area is also served by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, an organization that provides analysis, demographic research, and other regional data for the state and local governments. The Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau (RCVB), which promotes tourism in the region and provides conference and meeting services for business and visitors, excludes Alleghany County from its definition, but includes Bedford, Montgomery, and Floyd counties, although it gives less attention to these areas in its promotional materials. The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce (RRCC) advocates and provides various professional services to businesses within the region, which it more strictly defines as Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, and Roanoke counties, and Roanoke and Salem cities. Various media outlets, periodicals, and magazines in the region include different areas in their coverage. The most widely distributed and read newspaper, The Roanoke Times, includes Bedford, Botetourt, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, and Roanoke counties, as well as, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem cities in its coverage area. Other periodicals, magazines, and television news outlets include the same communities, but also Lynchburg, Amherst County, and Rockbridge County. Thus, the Roanoke Region typically refers to the following communities: Alleghany County Botetourt County Covington Franklin County Roanoke County Roanoke City Salem And, less often, also includes: Bedford County Blacksburg Christiansburg Floyd County Giles County Montgomery County Radford Pulaski County NewVa Region The use of the term "NewVa" is relatively new and was first introduced in 2002 by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission as a brand for an economic development strategy serving the a larger economic region that combines two adjacent planning districts: the 5th Planning District and the 4th Planning District. It has since been adopted by the majority of economic and community development organizations and businesses as well as participating local governments. The NewVa Corridor Technology Council (NCTC), a nonprofit, member-driven association of businesses and organizations in the region, is most prominent contributor to promoting the NewVa regional identity. The NewVa economic strategy and the NCTC define the region as nine counties, five cities, and 23 towns. Counties Alleghany Botetourt Craig Floyd Giles Montgomery Pulaski Roanoke Cities Covington Radford Roanoke Salem Towns Blacksburg Blue Ridge Boones Mill Buchanan Cave Spring Christiansburg Clifton Forge Cloverdale Daleville Ferrum Fincastle Hollins Iron Gate Laymantown New Castle North Shore Pearisburg Penhook Pulaski Rich Creek Rocky Mount Troutville Union Hall Vinton Westlake Corner Economy and Major Industries The Roanoke Region has a diverse economic base that