ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 2, 1997 TAG: 9701020021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: MARK CLOTHIER STAFF WRITER
Chalk it up to smallish Richmond offices and a decent turnout for last year's Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce trip to see the legislative mill grind firsthand.
Last year, the 11 local business people who spent that January day in Richmond found themselves occasionally squeezed into the General Assembly Building offices of local delegates and senators.
This time they'll split into groups of seven or eight to make sure everyone has a comfy chair, or at least a chair, for the all-important face time with their man in Richmond.
"Most of those offices can seat about 10 comfortably," said Harvey Shephard, chamber director. "Beyond that, it's standing room only."
For this year's trip, on Jan. 15, each group of seven or eight will be armed with packets of information with which to help bend elected ears.
Among the chamber's issues:
* The Business, Professional and Occupational License tax, known as BPOL. An annual, local-option tax, BPOL is based on an individual company's gross receipts from the previous year. The chamber thinks the tax should be based on a company's net profits.
* Possible mandated health insurance for employers. The chamber holds this would be particularly hard on small business owners. If the mandate is unavoidable, the chamber will push for funds to help pay for the insurance.
* The "smart" road. The chamber wants to make sure the money is in-hand so the entire road is built from South Main Street to Interstate 81, not just the two-mile test bed ending above Wilson Creek.
Shephard: "We look at this trip as a way to help the Chamber of Commerce establish itself in Richmond and it gives business people an opportunity to talk about issues relative to their particular business. It's a chance to sit down across their desk and talk about issues that affect people back home."
The registration deadline for the trip, sponsored by the Governmental Affairs of Committee of what's now called the Blacksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, is Sunday. Sign up at the chamber office in the Colony Park office park, 1995 S. Main St., Suite 901 (look for the red railing facing South Main), or call 552-4061 for more information.
The 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. visit offers time at the Capitol as well as a chance to chat up elected officials.
The $115 fee tentatively includes: a round-trip bus ride from Blacksburg to Richmond, breakfast at the Waynesboro Shoney's, on-bus refreshments, dinner at G'Willakers in Lexington and a group photo-op with the governor.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB