Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 21, 1993 TAG: 9308210154
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"They gotta change the laws," said Joe Gorman, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. "The laws that are on the books now limit our creativity."
Gorman's comments were made at a community meeting Thursday sponsored by the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance aimed at gathering comments about the economic future of the New River Valley.
Ideas abounded at the meeting attended by government, business and education officials, but one of the most talked about was the lack of state funds and programs available to attract new companies.
Jack Lewis, chairman of the Montgomery Regional Economic Development Commission, cited a study by the Southern Industrial Development Council to back up Gorman's point. The study shows North Carolina invested $2 billion in industrial development last year and created 24,723 manufacturing jobs while Virginia spent about $600 million and created 5,814 jobs.
"We don't have to reinvent the wheel," Gorman said. "People are already successful in doing this."
Lewis said the General Assembly needs to expand its economic development efforts beyond the $7.5 million Governor's Economic Opportunity Fund, approved two years ago to provide financial incentives to new or growing companies.
"Whether it's providing incentives or revising the tax laws, let's look at what works," he said.
Another possibility, Lewis said, is to put more money into a program that helps localities defray the cost of shell buildings.
"They talk about shell building programs, but then they don't participate," said Truman Daniel, a member of Christiansburg Town Council and the Regional Economic Development Commission.
Thursday's meeting was the last of five community gatherings held around the New River Valley in preparation for a New River Valley Economic Summit to be held at Radford University Sept. 23.
The New River Valley Planning District Commission was awarded a $197,000 federal grant to help communities affected by defense downsizing, and ideas from the community meetings will be used in helping develop an overall defense conversion strategy.
Here are some other suggestions on the opportunities for the future of Montgomery County:
Help existing industries and local entrepreneurs in their efforts to create jobs.
Commercialize the technology and research available at local universities.
Keep land-use controls updated to preserve the rural quality of life in the area.
Concentrate on having the best public school system in the nation.
Establish a regional mass transit system.
Provide affordable housing in all areas of the valley.
Educate citizens about the importance of economic development.
by CNB