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

DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995                   TAG: 9503030061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE HIGH-TECH CONNECTION

Forget the Hotel Roanoke. Forget an occasional basketball game with Virginia. Forget even a revival of the old Thanksgiving football game with VMI at Victory Stadium. When the Roanoke Valley talks about stronger ties with Virginia Tech, what it's really thinking is high-tech - as in, high-tech jobs.

We tend to think there's something in it for both sides if Tech and Roanoke had stronger ties.

Who would benefit if the Tech-Roanoke relationship were strengthened?

Roanoke and Tech equally: 43%

Unsure: 22%

Mostly Tech: 18%

Mostly Roanoke: 17%

And what do we think Roanoke would get out of closer ties with Tech?

Mostly, high-tech jobs.

More high-tech jobs: 37%

Unsure: 21%

More service jobs: 20%

Enhanced reputation: 10%

Better relations w/ state government: 9%

Other: 3%

And what do we think Tech would get out of closer ties with Roanoke?

Don't know. The poll didn't ask. Perhaps we need a New River Valley Poll to answer that question.

Who thinks stronger ties with Tech will mean more high-tech jobs for Roanoke?

Mostly, well-educated, well-to-do men.

A gender gap:

Men are more certain than women about the high-tech connection.

Men: 44%

Women: 32%

The well-educated.

The more education someone has, the more likely they are to think Tech can bring high-tech jobs to Roanoke.

EDUCATION

High school drop-outs: i 24%

High school grads: 37%

Some college: 45%

College graduates: 38%

Advanced degrees: 44%

The affluent.

The more money someone makes, the more likely they are to believe the Tech connection will mean more high-tech jobs.

INCOME

Less than $10,000: 24%

$10,000-$19,999: 23%

$20,000-$29,999: 24%

$30,000-$39,999: 8%

$40,000 and up: 10%

Who's not sure the Tech connection will mean anything for Roanoke?

Women, those who only went to high school, and those making less than $30,000.

Women are more uncertain that the Tech connection will mean anything.

Men: 9%

Women: 28%

The less-educated.

The more education someone has, the more certain they are.

EDUCATION

High school drop-outs: 36%

High school grads: 23%

Some college: 12%

College graduates: 17%

Advanced degrees: 4%

Those making less than $30,000.

Start making more than that, and uncertainty seems to evaporate.

INCOME

Less than $10,000: 24%

$10,000-$19,999: 23%

$20,000-$29,999: 24%

$30,000-$39,999: 8%

$40,000 and up: 10%

Polishing our reputation:

The belief that the Tech connection can help Roanoke's reputation shows up only in a small demographic segment of the population, but among those people, it's a strong argument:

Among those making $40,000 or more, 20 percent cite reputation.

Among those with advanced degrees, 30 percent cite reputation.

by CNB