Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 24, 1993 TAG: 9312240094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He has chosen former state Sen. Granger Macfarlane to be chairman of the city's Economic Development Commission, which is expected to have a significant role in the city's economic growth in the next few years.
Bowers said Thursday he believes Macfarlane can invigorate the 12-member commission, which has met sporadically in recent years.
Macfarlane has the business background, political connections and civic leadership experience to spearhead the city's economic development efforts, Bowers said.
Pointing to Macfarlane's business background, Bowers said he knows the city's business community and can provide leadership for the commission.
Macfarlane is a former insurance executive who owns several motels in Virginia and North Carolina.
Macfarlane, a Democrat who served two terms in the state Senate before losing a re-election bid in 1991, succeeds former Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. as head of the commission.
Fitzpatrick resigned in October to become director of the New Century Council, which is putting together a regional economic development plan for the Roanoke and New River valleys.
City Council appoints the members of the commission, and the mayor chooses the chairman.
At a news conference to announce Macfarlane's selection, Bowers recalled that he made economic growth a centerpiece in his winning campaign last year. He said the selection of Macfarlane is in keeping with his campaign promise.
During the 1980s, the commission played a major role in the development of the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology, a 300-acre business and industrial park off U.S. 460.
About 2,000 jobs have been created by businesses and industries which have located in the park.
Several years ago, the city bought about 150 acres to expand the industrial park, but the land has remained undeveloped.
Bowers has asked Macfarlane to work with the commission and city staff to extend roads and utilities to the expansion area so it can be marketed.
He also wants Macfarlane to develop plans for another shell building in the city's industrial park so it will be available if an industry wants to locate there.
A shell building is a partially completed structure which can be quickly modified to meet the needs of a prospective business or industry. Many localities have shell buildings to attract new businesses.
Several years ago, Roanoke constructed a shell building which was sold to the Quibell Corp. Roanoke needs to develop a revolving fund so it can construct a new shell building each time one is sold, Bowers said.
Bowers has also asked Macfarlane to work with the commission to develop a strategy for world trade which can benefit companies in Roanoke.
With the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and other trade pacts, Bowers said, world trade will become even more important for Roanoke.
"I want us to help Roanoke companies reach out to world markets," Bowers said.
Macfarlane said he expects the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership will remain a vital agency in regional economic development. He said the commission's work will not duplicate or conflict with the partnership's mission.
by CNB