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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 10, 1993                   TAG: 9311100262
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By Paul Dellinger staff writer
DATELINE: MARION                                LENGTH: Medium

TECH PLAYS GROWING ROLE IN TOURISM, DEVELOPMENT|

Participants at a regional tourism conference, held Monday at Hungry Mother State Park, learned how they could tap some of that data, too.

Charlotte Reed, tourism economic development specialist with Virginia Tech's Public Service Program, was one of the speakers at the all-day conference set up by Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, for the 9th Congressional District.

Reed began her job at Tech in April.

Tech has faculty and staff members with expertise in tourism-related areas such as the Civil War, as well as areas not normally associated with tourism, she said.

When Reed learned that a movie company was seeking a sheep farm somewhere in the state to shoot some scenes, for example, she found a faculty member in animal science to help find the right setting.

The Tazewell County farm met the requirements for scenes in ``Lassie.''

Reed's office also offers training programs, technical assistance manuals and educational workshops covering topics on tourism development and starting a bed and breakfast.

It can also offer some advanced technology programs, because Tech is among the heaviest users of computers. Reed said there are more than 12,000 personal computers and 3,000 terminals on campus.

The office offers a free computer program to help communities enrolled in the state's new tourism accreditation program, she said.

Art Buehler, plan ning and recreation resources division director with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, said the $95.4 million state parks bond issue passed by Virginia voters a year ago includes $16.7 million in projects west of Roanoke.

Among them are $3.1 million for Claytor Lake State Park in Pulaski County to winterize cabins for yearlong use, water and sewer improvements, interpretive displays and shoreline erosion work, and $500,000 for New River Trail State Park to extend the 52-mile linear park into the town of Pulaski, build staff residences and make water system improvements.

Boucher said a visitors center off the Blue Ridge Parkway is planned in the Rocky Knob area, near the border between Floyd and Patrick counties. A conceptual study on the project is scheduled for completion in January.