
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 12, 1990                   TAG: 9004120636
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

EXPLORE NOT THE KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH

LEN BOONE'S cry for the completion of the Explore Project (letter April 3) leaves me with dry eyes. Although we all know his concern for the economic development of the valley, as evidenced by his touching television commercials, he misses a few facts.

Outside of lining the pockets of a few people whose pockets are already well-lined, outside of furthering his income potential, the Explore Project will only bring low-paying, service-sector jobs to the valley. We need high-technology industries and professional white-collar work to create real econmic growth.

If you want young people to stay in the valley, offer them something other than minimum-wage, service-sector jobs. It is time to stop thinking about self-serving projects and start thinking about what can really improve the quality of life for the rest of the valley. ELLEN G. FAGAN ROANOKE

by CNB