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

DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995                   TAG: 9503030147
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BREEA WILLINGHAM
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

2,000 SEEK JOBS AT HOTEL ROANOKE

About 2,000 people applied for the 300 jobs at the new Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center during three days of interview sessions earlier this week.

Because of an agreement among the city, hotel developers, Virginia Tech and Renew Roanoke, 70 percent of the jobs will go to low- and moderate-income people, with preference given to residents of Gainsboro, the neighborhood where the hotel is located.

The city was required to make the commitment because guidelines for a $6 million loan used to fund the project required that money be used to help low-income areas.

Although no one has been hired yet, hotel manager Gary D. Walton said, ``We feel pretty confident that we'll meet the agreement and will make our decision based upon incomes and experience.''

Applicants will be notified within the next 30 days. Those hired can expect to begin work in early April. The hotel is scheduled to open April 3.

by CNB