ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608150086
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
Philip Morris grant backs Tech seminars
BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech said Wednesday it will hold a series of statewide economic development conferences for leaders from business, local and state government and higher education.
The university said it has received a $200,000 grant from Philip Morris Cos. to sponsor the sessions. The grant from the New York-based tobacco and food company will be dispersed over four years.
Three conferences are planned for this year and 1997. The keynote session will be Dec. 4 through 6 at Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center and will focus on business development and retention, tourism product development and workforce quality and development.
Subjects for the two follow-up conferences, to be held during 1997 in other parts of the state, will focus on topics that emerge from the Roanoke session.
"We are targeting some 175 leaders from around the state to attend," said Michael Hensley of Virginia Tech's economic development center and organizer of the conferences.
"These are individuals who will be developing and implementing Virginia's financial game plan, and we hope to provide them with a valuable road map into the 21st Century."
- Staff
Welding supply firm has new name
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Virginia Welding Supply of Charleston, W.Va., which owns Pocahontas Welding Supply in Roanoke, has changed its name to Mountain States Airgas. The company also has opened an 18,500-square-foot addition at its Charleston facility. The company, which sells welding equipment, dry ice and industrial gases, operates 16 branches in five states.
- Staff
GM must provide free health care
CINCINNATI - General Motors Corp. must provide free health care benefits to 50,000 workers who retired early between 1974 and 1988, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that the company improperly reneged on a promise to pay for their health care and the health care of their spouses for life.
The appeals court also ordered U.S. District Judge John Feikens to reconsider part of his 1994 ruling that had excluded an additional 34,000 GM retirees from similar benefits because they were 65 when they left.
Feikens had ruled that GM only made commitments to the 50,000 workers who were younger than 65 when they left. The judge erred in his analysis of health care benefits promised to the 34,000 retirees, the appeals panel said.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB