ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010020
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
The New Century Council is considering a request to add Bland and Wythe counties to its region, which currently is limited to the Roanoke and New River valleys and the Alleghany Highlands.
The Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce asked in October to join the strategic planning process orchestrated by the Roanoke-based New Century Council.
The state has committed $600,000 to the council's administration, but the council also has relied on many volunteers.
New Century Council leaders told Beverly Fitzpatrick, the council's executive director, that he could "open the door" to the Southwest counties for discussion purposes only. The two sides met for the first time Nov. 20 and agreed that Bland and Wythe counties needed to focus their proposal.
"We asked them to tell us what we can do for you and you can do for us," said Tom Brock, chairman of the council's board of directors. "The basic question is, does adding Wythe to this region enhance our ability" to achieve the vision?
Jennifer Jones, who heads the Wytheville-based chamber, said the chamber board's next occasion to discuss the matter will be at its Dec. 18 meeting. The meeting agenda is incomplete, however, and it is too soon to know if the matter will come up.
The two counties abut the southwest edge of the New Century region, which includes the counties of Pulaski, Floyd, Giles, Craig, Franklin, Montgomery, Roanoke, Botetourt and Alleghany and the cities of Radford, Salem, Roanoke, Covington and Clifton Forge.
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Map by staff.by CNB