ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996               TAG: 9601310007
SECTION: NRV ECONOMY              PAGE: 30   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER

INTERVIEWS START NEXT MONTH FOR ALLIANCE DIRECTOR'S JOB

The New River Valley Economic Development Alliance will begin interviewing candidates to become director of the regional development agency in early February.

Barry Evans, president of the alliance, said the office has received 56 resumes for the position, which was vacated by Franklyn Moreno when he resigned at the end of August. Resumes were accepted until Jan. 15. Frank Crockett, certified economic developer with American Electric Power Co., has been interim director.

"We want a good people-person who also can really internally market at home," Evans said.

The alliance, a regional marketing agency, is moving in a new direction, Evans said. The five-member executive board will increase to 22 members next year and will include investors, county administrators, chamber of commerce executive directors and two at-large members.

At one time, the executive board consisted of 36 members, but was pared down in 1992 because the alliance thought there were too many people trying to make decisions. Now, the board is finding there are not enough voices.

"I think every problem to every situation is a lack of communication," said Evans.

One way the alliance has tried to improve communication is by circulating surveys during the last few months to local governments and other entities affected by the organization. The survey asks questions about its effectiveness in the New River Valley.

Evans also appeared before the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, which cut its contribution to the organization in half last year, to mend fences and encourage the board to continue to support the alliance.

"I think there's been a lack of communication that has not allowed people to see the successes of the alliance," Evans said.

The alliance, a nonprofit organization, covers Radford and the counties of Montgomery, Floyd, Giles and Pulaski. It was formed to bring industry to the area and act as a research and information center.

LENGTH: Short :   46 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  (headshot) Barry Evans.