Franklin County Office of Economic Development

06/12/2026

🌾🚜 Happy Virginia Agriculture Week! 🚜🌾

In Franklin County, VA, agriculture is more than an industry. It is a cornerstone of our economy, our heritage, and our way of life.

Did you know Franklin County is home to more than 160,000 acres of farmland, representing nearly 38% of our total land area? With hundreds of farms across the county, agriculture continues to play a vital role in supporting local jobs, businesses, and families while helping preserve the beautiful landscapes that make Franklin County such a special place.

When many people think of agriculture, they picture cattle grazing in a pasture, and we certainly have a strong tradition of livestock and beef production. But agriculture in Franklin County takes many forms. From cattle and poultry operations to hay production, forestry, farm stands, family farms, and value-added agricultural products, agriculture is woven into every corner of our community and economy.

This Virginia Agriculture Week, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our farmers, producers, foresters, and agricultural businesses. Whether you're raising livestock, managing timberland, growing crops, selling products directly to consumers, or creating products enjoyed across the region and beyond, your hard work helps feed our communities, support local jobs, steward our land, and strengthen Franklin County's future.

Your work often begins before sunrise and continues long after sunset, and the impact you make can be seen throughout our community every day.

Join us this week in celebrating the people and businesses that keep Franklin County growing. 🌱💚

Thank you for all you do for Franklin County.

06/11/2026

Congratulations to the Town of Rocky Mount, Virginia and Community Partnership of Rocky Mount on the award and recognition! We appreciate all they do for our community!

06/10/2026

On Monday, our Economic Development and Visit Franklin County, Virginia teams spent the morning at Glade Hill Elementary School for Career Day!

We had a great time sharing what we do each day, how our work helps support the community, and the many career paths that help make Franklin County a great place to live, work, and visit.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without asking the students one important question: “What’s your favorite business in Franklin County, VA?” Their answers did not disappoint.

Thank you to Glade Hill Elementary for inviting us to spend the morning with such a great group of students!

06/05/2026

We are incredibly honored to share that the Franklin County Economic Development team received United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge’s Shining Star Award last night.

We were recognized for our work supporting workforce development initiatives, childcare solutions, and the Working Bridges program. In Franklin County, VA, we believe economic development goes beyond recruiting new businesses and creating jobs. It means helping address the challenges that impact our workforce and quality of life, ensuring that residents, families, and businesses have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

We were especially humbled to be recognized alongside Franklin County’s own Carl Cline and Tabitha Collison, who were honored through UWVBR’s Annual Heroes Project. This initiative celebrates individuals who go above and beyond to strengthen our community every day, often without recognition.

Thank you to UWVBR for this meaningful honor and for the important work you do throughout our region. We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside so many dedicated partners who are committed to making Franklin County and the Roanoke Valley stronger.

06/03/2026

VBR Restaurant Week is back again, September 12-20!

Virginia's Blue Ridge Restaurant Week will be held September 12-20, 2026, celebrating local restaurants and cuisine throughout the Roanoke Region.

06/01/2026

Today, Franklin County, VA welcomed Governor of Virginia Abigail Spanberger to Cavco - Rocky Mount in the Town of Rocky Mount, Virginia for the ceremonial signing of HB655 and SB346, legislation focused on expanding housing opportunities across Virginia.

These bills help support the placement of modern manufactured homes in residential areas where site-built homes are allowed, reduce unnecessary restrictions on off-site built housing, and help address Virginia’s growing affordable housing shortage.

Cavco Rocky Mount does incredible work right here in Franklin County, providing quality housing solutions, creating jobs, and contributing to our local economy. We are proud to have a company making such a statewide impact located right here in our community.

Thank you to Governor Spanberger, Cavco, Virginia Manufactured and Modular Housing Association, local leaders, and all partners who continue working toward housing solutions that strengthen communities across the Commonwealth.

05/28/2026

Our last and final stop for Business Appreciation Month was in the Blue Ridge District at Jose’s Ferrum!

Jose’s has been a great addition to the Ferrum community, providing a welcoming place for residents, students, and visitors to gather and enjoy a meal. Beyond their restaurants, they do so much to support and give back to our community, and we truly appreciate their continued investment in Franklin County, VA.

Thank you, Jose’s, for all you do for our community and for doing business in Franklin County!

05/27/2026

Do you run a business making food products from home? Are you currently operating under Cottage Food Law or thinking about expanding beyond your kitchen?

Join Virginia SBDC, Food and Beverage Advisor, Maria Niechwiadowicz, for an informative session on Virginia’s rules for home-based food production. With important changes to Cottage Food Law taking effect this July, this class will walk you through what’s new, what it means for your business, and how to stay compliant. All updates and changes will be covered in detail during the session.

They will also explore practical steps to help you grow your business into something bigger!

Event Details
Date: June 3
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Location: Bedford Welcome Center Meeting Room | 816 Burks Hill Rd, Bedford, VA 24523

Link to Register - https://clients.virginiasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=80460010

05/26/2026

Our next stop during Business Appreciation Month was C T Jamison Precast Inc. in the Blackwater District. This family-owned business has been serving Franklin County, VA since 1962 and is now on its third generation of ownership and operation.

CT Jamison Precast manufactures high-quality precast concrete products, including septic tanks and custom manholes, serving customers across Southwest Virginia and surrounding areas. Their team is known for dependable products, strong customer service, and a commitment to meeting the needs of both residential and commercial projects.

We appreciate their long-standing commitment to Franklin County and thank them for more than 60 years of doing business in our community!

05/22/2026

This week during Business Appreciation Month, we had the opportunity to visit 619 Market and Produce alongside Snow Creek District representatives Supervisor Nick Mitchell and IDA member George Martin.

619 Market and Produce is a staple local business serving the community and travelers along the Route 220 corridor. Small businesses like this play an important role in supporting residents and helping keep Franklin County strong.

We appreciate their commitment to serving the community and thank them for doing business in Franklin County!