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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 8, 1994                   TAG: 9409080053
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

PULASKI LOOKS AT FUNDING FOR 5-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Councilman John Stone, whose proposal led to a committee to draw up the plan, suggested a funding level of $100,000 a year to be taken from the town's Urban Development Action Grant funds.

But Mayor Andy Graham thought the funding question should be considered by the town's Finance Committee. The Finance Committee will bring a recommendation before council within 30 days.

Council accepted the five-year plan at its meeting Tuesday. Its goals are expanded and diverse job opportunities resulting in a healthy tax base and quality of life.

The inspiration for Stone's committee came from Pulaski's success during the past two years in reinvigorating its downtown with new businesses and activities on Main Street.

While some Main Street merchants were on the committee, Stone said, none of them ever said anything about limiting the development plan to their part of town. The idea is to expand Main Street's success throughout Pulaski, he said.

Paul Etzel, owner of the Renaissance Restaurant on Main Street, told council that the plan goes beyond bringing new business to Pulaski. He said its success would mean more revenue available for everything from education to tourism, all of which feed back into it.

Etzel said council should forget the plan if it limits funds to $20,000 or $30,000 to support it. Success will require a major investment, he said.

The plan includes the hiring of an economic development director and the appointment by council of a Board of Economic Development. Also planned are quarterly town meetings in different parts of town, to create closer communications with citizens.

The town will be divided into eight sections for the meetings, with a council member assigned to each section.

The plan includes a one-year work program, to be updated each year. Some of the program's top priorities include annual surveys of existing businesses to determine problems, concerns or expansion opportunities, improved communications between existing economic development organizations, coordinating with Pulaski Main Street and the Pulaski Business Alliance, continuing innovative financing to boost expansion, and maintaining an active and creative marketing program setting Pulaski apart from other municipalities.

Other specifics include completing the extension of New River Trail State Park to the town's Train Station building, improving the town's image with an emphasis on cleaning up the environment, keeping an inventory of available space for new commercial or retail opportunities, promoting the town's medical and health care industry, pursuing the development of Peaks Knob as a tourist attraction, and developing commissions to oversee the Pulaski train station and museum, Count Pulaski Day celebration, Depot Day festival and farmers' markets in Pulaski.