Mount Rogers Regional Partnership

What Mount Rogers Regional Partnership does

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership (MRRP) is a non-profit Regional Economic Development Organization founded in 1989 and headquartered in Wytheville, Virginia. One of 18 REDOs in Virginia, MRRP serves five counties (Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, and Wythe) plus the City of Galax in Southwest Virginia, functioning as the principal coordinator for industrial recruitment, site readiness, and workforce development across the region. Its core product is shovel-ready industrial real estate — four industrial parks totaling approximately 1,842 acres (Progress Park 1,200 acres; Wildwood Commerce Park, 270 acres; Highlands Business Park, 302 acres; Pathway Park, 70 acres) — positioned at the I-81/I-77 interchange, a regional distribution crossroads. The organization complements its real-estate inventory with a workforce pipeline through the Twin County Healthcare Excellence and Manufacturing Excellence programs.

MRRP is funded through a blended model rather than transactional revenue: per-capita financial contributions from its member localities form the stable base, supplemented by private-sector investment participation and competitive grants (including a $104,200 Tobacco Commission grant awarded in July 2025). It does not sell a product or charge fees in the conventional sense; instead, its "output" is measured in capital investment and jobs attracted to the region — outcomes demonstrated by the February 2025 Oasthouse Ventures indoor-farming location ($104.8 million, 118 jobs) and the April 2025 Hitachi Energy expansion ($22.5 million, 120 jobs).

Operationally, MRRP is a small organization of 6 employees that delivers economic-development services through formal multi-jurisdictional governance and partnerships with state-level bodies. Recent strategic positioning includes the 2025 receipt of Foreign Direct Investment Qualified Community certification, developed with the Trans-Atlantic Business Investment Council and TerraLogis, which extends MRRP's recruitment reach beyond domestic tenants to international firms. A leadership transition in July 2025 installed Ashlyn Shrewsbury as Executive Director.

Name

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership

Legal name

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership

Website

https://mountrogersregion.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership is a Wytheville, Virginia-based non-profit Regional Economic Development Organization serving five counties and one city in Southwest Virginia. It markets four industrial parks totaling roughly 1,842 acres at the I-81/I-77 crossroads and coordinates workforce pipeline programs funded by member localities, private investors, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Industrial site selection
• Shovel-ready industrial parks
• Workforce development programs
• Business recruitment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wytheville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: MRRP is financed by its member localities based on population, as well as project-based funding. Member localities include Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, and Wythe counties and the City of Galax.
2. Private Sector Investment: Voluntary private sector funding from businesses that provide business services such as banking and finance, utilities, engineering and architecture, and related industries.
3. Grant Funding: Grant funding from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission ($104,200 awarded in 2025) and other public funding sources to support marketing and business recruitment efforts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership operates as a regional economic development organization providing business recruitment, retention and expansion services, site selection support, and industrial park management across Southwest Virginia. It markets over 1,500 acres of shovel-ready industrial sites, coordinates workforce development programs to build talent pipelines, and supports both domestic and international companies in locating or expanding operations in the region.

Product overview

Mount Rogers Regional Partnership operates as a regional economic development organization serving Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, and Wythe counties plus the City of Galax in Southwest Virginia. Rather than a unified software product, the organization offers an integrated portfolio of economic development services including business resources and site selection support, four shovel-ready industrial parks (Progress Park, Pathway Park, Wildwood Commerce Park, and Highlands Business Park), workforce development programs (Twin County Healthcare Excellence, Twin County Manufacturing Excellence, Meet Mount Rogers, Mount Rogers Connect, and Career Fairs), international business services, and regional marketing. The portfolio works together to attract businesses to the I-81/I-77 crossroads region, support existing industry, and develop a skilled workforce pipeline.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Progress Park 1,200-acre regional industrial park with Class 1 rail service located adjacent to the I-77 and I-81 intersection in Wythe County, featuring shovel-ready sites up to 232 acres with existing utility infrastructure; offered to companies evaluating the region for facility location or expansion.
• Pathway Park 70-acre rail-served industrial site in Chilhowie, VA with 1,900 feet of interstate frontage on I-81, featuring available electrical, gas, water, and wastewater capacity; offered to companies evaluating the region for facility location or expansion.
• Wildwood Commerce Park 270-acre regional industrial park adjacent to Exit 19 of I-77 with superior interstate access, featuring shovel-ready sites up to 96 acres; offered to companies evaluating the region for facility location or expansion.
• Highlands Business Park 302-acre regional industrial park in Glade Spring, VA near Exit 29 of I-81 between Roanoke and Knoxville, offered to companies evaluating the region for facility location or expansion.
• Business Resources Services Business retention and expansion support including business support program participation, grant opportunity identification, and workforce development alignment; provided to existing companies operating in the region.
• Regional Data & Site Selection Services Customized research, demographic data, regional industry analysis, transportation infrastructure information, and site selection analytics provided to businesses considering the region; includes incentives research and property search tools.
• International Business Services Support services for international companies considering U.S. operations in the region, including FDI Qualified Community certification, international business resources, and connections to regional sites and workforce.
• Investor Program Opportunity for businesses to become MRRP investors, providing direct involvement in regional economic development efforts and board participation; available to banking, utility, engineering, and architecture firms serving the region.

