ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 27, 1997 TAG: 9702270086
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON
The Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership said it helped 12 businesses last year either move to the region or expand their operations here.
Those companies vowed to invest $188 million and hire 955 people at an average wage of $10.35 an hour, the partnership said in its annual report, released at its yearly meeting Wednesday night.
The $188 million is nearly four times as large as the pledged investment of 11 companies the partnership helped in 1995.
The partnership said it handled 899 inquiries from outside the area about doing business in the Roanoke Valley, down from 1,022 in 1995, and opened files on 33 prospects for a move to the valley or expansion, up from 27.
The partnership, formed in 1983 and supported by $600,000 in government and business donations, recruits businesses for Roanoke, Salem and Vinton, and the counties of Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke.
LENGTH: Short : 27 linesby CNB