Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 11, 1995 TAG: 9507110045
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Higher education elements:
Establish a New Century President's Council to help higher education and businesses work together. Public and private college and university presidents, government officials and owners and managers of large and small businesses would belong; the group would be ``the ongoing energy source to guide the region to its economic potential in accordance with the vision.''
Persuade college-level instructors to do community service and assist economic development efforts, by offering financial incentives or credit toward tenure. to those who will share their expertise with the community. Colleges would designate an individual to match community needs with instructors. Time frame: short-term.
Using computer online services, build an electronic library with data about jobs, research, experts and services. Time frame: short-term.
Establish the New Century Region Research and Development Bank and identify money available to fund research and new companies. Time frame: mid-term.
Establish an Entrepreneurial Institute to coordinate existing efforts to start new companies and to gather relevant information into an online resource. Time frame: short-term.
Manufacturing elements:
Promote ``industrial clustering,'' under which companies compete and cooperate to expand the number of high-value products made in the New Century region. Time frame: short-term.
Set quality standards to which all New Century region companies would adhere, to enhance the region's overall manufacturing reputation. Time frame: mid-term.
Set criteria that all students must meet to advance to their next grade in school. Time frame: long-term.
Enlist industry, labor and government to build the best possible work force through innovative training and job placement programs. Time frame: mid-term.
Maximize public and private investment in industry. Time frame: mid-term.
Small-business elements:
Take an inventory of financial assistance programs for small businesses and find ways to increase their use. Time frame: short-term.
Create the New Century Region Community Development Corporation, to increase availability of and access to seed capital and other business financing. Time frame: short-term.
Create the New Century Region Small-Business Advocacy Committee to seek legislation beneficial to business and government. Time frame: short-term.
Create the New Century Region Small-Business Recognition Committee to honor companies and promote the region as a distinct and recognizable part of the state. Time frame: mid-term.
Coordinate training for owners and managers of small businesses.
Establish the New Century Council Incubator Commission to help communities open business incubators throughout the region. Time frame: short-term.
Technology elements:
Establish a telecommunications network with the cooperation of businesses and schools that would make such things as distance learning and telecommuting easier. Time frame: short-term.
Transportation elements:
Establish an intermodal transportation and distribution terminal in Roanoke, taking advantage of the city's location at the intersection of east, west, north, and south rail lines. Time frame: mid-term.
Create a national center for transportation and distribution education, technology and research, expanding current research at Virginia Tech. Time frame: long-term.
Tourism, conventions, retirement and industrial marketing elements:
Merge the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership, New River Economic Development Alliance and Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Authority by 2003. In the meantime, encourage joint marketing of the region to industrial prospects, tourists, retirees and others. Time frame: mid-term, but the recommendation includes having a joint meeting within a year.
Plan ways to use the region's railroad heritage, particularly in Roanoke and Clifton Forge, as a way to increase tourism. Time frame: short-term.
by CNB