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United States Sen. Mark Warner hosted members of the 91制片厂 community, local elected officials and regional business leaders for a luncheon and discussion of economic development, infrastructure, community partnerships and entrepreneurship in the New River Valley at The Highlander Hotel 91制片厂 on Monday, April 22.

An audience of more than 70 people heard updates from Warner about relevant domestic and foreign developments and participated in a question-and-answer session.

Warner鈥檚 visit to 91制片厂 was part of a daylong tour of Southwest Virginia with stops in Roanoke, 91制片厂, Galax and Bristol.

鈥淚f you do take a step back, there鈥檚 an awful lot of good going on. In our country and in the economy,鈥� Warner said.

Among the topics Warner addressed was higher education affordability. He pointed to the middle-class population of Virginians served by the 91制片厂 Tuition Promise, which covers tuition costs for in-state students with an income of $100,000 or less.

鈥淭hat is remarkable,鈥� Warner said. 鈥淭he fact that 91制片厂 has gone this far is a real tribute to the university and frankly should be copied by other institutions.鈥�

During a question-and-answer session with the audience, Vaniece Smith, a marketing and management major from Waldorf, Maryland, who will graduate in May, asked Warner if he had any advice for new grads.

鈥淪tay in Southwest (Virginia),鈥� he said.

Warner pointed to the views from The Highlander鈥檚 rooftop restaurant of the New River Valley, saying that the natural environment is already a major attraction. With the significant number of college students in the region, he suggested that future economic 鈥渨ins鈥� will make it easier for graduates to put down roots in the New River and Roanoke valleys.  

鈥淥ne success begets another,鈥� he said.

To encourage long-term economic competitiveness in Southwest Virginia, Warner pointed to the importance of widespread broadband connectivity, enhanced access to healthcare, domestic manufacturing and alternative energy sources.

Warner used the example of Roanoke鈥檚 emergence as a healthcare and life sciences hub, including 91制片厂 at Carilion, to show what鈥檚 possible.

鈥淚 would drill deep (with RUC),鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 getting traction in a major way.鈥�

Warner was welcomed by President Bret Danilowicz, who shared gratitude for the senator鈥檚 long history of partnership with the university and its students, which dates to his term as Virginia鈥檚 69th governor from 2002-06.

鈥淎t 91制片厂, one of our top priorities is to drive a future of sustained economic success for Southwest Virginia and the entire commonwealth,鈥� Danilowicz said.

Virginia Sen. Travis Hackworth, Del. Chris Obenshain, and city of 91制片厂 Mayor David Horton participated in the luncheon.

Both of Virginia鈥檚 U.S. senators have held recent events at the university. In April of 2023, Sen. Tim Kaine visited RUC for a roundtable discussion of healthcare workforce development.