Pulaski County rapidly becoming green technology hub
~ Pulaski County is Home to Many Growing Green Tech Companies and Start-ups ~
Pulaski County has long been the ‘Center for Advanced Manufacturing and International Business’, with many international and US headquartered companies choosing to site their manufacturing operations here. Environmentally conscience companies like Volvo, Tekni-Plex, Fontaine, Camrett Logistics, Red Sun Farms, Patton Logistics, Bimmerworld and more have located here and thrived amongst the County’s triple bottom line approach to governance and the favorable and environmentally friendly business climate it affords.
The most recent additions to Pulaski County’s illustrious array of green-tech related businesses are MOVA Technologies (provider of a direct air capture system technology), located in the town of Pulaski; Trova Commercial Vehicles Inc. (creator of the electric spotter truck (E-Spotter) and an innovative driveline conversion program that converts commercial diesel chassis to electric (D2E)), located in the community of Newbern; and, Vegg Inc. (operator of sustainable vertical grow centers), located in downtown Pulaski.
“Pulaski County has been working with multiple private companies in the green technology arena and Climate-Smart sector for some time, and we are now seeing these companies position themselves to take the next steps in their business growth plans”, stated Laura Walters, Chair, Pulaski County Board of Supervisors. “This week we are excited to learn that two of our local green-tech start-ups with extremely high-growth potential (MOVA Technologies and Trova-CV), were awarded entry into RAMP’s (Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program) Spring 2023 Cohort. The program will provide them resources that will strengthen their growth models, assist them with scaling their companies, and provide them with access to funding opportunities.”
Pulaski County continues to work with and utilize public and private partners to further cultivate and advance the concept of becoming an indicated Green-Technology Hub for Southwestern Virginia. In particular, the opportunity exists to capture the CSA market, (Climate-Smart Agriculture) and provide a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem for this emerging industry sector to flourish. Considering Pulaski County currently hosts an array of synergistic companies in this space, prioritizes a triple bottom line governance approach, is partnered with and proximal to Virginia Tech’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center, and has identified CSA and green-tech as a priority focus to pursue, it appears logical for public and private institutions to continue to partner in and around Pulaski County to advance the concept of a Green-Tech Hub.
“We are proud that two of our innovative start-ups were selected for the five slots throughout the Roanoke and New River Valleys to join a distinguished cohort this Spring, and we are most excited to see where RAMP helps take these companies and the transformative technology they host”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator. “This continuum of green-technology development in Pulaski County allows for climate-smart precision agriculture to be done within our community by providing access to renewable energy sources, carbon reduction technology, environmentally friendly commercial transportation of goods and renowned institutions of higher learning. There is not a more suitable and sustainable location for a green-tech hub to be planted and grown than here in Pulaski County, Virginia.”
Founded in 2017 with funding from GO Virginia, RAMP has nurtured 31 startup businesses through 2021. In September 2020, RAMP received a major endorsement by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which awarded nearly a $1 million grant to Valleys Innovation Council – a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing the region’s innovation economy and to double RAMP’s collective output.