Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994 TAG: 9406030131
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
That was the theme Thursday night as hundreds of business, industry and government leaders came together to begin the process of turning the New Century Council's lofty, sweeping goals into tangible results.
Packing a hall at Virginia Tech's Squires Student Center, they listened to Virginia's secretary of commerce and trade align the state's efforts at economic development with the council's vision for the future.
Calling it "one of the most exciting initiatives that is occurring anywhere in the commonwealth of Virginia," Secretary Robert Skunda said, "I am among many who have high hopes and expectations" for the project.
He said the state's own efforts to formulate a strategic economic development plan must work with local and regional economic development groups and "visioning" bodies such as the council.
"The importance of the New Century's Council goes well beyond these two valleys," he said, challenging it to come up with achievable plans and to sustain the partnership efforts.
"You are demonstrating what we believe is the right approach."
The New Century Council formed last year to prepare a unified plan to guide the Roanoke and New River valleys into the next century.
In January it established seven goals. They include world leadership in education, infrastructure that links the region to the world, a globally competitive economy and partnership among governments.
Thursday night's group received its rallying cry from Beverly Fitzpatrick, the New Century Council's director.
"Other people outside of the region are determining our future," he said. "We know that the only people who really care are those of you who have chosen to live here."
Then the group - estimated at 500 - broke up into its seven teams, and then into 26 subteams. First point of debate: when each group will meet again.
Donald Lacy, Montgomery County School Board member and chairman of the Quality of Life Committee's "community" subcommittee, got that group scheduled for Monday in Roanoke.
"I think it's going to be an exciting process," Lacy said. "If it's not too overstructured" - if people can be "cut loose to think" - he envisions plenty of ideas coming out.
Among the strategies identified earlier for his group to tackle are two that seem to address the wide scope of the group's efforts. One is to create a positive regional identity. Another is to develop a comprehensive anti-littering initiative for the region.
Other specific goals for the groups include: lowering the region's teen pregnancy rate by 50 percent, protecting the water supply and ensuring that Virginia Tech is recognized in the top 25 of the nation's universities. There are dozens more.
The 26 subcommittees are to report back to the main committees by January, earlier if their ideas require the General Assembly's legislative attention.
Said Darrel Martin, assistant to Tech's president: "The big test is going to come in the product"
by CNB