Chris Winston | The Roanoke Times

Inorganic Ventures is a New Jersey-based manufacturer of custom inorganic chemical blends now open in Christiansburg.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding of Newport News, which hired its first Virginia Tech graduate more than 110 years ago, has opened its first Blacksburg office.

With nearly 350 Tech grads now working at the Hampton Roads facility, Northrop Grumman dedicated a Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center office in late September.

More than 20 Northrop Grumman executives attended the dedication, as well as several Tech administrators and College of Engineering faculty who conduct research that is of interest to the company.

The new office is in Suite 1300 at 1715 Pratt Drive.

In the future, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding plans call for the opening of a second office at the Corporate Research Center.

Also, Northrop Grumman recently signed a $1 million research agreement with Tech. The College of Engineering and Northrop Grumman plan efforts to jointly pursue government research contracts, and the company plans to provide philanthropic funding for the college's new nuclear engineering program, the new VT FIRE program, and alternative energy initiatives.

New Jersey firm completes its relocation to New River Valley

A New Jersey manufacturer of custom inorganic chemical blends will celebrate its move to Christiansburg with a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday.

Inorganic Ventures, which announced in February 2008 that it planned to spend more than $3 million to move its operations to Christiansburg's Falling Branch Corporate Park and create 46 jobs, will celebrate at 9:30 a.m.

Inorganic Ventures' chemical solutions are used to calibrate testing equipment. So far, 33 positions have been filled.

Inorganic Ventures developed a 6.6-acre parcel in the park, acquired from Montgomery County's Industrial Development Authority, to build a 20,000-square-foot facility.

Chamber of Commerce hosts event for HubNetworks Inc.

HubNetworks Inc., the company behind a new online information site for the New River Valley, will have a ribbon-cutting at the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

NRVHub.com, which seeks to compile information from across the region from news, sports, business and arts and entertainment, launches Thursday.

That's when the chamber's ribbon-cutting will be held at 103 Professional Park Drive. The event starts at noon.

Pest management company recognized for quality control

Bug Man Exterminating, a pest management company with more than 15 years in business in the Roanoke and New River valleys, has earned the QualityPro designation.

To receive the designation, the company showed it is committed to quality services, according to a news release, such as running criminal background checks on all employees and using environmentally sound pest management.

-- The Roanoke Times