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

DATE: TUESDAY, May 9, 1995                   TAG: 9505090074
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PROGRAM ADMITS LOCALITIES

Rocky Mount and Martinsville have won admission to the Virginia Main Street Program, which helps cities revitalize depressed downtown areas.

David Caprara, who directs the state Department of Housing and Community Development, expects to announce the selections at 10 a.m. today in front of the Franklin County courthouse.

The Main Street program, in which nearly 1,000 cities participate nationally, connects localities with experts in building redesign and marketing programs. It provides no money but enables communities to prosper faster than they might on their own, officials said.

Three other newly chosen participants, Richmond, Marion and Staunton, will bring the number of Virginia cities in the program to 23.

Martinsville will ask Main Street consultants for advice on rebuilding its central business district, known as Uptown, said Tom Harned, community development coordinator.

by CNB