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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 21, 1995                   TAG: 9503210090
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                  LENGTH: Short

NEIGHBORHOODS GROUP PLANS ECONOMY DISCUSSION

The Blacksburg Federation of Neighborhoods will sponsor a panel discussion on the town's economy Wednesday.

Titled, "The Blacksburg Economy: Competition, Cooperation, Capitulation?" the panel will include:

Todd Halwas, president of the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce;

Minnis Ridenour, executive vice president of Virginia Tech;

Arnold Saari of the Downtown Merchants Association;

Ron Secrist, Blacksburg's town manager;

Thomas Sherman, a member of the neighborhood federation.

Questions put to the panelists will focus on issues such as the town's commercial needs, how to make businesses more successful, Tech's responsibility to the town's economic success and how the town should react to the continuously expanding retail growth near the New River Mall.

The forum will take place in the Blacksburg Town Council chambers in the municipal building and is expected to last until 9 p.m. The event will be televised on public access channel 2, WTOB, and viewers can call 961-1100 with their own questions.

by CNB