ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 1997 TAG: 9701300023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: MARK CLOTHIER STAFF WRITER
The Blacksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center opened its South Main Street doors Jan. 2.
The 700 square feet make for a sizable home for close to 1,000 brochures, pamphlets, phone books, maps and just about anything else Director Jackie Compton could think of. Chamber Director Harvey Shephard expects the new location to welcome double the 400 monthly visits to the former Jackson Street location downtown.
Even so, Shephard is hoping to build a newer visitors center, farther south on South Main, close to the "smart" road interchange with South Main.
The new site will have about 2,500 square feet. Chamber officials hope to open it in time for Blacksburg's Bicentennial celebration in the summer of 1998 (the town actually turns 200 a year from this month).
For now, the center, at 1995 South Main St., suite 902, is averaging about 40 phone calls and 13 walk-in visits a day. Compton said she mails some 45 relocation packets and about 25 retirement packages per month.
The center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shephard said the fact that the center isn't a seven-day-a-week operation is the only thing keeping it from being accredited by the state. Compton is looking for part-time volunteers to staff the weekend hours, probably 9 a.m. to noon. Among other benefits, state accreditation earns the center an interstate sign and more state Department of Tourism material.
The opening of the new visitors center caps a five-year growth spurt that's seen the chamber's business membership climb from about 300 to 600.
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB