Business digest

Blacksburg lauded for rehab project

The town of Blacksburg has received the APVA Preservation Virginia Community Preservation Award for the Blacksburg Motor Co. rehabilitation project.

The building, which was constructed in 1924 as a car dealership and later housed a gas station, is now a town hall annex.

"The selection committee felt the preservation and rehabilitation of an abandoned large-scale downtown commercial building into a contributing part of an existing community is both a boost for Blacksburg and a model for other communities across the commonwealth," said Louis Malon, director of preservation services for Preservation Virginia.

The town also received certification from the Department of Historic Resources for the project after completing a three-part review process.

UVa seeks nominees for environmental award

The University of Virginia is accepting nominations for the Gerald P. McCarthy Award for Leadership in Environmental Conflict Resolution.

The award is given to an individual, organization, local government, agency, educational institution or community that leads efforts in protecting Virginia's environment. The award was created in 2004 to honor McCarthy, executive director of the Virginia Environmental Endowment, for his efforts to protect and promote environmental literacy in Virginia.

Nomination forms, available at www.virginia.edu/ien/mccarthyaward.htm, are due March 31. The winner will be announced at the graduation of the 2010 Virginia National Resources Leadership Institute Class in Charlottesville on June 4.

Insurance firms merge

Bankers Insurance of Richmond has merged with Comprehensive Benefits Inc. of Lynchburg.

Comprehensive Benefits will now operate under the Bankers Insurance name. Buck Bradley, president of Comprehensive Benefits, will serve as regional vice president of the new Bankers Insurance location.

Bankers Insurance is among the top 10 brokers in Virginia with sales of $200 million. It has 13 service offices and more than 185 employees.

Member One opens Salem location

Member One Federal Credit Union held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 18 for its newest branch at 1436 W. Main St. in Salem.

Mayor Randy Foley and members of the Salem City Council, several Salem-Roanoke County Chamber board members, ambassadors and Member One's board of directors and executive team participated in the ceremony.

Electronics retailer prepares for Valley View opening

Hhgregg, an electronics and appliances retailer, plans to open its new Roanoke store by March 25.

The store is moving into the 33,500-square-foot former Circuit City space on Valley View Boulevard.

The Indiana-based chain has said the store will need 40 to 50 employees. The company, which has about 130 stores mostly in Southeastern states, opened two stores in Richmond in November, the retailer's first in Virginia.

-- Jenny Kincaid Boone, special to BRBJ

Centra joins conservation program

Centra Health has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Change the World, Start with Energy Star" campaign to reduce energy use at Virginia Baptist and Lynchburg General hospitals.

Over the past year, Centra has been taking steps to become more energy efficient by tracking energy performance and benchmarking utility data, conducting a lighting audit, optimizing its chiller plant and completing a steam trap survey.

Centra is seeking the Energy Star award, which recognizes facilities that rank in the top 75th percentile in energy efficiency.

Roanoke art gallery closes

A downtown Roanoke art gallery has closed.

Pamela Floyd, the owner of the Pamela Jean Gallery, which was across Salem Avenue from the Taubman Museum of Art, shut the shop's doors in late February.

Floyd said she had to close the gallery to take care of her granddaughter after her daughter was debilitated by an aneurysm.

-- Mike Allen, special to BRBJ

Roanoke framing shop moves

Graphics Etc. Framing & Gallery has moved from downtown Roanoke to The Forum on Starkey Road.

The framing shop had been based on the city market since 1978 and at one time had a location at The Forum.

AlphaGraphics moves, expands

AlphaGraphics has moved its Roanoke business center to 2057 Electric Road, from its previous location at 4014 Electric Road.

AlphaGraphics offers digital and large-format printing, design services, mailing and marketing services.

Chamber hosts social media workshop

The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce partnered with Entwine Inc. to host "Social Media 2010: Your Competitive Edge and Survival," in late February.

The seminar focused on changing the mindset of attendees -- including local business owners and marketing managers -- by educating them about social media.

Speakers at the event, which was held at the Salem Civic Center, included Ira Kaufman, Patsy Stewart and Amy Tuggle, all of Entwine.

Manufacturing group seeks 'Best Restroom' nominations

The Cintas Corp. is taking nominations for the "America's Best Restroom" award. Submissions can be made at www.bestrestroom.com until April 26.

Nominations are open to any non-residential restroom that is free of charge. Past winners have had skyline views, unique decorations and sparkling fixtures.

Up to 10 finalists will be announced in July and the winner will be announced in September.

Cintas, based in Ohio, manufactures products such as entrance mats, restroom supplies, first aid products and promotional products.

USDA to help livestock producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency in Virginia is taking sign-ups for the Livestock Indemnity Program.

The program is designed to provide benefits to producers for livestock deaths caused by bad weather.

Producers have 30 days after a disaster event to file with their local Farm Service Agency office.

Due to excessive snow and extremely cold temperatures this winter, producers who lost livestock may be eligible for LIP benefits if they meet requirements.

For more information on the program or to find a local FSA office, go to www.fsa.usda.gov.

O'Reilly Auto Parts opens in Salem

O'Reilly Auto Parts opened its first store in the Roanoke Valley in February. The company held a ribbon cutting at its new location, 911 W. Main St. in Salem.

Neighborhood nominations sought

The Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference is calling for nominations for the 2010 Neighborhood Awards.

These awards recognize the accomplishments of outstanding neighborhood organizations and individuals who work to enhance quality of life in their communities.

The five awards include project of the year, organization of the year, advocate of the year, youth individual effort of the year and youth group effort of the year. Nominations are due July 16 and winners will be announced at the conference, which will be held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center Sept. 23-25.

More information is available at www.vsnc.org.