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

DATE: SUNDAY, May 29, 1994                   TAG: 9405310157
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THINKING AHEAD CAN PAY OFF FOR NEXT GENERATION WHEN THE TEXTILE MILLS LEFT

The industries lining Interstate 85 between Spartanburg and Greenville, S.C., are like a "Who's Who" of international business. Hoechst Celanese, Sulzer Ruti, Micro Tech Computer Systems. Michelin. Goodyear. And, of course, BMW.

This isn't Americana, but it is where America is blossoming. And the people here admit their success in luring factories -- not to mention corporate headquarters -- has more than a little to do with good fortune.

"I think a lot of our success historically has to do with where we are," says Jerry Howard, who heads up economic development for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. "I say we're on Main Street, USA, right off I-85, and that hasn't hurt us."

If the Western Virginia were situated halfway between Charlotte and Atlanta, no doubt its success in recruiting industry would be far greater than it is. Capital investment in Greenville-Spartanburg in 1992 was $1 billion, about tens times capital investment in Western Virginia.

Not that there's been no good news for the region lately. Volvo GM Heavy Truck Corp. is adding manufacturing jobs, as are Yokohama Tire, Pulaski Furniture and others. But, as Volvo GM worker Kurt Webb points out, those jobs will be tough to get. Only people who have been building their technical skills will have a shot at one of those prized, $15-an-hour jobs.

Greenville-Spartanburg has some assets Western Virginia can only dream about: namely, flat land along an interstate. But it also offers some lessons. It's successful recruitment of German automobile manufacturer BMW and Michelin's North American headquarters came only after the community built its economic development resume for 30 years.

Seeing its textile mills pack up and head south 30 years ago, South Carolina created a "special schools" program to train workers for manufacturers. Those schools tailor their training for each new employer, taking much of the risk out of hiring new workers.

So if Western Virginia wants to add good jobs the main less Greenville-Spartanburg offers is: begin working now, and the effort might pay off for the next generation.

by CNB