Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 19, 1991 TAG: 9104190522
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"I love this," Alliance Chairman W.W. "Skip" Griggs said at a get-acquainted luncheon at the Blacksburg Marriott for members of the Alliance and news media.
The $75,000 came from AT&T, completing a pledge made last year for $150,000. The check was presented by Tom Loner of AT&T.
Howard Baucom, regional executive officer for Sovran Bank, announced a $15,000 gift.
"I want to commend this organization on what you've been able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time," he said.
"On Tuesday, Celanese [Corp.] gave us a check for $10,000. Then, Wednesday, First National Bank of Christiansburg another $10,000," Griggs said.
He said the alliance, which grew out of a regional effort by chambers of commerce in Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski counties and Radford, and a business group in Floyd County, has seen the need for its work increase.
"Over the past year, we have lost about 2,400 jobs in our area," Griggs said. "So not only do we have to meet the goals of the alliance, we have to replace those 2,400 jobs."
About 1,000 jobs were lost when AT&T closed its New River Valley plant last year. The original alliance goal has been 5,000 new jobs in the region within four years.
More than $700,000 has now been committed to the alliance for its four-year campaign, Griggs said.
Alliance Executive Assistant Paul Mitchem said later there is enough given or pledged to carry the alliance through 1992, "and we will be asking for some of these people to extend their commitments."
Alliance Executive Director Franklyn Moreno said local governments have funded about half the alliance program in the private-public partnership. But the alliance's work has brought industrial representatives to look over the region.
"We had a slow January. Since that time, we've been dealing with someone every two weeks," Moreno said. "We even have someone in today."
by CNB