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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994                   TAG: 9403300078
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: JONESVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

LEE COUNTY JOINS 3-STATE FUNDING EFFORT

Lee County has joined two counties in neighboring states in seeking designation as the Cumberland Gap Empowerment Zone to qualify for funds through a U.S. Department of Agriculture enterprise program.

Along with Bell County, Ky., and Hancock County, Tenn., Lee representatives will work to address issues not affected by county or state boundaries and that are best addressed through joint efforts.

The efforts will be guided by a 15-member steering committee, five from each county. In turn, each county will have a 25-member committee to determine local goals.

The Agriculture Department will designate three rural "empowerment zones" nationwide. Each will receive $40 million for such needs as infrastructure, economic development, education, human services and environmental initiatives.

Each zone must have significant poverty levels within an area up to 1,000 square miles and 30,000 citizens.

Planning commissions, the Tennessee Valley Authority, University of Virginia Center for Public Service and Virginia Tech Economic Development Assistance Center will conduct local strategic planning sessions for the region to develop a community vision. This will be refined into a "zone vision" for submission to the program by June 30.

- Staff report

by CNB