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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993                   TAG: 9307310199
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short

NRV TOURISM PROMOTERS JOIN BLUE RIDGE COUNCIL

New River Valley HOSTS, an area effort to promote tourism, has joined the Blue Ridge Region Tourism Council, a new group aimed at getting its members to cooperate in tourism issues.

Radford Economic Development Director Jill Barr will represent New River Valley HOSTS on the council, which was established by the General Assembly. Stevie Dovel, economic development director for Lynchburg, is the council's chairwoman.

HOSTS includes the city of Radford and the town of Pulaski, as well as Pulaski, Montgomery, Floyd and Giles counties.

Barr said Friday the council "is hoping to pull together some resources for the region," possibly in terms of grants. She said the organization has held only one meeting so far and has not yet discussed any specific strategies.

Among other functions, the council is charged with coming up with a plan to increase tourism revenue within the Blue Ridge region, which includes 20 counties and 11 cities and stretches from Rockbridge and Augusta counties to Wythe County.

The council also will encourage localities to spend money to develop tourism as part of their economic development efforts.

Barr said the council plans quarterly meetings and will next meet in September.

by CNB