Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 22, 1991 TAG: 9103220688
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOE TENNIS/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Charlie Whitescarver made this pitch to business owners Thursday at an annual membership meeting.
For a fee of $10 a year, Main Street members would continue to receive the same benefits, Whitescarver said. They include low-interest loans, special events and promotions.
Establishing a roster of members is a necessary part of applying for corportate status with the State Corporation Commission, Whitescarver said.
"I think it's possible to get four or five hundred members," Whitescarver said.
Currently, the state government provides suppport to the Radford Main Street Program by sponsoring experts to hold seminars on topics like retail sales, advertising and archtecture.
But a continuing Main Street organization should be a partnership funded by public and private money, Whitescarver said.
Main Street Programs in Bedford and Winchester have continued with alternative funding after their state contracts expired.
Whitescarver says new money - $30,000 annually from private sources - is needed to keep the Radford program going.
Radford, one of 700 Main Street communities in the country, started its program in March 1989 to encourage economic development and restoration of historic buildings.
New members of the 1991-92 Main Street Board also were elected Thursday. The new president is Nancy Morehouse, a pediatrician in Radford; vice president is Meg Weddle, manager of Garrett's in Blacksburg; secretary is Jeff Corbin, owner of Radford City Florist; and treasurer is Doug Bowman, Radford president of Crestar Bank.
by CNB