Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 14, 1995 TAG: 9502140120
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
But for now, it's a secret love.
``It's really a perfect match,'' Jill Barr, Radford's development director, said of the company, whose name she declined to reveal.
The company has been looking to expand and was first attracted to the city about two months ago, Barr said Monday. If all goes as planned, it could move in next month.
``We're real impressed with the people,'' she said.
The company, which she described as a light-to-medium manufacturer, has made an offer to buy the 45,200-square-foot shell building the city has been marketing nationally for about a year. Barr said the company could employ 30 people the first year and ultimately 75. Most of the jobs would be for hourly production workers, but a few white-collar employees also would be hired, she said.
The manufacturer has several manufacturing lines and makes more than one product, she said, adding that the company also has close ties with Virginia Tech because of applicable research being done at the university.
Barr would not disclose the purchase price - said to be acceptable to both parties - but the city paid more than $500,000 to erect the shell building. ``We still have a lot of details to work out,'' she said.
Company executives were out of town Monday, but a formal announcement by the company and the city could come as early as today or Wednesday, Barr said. The city has until today to accept the company's offer.
Monday night, the Radford Industrial Development Authority and City Council were scheduled to meet in a special closed session to discuss passing an ``inducement resolution'' and to endorse the proposal, Barr said.
The city's industrial park, located off First Street (Virginia 232) and not far from Interstate 81, has five tenants.
by CNB