Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 17, 1993 TAG: 9306170268
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL HOWES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Nine chambers of commerce in the Roanoke and New River valleys have agreed to send two representatives each to a meeting this month, where they would choose a "facilitator" from a list compiled by the Business Council.
The chambers "have indicated they're willing to be a co-sponsor and want to see what it's going to take," Thomas Robertson, chairman of the Business Council, said Wednesday. Robertson is president of Roanoke-based Carilion Health System, Virginia's largest hospital company.
Later this month, the collection of chamber representatives also would begin identifying interest groups - and key players - from across the region that could take part in a process the planners hope will craft a strategic economic plan, or "vision," for the region.
Chambers from Blacksburg, Christiansburg-Montgomery County, Giles County and Radford will, with counterparts from Botetourt County, Franklin County, Roanoke, Salem-Roanoke County and Vinton, decide if the group should be enlarged, perhaps to include Bedford and Pulaski counties.
"Pulaski [County], in all probability, will be involved because it's a crucial part of the New River Valley," one Virginia Tech planner said, asking not to be identified. "I think it's a question of time, not of debate."
The Christiansburg-Montgomery County chamber was the last of the Business Council's "core group" to sign on, one day after Robertson's self-imposed June 15 deadline. It decided to "participate in the meetings for informational purposes only, not necessarily to endorse the process," said Kathy Mantz, the executive director.
The Business Council is "not setting any guidelines; they're not setting any protocols," she continued. "They're trying to see how people perceive this idea."
For now, one question doesn't seem to be money.
"We've told the organizations we're not seeking any money," Robertson said, suggesting that the Business Council - a collection of the Roanoke Valley's 50 largest employers - will fund the study.
The process could cost as little as $15,000 - or as much as $100,000 - but shouldn't be "prohibitive," he said. Additional funding may be sought from regional businesses; there's even talk of trying to tap state economic development funds.
Seven consultants - including a unit of IBM Corp., Reston-based Growth Strategies Organization and Partners for Livable Places of Washington - have expressed interest in serving as facilitators and research consultants for the exercise.
Indeed, more than one consultant could be hired to help with specific phases of the process - maybe one for research, another as facilitator. The mission: Help participants decide "Where we are, where we think we're going and where we hope to be in 10 or 15 years," Mantz said.
Planners expect to present a "State of the Valleys" report to the still-unidentified participants sometime in September. Mountain Lake Hotel is "on hold" Sept. 14-15 for a likely retreat of some 150 people, but the final site and dates are yet to be determined.
"We've got to get some base-line data of `Where we are,' " said the Tech source. "That's kind of a starting point. Out of that you get diagnosis, prognosis and then prescription."
by CNB