ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607260031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
The Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce has a new name to reflect a long- term effort to become more regional.
The business-interest group will be called the Blacksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, a change chamber President Patti Cowley said better reflects its membership and goals.
About 25 percent of the chamber's nearly 600 members are from outside Blacksburg. Advisory committees will be formed with people who live outside Montgomery County to inform the chamber about their communities.
"Our chamber is very regional in focus," Cowley said.
Harvey Shephard, the chamber's executive director, said the group's legislative efforts will be particularly important. In the last year, the chamber has lobbied legislators in Richmond and in Washington, D.C.
"Legislatively, we've become more active in lobbying for the business community," he said. "That seems to be what our new members are looking for."
The issue of regionalizing within the chamber is not new. Several years ago the former Greater Blacksburg and Christiansburg-Montgomery County chambers of commerce, which are two separate organizations, considered merging. But the proposal ultimately was voted down.
Cowley said the current name change and regional approach are separate from the previous proposal to merge.
Jerry Higgins, president of the Christiansburg-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, said his group is emphasizing its county identity while working with regional organizations such as the New Century Council and New River Valley Economic Development Alliance.
"All these regional efforts have their own objectives and will benefit everyone if they're handled correctly," he said. "I wish the Blacksburg chamber all the luck with their new name."
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