Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 7, 1994 TAG: 9410070011
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
The national discount chain is planning a superstore on Virginia 40 East just outside the town limits. The store's impact on Rocky Mount's central business district is a major issue for the partnership's new director, said Hilde Hussa, a former Chicago marketing and sales representative.
"You can't stop growth, and the clock is ticking with Wal-Mart," she said. "What we want to do is to take advantage of the traffic Wal-Mart will bring by marketing the downtown based on its uniqueness."
Rocky Mount Town Manager Mark Henne said the idea for the partnership started to percolate in 1990 in meetings of the now-defunct Rocky Mount Beautification Committee - long before Wal-Mart was an issue. Henne said it was known then that a more wide-reaching organization could help guide the future of Franklin County.
"What this should say to everyone is that the county's leaders are willing to work together toward the bigger picture," he said. First and foremost, the partnership can open dialogue where dialogue didn't exist before, according to Hussa, the county's beautification coordinator for the past year.
"Communication between the town and county hasn't always been there," she said. "I came to Franklin County two years ago and that became obvious to me very quickly."
Others sang the same song and pointed to the partnership as an historic move forward for the town and county.
"I think people have been waiting on this for a long time," said Rocky Mount Mayor Broaddus Shively.
The partnership will chase a three-year goal to revitalize Rocky Mount's downtown business district while keeping an eye on the U.S. 40 corridor on both ends of town.
Hussa said she realizes the strength of Franklin County is its history and its people.
"Franklin County is unique," she said, "and everything the partnership does should be channeled that way."
The revitalization plan for downtown Rocky Mount includes signs to identify the downtown and uptown areas; the design of a logo for the central business district; facade improvements and restorations to downtown buildings; a walking tour brochure to encourage pedestrians; and development of crosswalks, benches, brick pavers and planters.
Also proposed is weekly promotional advertising of monthly events, the creation of a summer concert, film or performing arts series, and extension of weekend and evening shopping hours. Henne said a partnership task force also will consider the feasibility of a downtown farmers' market and a performing arts center.
The partnership has set a budget goal of $50,000 annually for the first three years of the project.
For 1995, the Rocky Mount Town Council and the Franklin County Board of Supervisors each will pay $12,500. The remaining $25,000 per year will be raised from private donations.
A public forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Municipal Building.
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