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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994                   TAG: 9406160129
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Mike Hudson
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKE SEEKS `ENTERPRISE ZONE'

The enterprise zone designation would bring the city about $3 million in federal funds, tax breaks and the possibility of even more federal money.

Many cities are applying, and the odds against winning the designation are high. But officials and residents who helped put together the plan said they are optimistic.

Jamie Booker, a public-housing resident who is on the committee that prepared the application, said residents of the eight inner-city neighborhoods are ready to pitch in on a grass-roots effort.

"We're not asking you to do it for us," Booker told City Council. "We're here to tell you we're ready to do it for ourselves. . . Provide us with the tools and we can do it."

The plan sets specific goals for reducing unemployment, elimination substandard and unsafe housing and reducing crime. City Manager Bob Herbert says it will take a partnership between business and government to accomplishment these goals.

Npow the city must get state officials to endorse the application, and then get the application to the federal government by June 30.