Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 28, 1994 TAG: 9401280150
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At the partnership's annual meeting, President John B. Williamson reminded the group it had responded successfully to the region's employment challenges in the time since Dominion Bankshares Corp.'s sale in March prompted about 850 layoffs.
"Most of us had never heard of Connex Pipe Systems this time last year," Williamson said. "Today, their headquarters is in Troutville."
Williamson also flipped through the valley's other industrial successes: Transkrit Corp.'s move from Brewster, N.Y.; Service America's decision to put its repair center along Interstate 581; a $2 million expansion by Orvis; Orkland Corp.'s addition of 150 workers; the establishment of Hanover Direct's mail-order center, and First Union Corp.'s decision to hire 400 people to process loans and credit cards.
Williamson also talked about Yokohama Tire's $50 million expansion in Salem.
"This kind of growth just doesn't happen," Williamson said, "and I think the people at Yokohama would be the first to say the state, the city of Salem and the partnership worked hard to ensure the company's growth stayed in Salem."
Beth Doughty, the organization's executive director, said the company's sales pitch to both industrial prospects and to Roanoke Valley residents would continue.
The partnership, Doughty said, has 20 active prospects and is working on 70 other leads.
"Successful economic development is a continuing marathon," Williamson said. "It has taken years to build awareness. . . . Each year the partnership gets stronger and we learn to run a better race."
by CNB