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

DATE: THURSDAY, August 24, 1995                   TAG: 9508240042
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

PULASKI TO LOOK AT ENTERPRISE ZONE TO ATTRACT BUSINESS|

Pulaski's Economic Development Board may seek a special state status for he town that would help attract new business and development through tax incentives.

The executive board voted Wednesday to form an association to help pave the way for an Enterprise Zone, a distinct geographical area of a locality that is economically distressed. There is a lot of competition for this status, which allows certain state tax incentives for any business locating in the area. The locality also would offer incentives or services.

All 30 members of the economic board would be a part of the Local Enterprise Zone Association.

Pulaski County already has one Enterprise Zone in the area of its Corporate Center industrial park. Some of its benefits were used last year to persuade Volvo-GM Heavy Truck Corp. to expand its plant near Dublin and not move to another state.

The state is getting hundreds of requests from localities for information on how to apply for an Enterprise Zone, said Barry Matherly, who started work as the board's executive director this month. But he believes part of downtown Pulaski has a good chance of being chosen chosen.

Even if the town's area is not selected, he said, the application procedure would give Pulaski and its Economic Development Board a good understanding of development needs and incentives. "So I think it's a good process," he said.

The area has not been defined, but would include residences as well as businesses. It should be an area with empty buildings and about 320 acres in size, Matherly said.

The deadline for applying is Oct. 15.

The executive committee also discussed plans for the Oct. 7 Count Pulaski Day Festival, which is being coordinated by Keith Stafford, Matherly's assistant.

Stafford said he is working with the Pulaski Business Association and other business folks to line up entertainment. The Sauerkraut Band and Polish dancers have been lined up so far.

Because the planning is getting started late this year for the annual festival, he said, the goal is to come up with "something nice and small, neat and compact, to carry over into next year."

"I think the big thing is we want a quality festival," Matherly said.

by CNB