All Aboard to Virginia’s Blue Ridge!
Amtrak has extended its line from Lynchburg to Roanoke, bringing rail service to the Star City for the first time in 38 years.

Roanoke’s economic development and tourism leaders are thrilled with the new stop. It’s a part of Amtrak’s Northeast Regional Route, making the region easy to reach from destinations such as Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

The daily Amtrak train departs and arrives in Downtown Roanoke at a platform located at 55 Norfolk Avenue SW. See schedule below:

Monday through Friday—Departure: 6:19 a.m. | Arrival: 9:55 p.m.
Saturday—Departure: 8:40 a.m. | Arrival: 9:33 p.m.
Sunday—Departure: 8:40 a.m. | Arrival: 9:48 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased on the Amtrak website (www.amtrak.com) or by calling the reservations office at 1 (800) 872-7245.


Beverage Company Chooses Roanoke for Massive East Coast Location
The Oregon-based Humm Kombucha will break ground on a 100,000-square-foot production and warehouse facility in the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology next year, with an opening scheduled for 2019.

Kombucha, a lightly-effervescent fermented tea, is one of the fastest growing segments of the beverage market. The tea is known as a source
of energy and is full of vitamins and probiotics.

The company’s $10-million Roanoke facility will serve the company’s East Coast markets. Humm Kombucha is available in all 50 states, as well as Sweden.

NOW OPEN
In early November, local leaders celebrated the grand opening of Roanoke’s new Earth Fare grocery store. The health and wellness supermarket is located at 2203 Franklin Road SW.

December 8
Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Owners Roundtable
Mama Maria’s Restaurant, Salem
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Join area business owners for educational presentations and networking opportunities.

December 12
Business Basics 2017
Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center
210 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke
4 – 7 p.m.
Topic: Start-Up Assistance. $20/person
www.roanokesmallbusiness.org

December 13
Under Utilization of GIS and How to Cure It
Roanoke Higher Education Center
108 North Jefferson St., Roanoke
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Free seminar.

January 9
128th Annual Meeting of the Membership
Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
6 – 9 p.m.
The Chamber’s premier networking event of the year with guest speakers including members of the Salvage Dawgs Crew. Contact aferris@RoanokeChamber.org for more information. $90/person, $720/table of 8.