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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 2, 1993                   TAG: 9307020072
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPORT EXPERTISE JUST GOT A LOT CLOSER

Cynthia H. Arrington opened the state's satellite export office Thursday in downtown Roanoke in the offices of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

She will share clerical staff with the chamber's Small Business Development Center.

Arrington was associate state director of the Small Business Development Center, which, like the export office, is part of the Virginia Department of Economic Development.

She said the new office will emphasize helping new exporters and small businesses in the Western part of the state.

Arrington, a Bedford native and a graduate of Roanoke College, previously worked in Roanoke with Dominion Bankshares's commercial lending department.

The bank transferred her to Richmond, where five years ago she went to work for the state as a financial services representative with the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority.

The move to the export office is a transfer, she said. The job has a salary range of $35,000 to $50,000.

Besides helping companies with exporting, Arrington will provide staff support to the new Blue Ridge World Trade Alliance.

The state also plans to hire two Cynthia Arrington is a Roanoke College graduate. economic development representatives - also new positions - to help attract new business to the Roanoke and New River valleys.

April Young, who heads the state Department of Economic Development, has said about $100,000 had been set aside for the export office and another $200,000 for the development staff.