CHRIS WINSTON The Roanoke Times

Prime Photonics is relocating from the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center to this building at 1116 S. Main St.

BLACKSBURG -- Prime Photonics is moving to another location in town.

Officials with the technology company announced last week that the company will relocate its operations from the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center to 1116 S. Main St., Suite 200.

The company, along with its Prime Research subsidiary, will be leasing 8,250-square-foot location that provides expanded laboratory and manufacturing space and the opportunity to lease additional space to accommodate growth, according to a news release.

Prime Photonics develops technology solutions for improved instrumentation capability in military, commercial and medical systems. Prime Research specializes in the development of sensor, communication and engineered material technologies for extreme applications.

Steve Poland, chief executive officer of Prime Photonics, said in the news release that, "With the leasing of this facility, Prime Photonics is able to bring our operations together in a conveniently located fit-for-purpose space" and that the company is committed to growing in the New River Valley.

Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam said that the company's decision indicates a "confidence and a desire to stay in the community."

"It does say when companies want to stay here that we're doing something right," Rordam said.

-- Sharla Bardin

Verizon retailer expands with 2 NRV locations

Cellular Sales, the nation's largest retailer of Verizon Wireless, has expanded with new locations in Fairlawn and Christiansburg.

The new Cellular Sales stores opened at 7347 Peppers Ferry Blvd. in Fairlawn and 2455 N. Franklin St. in Christiansburg earlier this month.

Cellular Sales is a 15-year-old privately held company headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn. The company currently operates throughout the United States.

By year's end, according to a news release, Cellular Sales will operate more than 300 locations throughout the country.

-- The Roanoke Times

Two Blacksburg firms sign up for Ride Solutions

Two Blacksburg firms, Draper Aden Associates and Baker Hughes, have partnered with Ride Solutions to offer more commuting options to their employees.

These new Workplace Partner participants are working with Ride Solutions to encourage their employees to carpool, bike, walk or take the bus to work.

Even changing a single-occupant vehicle commute to a two-person car pool benefits the commuter, employers, and air quality, according to a release from Ride Solutions.

Employers who participate in the program can significantly contribute to cost-savings for their staff, improved air quality, and reduced energy consumption. The benefit to the employer is reduced parking demand, a no-cost employee benefit, and a smaller carbon footprint.

Ride Solutions is now serving more than 400 commuters in the New River Valley. Members seeking car pool partners have a 74 percent match rate. That means they match to at least one other person commuting to the same general destination.

Ride Solutions members also commute by bus, walking, and cycling, making them eligible for the Guaranteed Ride Home benefit -- a ride home from work in cases of emergency, at any time of day.

-- The Roanoke Times

Engineering firm represented at conference

Jeffrey Schultz represented Schultz-Creehan, a high-tech engineering firm from Blacksburg, represented his firm at the 2009 Materials Science & Technology Conference.

Schultz, a member of The Minerals Metals & Materials Society and chief technology officer and co-founder of Schultz-Creehan, gave a presentation on the firm's innovative Friction Stir Fabrication Technology.

Friction Stir Fabrication Technology, invented by Schultz-Creehan, is a low-temperature, friction-based coating method used to deposit coatings, including metal matrix composites, on aluminum substrates at relatively low temperatures, according to a release from the firm.

This year's conference took place in Pittsburgh from Oct. 25-29, and was hosted by four leading materials societies: The American Ceramic Society, the Association for Iron and Steel Technologies, ASM International, and The Minerals Metals & Materials Society.

-- The Roanoke Times

Christiansburg eatery celebrates opening

The End Up Bar & Grill in Christiansburg celebrated its ribbon-cutting with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

The business is at 2635 Roanoke St.

-- The Roanoke Times