Just when you thought you were savvy with the lingo, when you figured out that “My bad” wasn’t an incomplete sentence—you realized that your son’s comment “sweet!” about the new DS Mini didn’t mean he wanted to eat it—that the phrase, “Oo, snap!” wasn’t about a shirt closure—along comes something new.

Farmshoring.

Huh?

Try this: think of offshoring. You know, a company wants to save money, so they relocate to another country, thus saving the company money, but robbing U.S. citizens of jobs in the meantime. Right, so farmshoring is that company deciding to save money by moving the company to rural America to create job and opportunities for U.S citizens while saving money. What’s there not to love?!

We at Return to Roots have watched the positive economic, moral, and regional impact CGI and Northrop Grumman have had by moving to Lebanon, Virginia, both successful examples of farmshoring.

There are always going to be two sides to any issue, and there are those who will tell you that offshoring is still the cheaper way to go if a company wants to save money on wages. According to a 2003 report by McKinsey Global Institute, a software developer from the U.S. making $60/hour can be matched by a developer in India possessing the same skill $6/hour. BUT! Start up costs, building costs, rent or purchasing of location, infrastructure, is going to cost a lot less by farmshoring according to every article out there. Consider too the advantage of U.S. security issues and language complications avoided by relocating a company within the U.S. rather than out.

One argument I saw said you can get an educated and experienced IT person to move to a rurally located company, or one to return to their roots, but why would they send their kids to a Southwest Virginia school? Let’s first look at the assumption that a rural school system isn’t going to measure up to a city school. We might point out what happens when you break the word “assume” down. Having taught in both inter-city and rural schools, I would say that there is a lot less crime and drugs in your rural school. The student/teacher ratio is better. The surrounding community is more involved in the success of every student, because every student represents the community. Teachers in any school system still have to meet state requirements. The teacher in a smaller, less stressful environment isn’t going to experience the same burn-out one in a metropolitan area will suffer. The point has been made that the companies involved in farmshoring would benefit from being benefactors for the schools, actively investing in the success of the school system and the students from the area. This helps the community, and encourages new employees. Now there is a win-win situation. Both CGI and Northrup Grumman invest in the learning institutions where they live.

Obviously adjustments within the community need to happen, as well as adjustments made on the part of those moving into the community. Patrick Jonsson wrote in the Christian Science Monitor (February 23, 2006), “That Appalachia is on the forefront of farmshoring is a result of massive investing in broadband, which connects wide, rural swaths to the Internet. The Department of Agriculture has handed out more than $800 million in low-interest loans for broadband expansion nationwide, a portion of which went to Virginia. Lebanon and Russell County, Va., received more than $4 million in grants from the Department of Commerce as well as from the state’s tobacco settlement fund. The fiber optic cable through Russell County, Daniel Boone’s old stomping grounds, officially went live last year. “If you don’t build it, they won’t come,” says Jim Andrew administrator for the USDA’s Rural Development Utilities Program. “Somebody out there has to have the vision … because it’s really not an easy thing to do where the people are few and far between.””

Other obstacles to folks’ feelings about the success or not of farmshoring consist of negative perceptions of rural Virginia. But that’s a topic for a whole other blog!

Those of us with children always have an ear out for that phrase. What with drive by shootings in major metropolitan areas, the fear of letting your kids out of your sight for a second although we know at some point they have to learn to be independent. . . what’s a parent to do? Where are we to go?

Let me tell you about my southwest Virginia. I live in Radford, in the New River Valley, part of Virginia’s Great Southwest. Both of my kids walk to school (when they don’t bribe me for a ride. . .) they walk to the library, downtown, the park, their friend’s house. . .. . Obviously, when they began walking places by themselves there were ground rules and boundaries, but I admit as a parent, I feel like I’ve pulled off a great feat. I’ve been able to provide my children with just a little bit of the freedom I had in my childhood, within a safe environment. I know that when they go downtown to get a hot chocolate at the Coffee Mill or see a $3.50 movie at the Radford Cinema, that along they way they will pass people they know and trust. If there ever is a problem, they can stop into a friendly shop, and I’m minutes away via cell phone. I recall a child I babysat in New York City, having to pick him up from his school in a taxi cab. That was just weird. I love New York, but when I’m up there now visiting with my children, I’m like a hawk holding on to their arms, watching the crowd. I’m so grateful to be able to allow them a bit of freedom so they can grow into their independence, while experiencing for myself a little peace of mind.

“Commitment” is a word that can stir up some awfully conflicting feelings. Up to the point I got married I avoided the word as much as possible. When I did confront the issue along with my vows, it dawned on me that in committing to my husband, I was really committing to myself. That realization has proven true. Likewise, I reached a point in my life where I was tired of moving every two or three years, in part because I was never in one place long enough to put down roots. My profession was in the arts, and the vicissitudes of my professional necessitated frequent moves. I loved my work, but I wanted to be able to commit to a community, to become a part of something bigger than myself. Coming back home to SWVA, buying a home we could afford, and becoming involved in community projects has given me a sense of connectedness I hadn’t known before. I feel that I get back so much more than I give, and in the process I am teaching my children that service to others is more important than finding out “what’s in it for me”.

And check this out—they will provide approximately 150 jobs. Yes indeed! Inorganic Ventures is moving its operations from New Jersey to Christiansburg’s Falling Branch Corporate Park. Virginia Governor Time Kaine’s office sent out a press release citing Montgomery County’s “trained workforce and proximity to research opportunities with Virginia Tech.” The company manufactures custom inorganic chemical blends—not being the most scientifically oriented person, I went to their website, and was rather impressed to see that they tout several “firsts” for their industry. The big news here folks, is that Inorganic Ventures move will create 46 new jobs in the science/chemistry industry. I know there are many Southwest Virginia job seekers out there who will find that refreshing.

Bastian in Bland County will be getting a new 4-wheeler and motorcycle shop if things continue to go well for Mark McKee. Mark’s been operating a small engine repair shop out of his home but just got his permit to move into the old Sky Outdoor location on North Scenic Highway. “We’re trying to target all the groups,” McKee said in an interview with Southwest Virginia Today, “We’ll also carry parts and do repairs.” Mark, Return to Roots wishes you luck, and applauds you for working the dream! Read more about Mark by clicking here.

And boy, I can’t wait for this place to open. New River Valley is getting a brand spanking new and newly built restaurant with a micro-brewery! Those of us living in Radford have been watching the building of The River Company up on the bluff across the New River for roughly the past year, measuring it’s progress with the changing seasons. Clearly visible from downtown Radford, it’s been a pleasure to see the visual progress—kind of like being able to watch the region grow. Mark Hall and his company Hall & Sons Developers will open the doors this spring. The business will cater to locals serving basic American favorites to top-notch cuisine. And don’t forget that micro-brewery. I’m pretty excited about this one folks—best news is that they will be hiring 60 to 100 full and part-time positions. They will be seeking highly trained restaurant personnel.

Chemistry, wheels, and beer. We’ve got it all in SWVA!