Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The board's Development Committee has been meeting with the Friends of the Pulaski Theatre on the best way to save and reopen the facility in downtown Pulaski.
The building was constructed in 1911 for stage shows, became a dry-goods store briefly and reopened in 1938 as a movie theater. It was the town's only remaining movie house when it closed in 1991.
Its owners donated the building to Pulaski County. The Friends group approached the county Board of Supervisors for permission and some funding to stabilize and restore it, and was designated as the county's agent for handling the project.
Since then, the group has brought in consultants and discussed fund raising to make the building a community and performance center for the area.
Now, with the creation of the 30-member Economic Development Board and the hiring of Barry Matherly as economic development director, the Friends group is looking into transferring the responsibility for carrying on the effort to the new organization.
The Development Committee reported Tuesday to the full board on the discussions, and considered approaching Pulaski Town Council to see if the town would be interested in assuming ownership. Some county supervisors have expressed willingness to give up the property, especially for a constructive use.
"I think we need to develop our own plan first, before we ask the town to accept it," said Wayne Carpenter, the Economic Development Board's vice chairman. Matherly will review the information that the Development Committee has accumulated on the building to date.
Pulaski Mayor Andy Graham recalled a strong plea from citizens at an April 11 community meeting, asking the town to look into reopening the theater for movies that could give young people something to do.
Matherly, attending his first meeting with the full board, said the theater project could fall within the economic development group's responsibility to develop area tourism. It is also working with the annual Count Pulaski and Depot Day festivals in that area.
He and Keith Stafford, his assistant, have been meeting with area business people to see what the economic development group can do to solve any problems they might have. Matherly said he and Stafford could learn more by sitting and talking with a business person for five minutes than from having the person fill out even a long survey of likes and dislikes.
He said most jobs growth now comes from small business, which works well with the town's recruitment effort. Regional organizations such as the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance can seek new industry for the region, he said, which the Pulaski organization would support as needed. But the Pulaski group can do more, he said, by making sure existing businesses stay and by helping them expand.
The Economic Development Board accepted its Executive Committee's recommendation to apply to the state for designation of a 320-acre area of the town as an enterprise zone, which would make new or expanding businesses in the area eligible for state incentives such as tax breaks.
Matherly said competition will be heavy as 130 localities have expressed interest in securing one of some 15 zone designations planned by the state.
One jump the board might have on its competitors is that it can serve as the local association representing business, education, local government and other cross-sections of the community that the state now looks for in connection with Enterprise Zones.
Pulaski Town Council will hold a public hearing Sept. 19 on seeking Enterprise Zone designation.
by CNB