development of and the lifestyle enjoyed in Southwest Virginia. Hosting this event is an enormous way to highlight both aspects at once. The Business Showcase & Job Fair will be targeting approximately 24,000 students attending the colleges of Southwest Virginia as well as the general public. That is a large number and large variety of people looking to learn more about your organization!

Don't have jobs available? Don't let that stop you from getting your name out to potential customers, employees and business partners!

We are inviting you to participate in this event as either a sponsor or an exhibitor. Sponsorship and Exhibition information can be found either on our website, www.ReturnToRoots.org.

As a proud business of Southwest Virginia, you are encouraged to register for the event as soon as possible, and new prices make getting your name out there more affordable than ever before! If you have any questions or need further assistance, you can contact Carl Mitchell, Program Manager, at (540) 731-6800, or via email at cmitchell@vebinc.org.

Click here to Register for the Business Showcase & Job Fair

Governor Kaine Announces Partnership With Dominion Virginia Power To Promote Clean Fuel Vehicles
Hybrid Electric Vehicle Charging Stations installed at select state rest areas

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced as part of his Renew
Virginia initiative a partnership with Dominion Virginia Power to install electric vehicle charging stations at certain state rest areas. These charging stations, installed at no cost to the state, are designed to accommodate most of today’s hybrid electric vehicles and use of the stations will be complimentary. Earlier this month the first electric vehicle charging stations were installed at the westbound New Kent Safety Rest Area on Interstate 64 and can charge up to four vehicles at a time.

“I am pleased to work with Dominion to provide clean fuel alternatives for the
citizens of Virginia and implement another recommendation of my Climate Change
Commission,” Governor Kaine said. “The charging stations will help promote hybrid
electric vehicles, meet the future needs of our vehicle fleet, and help budget conscious
Virginians in a tough time.”

The stations charge vehicles at 120 volts and will eventually be upgraded to 240
volts. During the fall, the Virginia Department of Transportation will continue to work
with Dominion to identify other facilities for electric vehicle charging stations
installations

Read More...

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Send Us Your Success Stories!

We are continuously looking for success stories to feature on our website. We would love to hear from you if you have interviewed or hired anyone from the Return to Roots  program since registering with us.If you have a success story, please email Carl Mitchell, Program Manager, cmitchell@vebinc.org.

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Return to Roots Sponsorship Opportunities

Return to Roots will begin implementing a sponsorship program that provides regional employers the opportunity to sponsor either the Return to Roots website or newsletter.  We will provide a variety of options and opportunities to display your graphics and information on our webpage, all of which will enable employers to further expand their outreach to job seekers all across the country.

Our sponsorship program is designed to further develop the exposure of employers in the Southwest region of Virginia by allowing employers to display their company to Return to Roots users in a variety of different ways, from homepage banners to feature articles in the job seekers' newsletter.

Information on sponsoring a logo, ad or feature article in the upcoming newsletter can be found below. 

Click here to see a visual depiction of each service

Sponsor your company or organization here, in the image space above. Refer to the table above for more information!

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For contributing $250.00, you can become a member of the “Purple Shirt Brigade.” 

Below are some of the marketing benefits that stem from a $250 contribution:

Your logo will be featured on a separate 2009 Purple Shirt Brigade page on the Return to Roots website. It will be included on a Purple Shirt Brigade PowerPoint slide in the Return to Roots presentation that we will be delivering to every chamber and civic organization throughout the 21 counties and cities included in the Return to Roots region.

You will be acknowledged at the Return to Roots Executive Committee and Strategic Partners Meetings (comprised of 50 local business/civic leaders) during our updates each six weeks.

Lastly, you will receive a Return to Roots “Purple Shirt Brigade” Purple Long Sleeved T-Shirt.

To become a member, you can make check payable to: 

Return to Roots
P.O. Box 3768
Radford, Va. 24143

or contribute directly, via our website, www.returntoroots.org.

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Two Excellent Computer Training Opportunities Available!

Microsoft has donated over 10,000 vouchers to Virginians for online technology training in Microsoft programs.

What is being given away?

There are three types of vouchers:
1) Business Worker Voucher. This voucher provides basic skills training in Windows XP and Office 2007 or Windows Vista and Office 2007.

2) Business Certification Exam Voucher. This voucher tests and certifies an individual in Microsoft Office 2007 skills.

3) Technical Professional Voucher. This voucher is intended for customers who are IT Professionals and wish to acquire skills beyond the general e-learning.

These vouchers are available to ANYONE in Virginia! Therefore, they do not need to be screened or apply.

You have until October 15, 2009 to redeem vouchers. Only one voucher can be issued at a time.

Computer Literacy Program

In the current economic environment of high unemployment rates, especially in rural areas, Virginia's workforce programs' service providers are experiencing an increased volume of job seekers who lack basic computer literacy skills. The Virginia Community College System is providing funds to support the provision of basic computer literacy skill courses. The courses supported by this funding program will introduce participants to Windows, the Internet, graphics and other application software. Upon completion of the course, the participants will receive a certificate or transcript.

To find out more information about these programs and offers, contact
Ronnie Martin, Executive Director
New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Investment Board
(540) 633-6764
rmartin@nrvdc.org

A series of entrepreneurial business and management workshops are being held across Virginia to assist new business startups and existing small businesses!
These workshops are designed to provide information on available business resources and deliver practical, hands-on training covering key elements of business practice. Workshop segments will include information on how to start and operate a business, growing an existing business, marketing strategies, financing and available resources.

Upcoming Events

Dickenson County Entrepreneur Express Workshop

Location: Dickenson Center for Education and Research
Dickenson County Technology Park
Clintwood, VA

Date: October 15, 2009
Time: 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Read More and Register Here!

Galax Entrepreneur Express Workshop

Location: Southwest Regional Enterprise Center
1117 East Stuart Drive
Galax, VA

Date: October 29, 2009
Time: 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Read More and Register Here!

Smyth County Growing Sales Seminar

Location: Smyth Career and Technology Center
Exit 39 Off I-81
Seven Mile Ford, VA

Date: November 05, 2009
Time: 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Read More and Register Here!

Roanoke Entrpreneur Express: Business in a Box Seminar

Location: Virginia Western Community College
Whitman Auditorium
Colonial Avenue
Roanoke, VA

Date: November 06, 2009
Time: 08:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Read More and Register Here!

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"JobQuest" Offers Tips and Advice to JobSeekers

The September 8th episode of "JobQuest" featured expert advice on how to prepare for a job fair and make the best of these opportunities, face to face, with employer representatives. Program highlights include a special segment on writing a resume, an essential document for making the most of job fairs.

September was also International Update Your Resume Month. So Susan Geary, the "JobQuest" resume expert, highlighted dos and don'ts of resume writing, helping job seekers make a good first impression with potential employers.

Additional "JobQuest" highlights for the September episode included 60 new job listings from across the region. Human resources experts were available at the phone bank and at Twitter.com to answer questions.

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"JobQuest" continues Tuesday, October 6th at 7 p.m. with another live, information-packed broadcast.


Email JobQuest at jobquest@blueridgepbs.org

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