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

DATE: TUESDAY, December 7, 1993                   TAG: 9312070087
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE                                 LENGTH: Medium

DRAWING TOURISTS FROM PARKWAY IS GOAL OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE GROUP

A Virginia Tech researcher is helping a new organization in Southwest Virginia lure tourists from the Blue Ridge Parkway into bordering communities.

Charlotte Reed, an economic development specialist for tourism with Tech's public service programs division, will begin research next fall to support the work of Virginia Parkway Hosts Inc. "By conducting research on the impact of Virginia Parkway Hosts, it is our goal to provide data that will enhance their effectiveness," Reed said.

The Virginia Department of Economic Development has awarded a $5,000 grant to the organization, which requires matching funds from at least three communities. The town of Hillsville, city of Galax and counties of

Carroll, Patrick and Grayson all have made funding commitments over a three-year period. Virginia Parkway Hosts also will be seeking commitments from Floyd County and the North Carolina's Surry County and Mount Airy.

The group plans to open a visitors' center at Orchard Gap on the parkway by May and produce a map and brochure to attract parkway travelers to local communities.

Virginia Parkway Hosts is a public/private partnership aimed at boosting the economic benefits of the parkway.

"Everyone in Virginia and North Carolina is trying to capitalize on the millions of annual visitors traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway," said Doe Run Lodge General Manager Greg Poirier. "It seems to me that it's important to those businesses already involved in tourism on the parkway to band together and try to grow the pie rather than look at each other strictly as competitors. By having support from local and state government, we have an excellent opportunity to establish the region from Rocky Knob to Fishers Peak as a major destination area along the parkway," he added.

The organization would have to raise $8,000 to $10,000 a year from the private sector to reach its budget goals. A membership drive will start in 1994.

Virginia Parkway Hosts will have an organizational meeting early next year to choose a board of directors. The board will include representatives from chambers of commerce and governing bodies in Galax, Hillsville and the counties of Carroll, Grayson and Patrick. Private-sector members will be solicited soon.

"Virginia Parkway Hosts is a chamber-driven organization," said Steve Galyean, executive director of the Galax-Carroll-Grayson Chamber of Commerce. "Having state and local government support for private-sector efforts of enhancing economic development makes sense. Our business leaders in the community have the expertise to guide the efforts of this unique partnership."

Darla Coppins, executive director of Patrick County's Chamber of Commerce, said: "Having a visitors' center located in view of parkway travelers, which can direct more traffic into our communities, is one of the best selling points of Virginia Parkway Hosts. This area really needed a focal point and action plan for all of the travel and tourism advocates."

Businesses interested in joining the group can get further information from their local chambers of commerce.

by CNB