Quantifiable outcome

• At least 120 new jobs and approximately $34 million in capital investment expected from current marketing project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• TBIC (Transatlantic Business and Investment Council)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Certification partner for FDI Qualified Community designation; provides in-depth vetting and preparation process for foreign direct investment readiness
• TerraLogisstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Certification partner for FDI Qualified Community designation; partners with TBIC to certify the region is primed for foreign direct investment
• Bland CountycoreOthersMember locality providing public funding to MRRP based on population; County Administrator Cameron Burton serves on MRRP Board of Directors; ABB Power T&D Company operates largest private employer in the county with over 350 employees
• Carroll CountycoreOthersMember locality; County Administrator Mike Watson serves on MRRP Board of Directors; Oasthouse Ventures locating in Wildwood Commerce Park
• Grayson CountycoreOthersMember locality; Vice Chairman Steve Boyer represents Grayson County on MRRP Board; shares Wildwood Commerce Park with Carroll County and Galax
• Smyth CountycoreOthersMember locality; Chairman Shawn Utt serves as County Administrator representing Smyth County on MRRP Board; hosts Highlands Business Park with Washington County
• Wythe CountycoreOthersMember locality; Treasurer Stephen Bear represents Wythe County on MRRP Board; home to Progress Park (1,200-acre regional industrial park) at I-81/I-77 intersection
• City of GalaxcoreOthersMember locality; City Manager Michael Burnette serves on MRRP Board of Directors; independent city sharing Wildwood Commerce Park with Carroll and Grayson counties
• Wytheville Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner; President Dr. Dean E. Sprinkle serves as Ex Officio Director on MRRP Board; provides associate programs in machining technology, Level 1 certifications in welding and mechatronics; hosts Crossroads Institute in Galax
• Virginia Highlands Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner; VHCC President Dr. Adam C. Hutchison serves as Ex Officio Director on MRRP Board; provides 45 academic areas of study and Level 1 Manufacturing Technician Certification
• Mount Rogers Planning District CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDC Representative Aaron Sizemore serves on MRRP Board; provides regional planning coordination across the six localities
• Twin County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Twin County Healthcare Excellence and Twin County Manufacturing Excellence programs; supports workforce development initiatives
• Virginia TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-class engineering institute; located approximately 40 miles from region; nationally and internationally recognized engineering school ranked 38th in university research in the U.S.
• Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority (BRCEDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional industrial facilities authority overseeing Wildwood Commerce Park (jointly owned by Carroll and Grayson counties and City of Galax); Doug Vaught serves as Local EDA Director on MRRP Board
• Pathway Regional Industrial Facility Authority (PRIFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees Pathway Park (joint effort among Smyth, Bland, and Washington counties); quarterly board meetings at Smyth County Administrative Offices
• Crossroads InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall business incubator and training facility in Galax; houses Southwest Regional Enterprise Center, Center for Technical and Entrepreneurial Studies, Center for Lifelong Learning; financed by $4.9 million in federal funds; Wytheville Community College is a partner

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shenandoah Valley Partnership: Regional EDO covering Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Closest direct peer — same multi-county nonprofit structure, same industrial-park and workforce-development portfolio, competing for similar manufacturing and FDI deals in Virginia.
• New River Valley Regional Commission: Multi-jurisdictional planning/economic development body serving the New River Valley adjacent to MRRP. Comparable nonprofit model, similar regional coordination across counties, overlapping target sectors (advanced manufacturing, healthcare).
• Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance: Regional business/economic development organization serving the Lynchburg region of Virginia. Same REDO structure within Virginia's network of 18 regional EDOs, overlapping manufacturing and FDI prospect pipeline.
• Roanoke Regional Partnership: Regional EDO serving the greater Roanoke area in western Virginia. Operates with the same multi-county/government-funded nonprofit model, targets the same advanced manufacturing and FDI prospects, and competes for the same site selectors.
• InvestSWVA / Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing: Regional manufacturing/economic development alliance focused on Southwest Virginia's industrial base. Direct peer in both geography and target sectors — manufacturing workforce, FDI, and site selection.

Broad incumbents

• Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP): State-level economic development organization that complements MRRP's regional efforts. VEDP performs the same core function (business attraction, FDI, site selection) but at the state level, making it a natural upstream partner/incumbent in the same value chain.
• Appalachian Regional Commission: Federal-state economic development partnership serving Appalachia, including the MRRP region. Comparable mission (job creation, infrastructure, workforce) at a multi-state scale, often a funding partner for regional EDOs in Appalachia.
• GO Virginia: Statewide regional economic development initiative that funds and coordinates Virginia's regional councils including REDOs. Acts as an upstream funder/convener that MRRP and its peers interact with for grant programs.

Regional players

• Hampton Roads Alliance: Regional EDO serving the Hampton Roads coastal Virginia region. Same Virginia REDO model with FDI focus, but operates in a different geography (coastal/port) targeting different industries (logistics, defense, maritime).
• Greater Richmond Partnership: Regional EDO for the greater Richmond area. Same Virginia REDO framework, similar FDI and advanced manufacturing mandate, but serves a metro region rather than rural Southwest Virginia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mountrogersregion

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mount Rogers Regional Partnership