
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 12, 1993                   TAG: 9306150367
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BALANCING JOBS, TOURISM, THE ENVIRONMENT

RECENTLY published articles and editorials concerning "vision" and "economic growth" would leave people somewhat concerned with issues such as the perspective of readers outside the valley, the balance of economic progress vs. the environment and natural beauty of the area, and the viability of proposed economic-development strategic initiatives.

It would seem that the attraction of manufacturing industries would offer a number of skilled and semiskilled jobs. However, we must ensure that such industries would be somewhat sheltered from layoff trends currently experienced by many labor-intensive organizations. As well, we must maintain a sensitivity to the limitation of pollution and production waste.

It would seem that becoming a tourist mecca would offer a number of lower-paying and nonskilled service-sector jobs. This would help maintain the natural beauty and low cost of living in this area. However, there exists the possibility of increased haze as the result of exhaust from tourist vehicles - although any growth in vehicle miles within the valley would aggravate an already annoying problem.

It would seem that the Roanoke Times & World-News could take a more positive role in presenting the valley to its readers. One could ascertain from perusing the newspaper's pages that this is the Valley from Hell. I would intimate that even with its political subdivisions and stagnant economy - hot topics for this newspaper - this is a far better place to live and work than many other areas.

If we are to accept responsibility for this valley's future and the prosperity and living conditions of our children, then we must diversify the economy, differentiate this area from other localities and protect the environment. This can be done by striking a balance between tourism, nonconventional manufacturing and technology.

Research and production in several technical areas - organic chemistry, photovoltaic materials and gene therapy, to mention a few - would offer positions for numerous professions and labor-skill levels. The juxtaposition of these disciplines would have synergistic results, considering the possibility for technology transfer. As well, it would provide for negligible waste-manufacturing, a broad scale of salaries and constructive name recognition.

These are tomorrow's jobs, which will not resemble those many of us have today. OSCAR D. BRYANT TROUTVILLE

by CNB