ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996             TAG: 9601180061
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER 

PULASKI'S ECONOMIC BOARD OKS KEEPING PRESENT DEVELOPMENT COURSE

Pulaski's Economic Development Board voted Wednesday to continue with its existing goals and strategies as it begins its second year of operation.

In its first year, the board successfully landed a new Enterprise Zone, which provides state and local tax breaks for new and expanding industries, in the town's limits. The board also placed new welcoming signs at the town's entrances and sponsored festivals such as Depot Day and Count Pulaski Day.

The staff is visiting existing businesses and working with four that are considering expansions. In addition, six new business prospects are at least looking at the town as a possible location.

"After hearing these reports, anyone in this room who can't get excited needs to go to the doctor. These are exciting times," said Pulaski Town Councilman John Stone, speaking to new and returning board members at a luncheon meeting at the Renaissance Restaurant.

"You've taken a very simple plan and you've done a wonderful job with it," he said. "You folks are going to turn this town around. You're going to put it on the map. You have already."

It was Stone who, as a freshman council member, suggested recruiting citizens representing many facets of the community for brainstorming sessions on ways to improve the town's economy.

The Economic Development Board grew out of that group's recommendations to Town Council, and some of the think-tank participants are now on the board.

The board started planning its second year, starting with research on buildings and other aspects of the acreage falling within the state Enterprise Zone. Pulaski County also got state approval for two such zones last year.

"Between those two zones and our zone, we've got more zones in Pulaski than any place else in the state," said Barry Matherly, the town's economic development director.

Matherly said the town will add stone to the bases of new signs erected at the town's U.S. 11 and Virginia 99 entrances, and putting plants around them in the spring. A third slightly smaller sign will be placed at the Bob White Boulevard entrance. The signs were designed by The Henderson Group.

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