THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 13, 1995 TAG: 9511110439
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: TALK OF THE TOWN
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
One of the more useful snapshots of the Hampton Roads economy is assembled each month by the Economic Outlook Center at Arizona State University. The center provides a quick look back at the economic ranking of cities and regions by examining the number of civilian jobs created each month in 288 metropolitan areas.
Hampton Roads recorded 635,800 civilian jobs filled in July, up 2.63 percent from July '94. Compared to other cities and regions, Tidewater's summer performance was mixed.
The total number of civilian jobs in the nation rose 3.04 percent in July compared to a year earlier. Obviously the economic downturn lingered on the East Coast, while the industrial Midwest slowed down, California remained in a stall, and Texas appeared healthy.
Hampton Roads easily outranked the big cities in the Northeast Corridor. Job growth in metropolitan Washington rose only 0.66 percent, while the Baltimore area declined 0.10 percent, and metro Philadelphia declined 0.28 percent. Metro New York rose 0.19 percent.
If conditions were slow in the Northeast, they boomed in the Southeast: Atlanta, up 5.98 percent; Albany, Ga., up 8.29 percent; Orlando, up 5.76 percent; Tampa, up 4.24 percent.
The Carolinas appeared even with Tidewater. Charlotte's job growth rose 2.47 percent, compared to Raleigh's 2.34 percent, and Charleston's 0.19 percent.
Virginia appeared stronger. Richmond was in high gear, adding 4.05 percent more jobs. Northern Virginia was up 3.42 percent, compared to Roanoke's 3.57 percent gain, and Charlottesville's 2.83 percent growth.
Retail's future: Why are some specialty stores succeeding while others are closing shop? It's a question that is frequently being asked these days, as competition intensifies and customers' buying habits change.
Tia Potter, editor of Women's Wear Daily's new Specialty Store Newsletter, thinks the future looks a little brighter for specialty shops. On Thursday, she'll talk to local retailers about honing their customer service, promotions and marketing to get the edge in their markets.
Her speech comes at a time when many small retailers, especially apparel shops, are dealing with competition from everyone from mammoth discounters like Wal-Mart and department stores like Hecht's. A slump in the apparel industry is expected to continue through this holiday season.
On the bright side, however, some merchants have adapted and found new niches. Some have profited from casual apparel trends and others have strengthened their customer relations.
Potter plans to discuss ``Steps to Successful Retailing in the '90s.'' Her speech, sponsored by the Old Dominion Fashion Exhibitors, will be 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive, Virgina Beach. The speech is free, but seating is limited. To reserve a spot, call Margie Johnson at Shop Talk, 552-0610.
PPO plans growth: MultiPlan Inc. of New York wants its Tidewater network to include about 700 physicians, up from the 375 signed now, said MultiPlan Mid-Atlantic director William Briggs of Alexandria.
A preferred-provider organization, MultiPlan covers companies employing about 65,000 people in Hampton Roads. The plan reduces health care rates in return for volume business.
MultiPlan has about 1,000 clients nationwide, including insurance carriers, third-party administrators and self-insured companies. About 20,000 health-care facilities and about 50,000 physicians are under contract nationwide with the company.
ODU prof: Old Dominion University named Mary Beth Dale of Norfolk executive in residence of the College of Business and Public Administration. She was NationsBank senior vice president for public relations. She'll serve in the position through June.
Mercy accredited: Mercy Tidewater Ambulance Service in Virginia Beach said it has become one of only 42 such services in the nation to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services.
``Everyone here played a valuable role in our ability to meet the commission's high standards,'' said general manager Richard Koch.
Mercy Tidewater, which carries more than 27,000 patients a year, is part of Mercy Services Inc. of Grand Rapids, Mich., which recently was acquired by MedTrans, the health care transportation division of Laidlaw Inc. of Toronto.
Brown's back: Former Virginia Beach resident Carolann Brown will visit Norfolk on Friday for a seminar at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Brown, a Prudential Securities vice president, wrote 100 Questions Every Working American Must Ask.
Berkeley expanding: Berkeley Commons Outlet Center plans to become the largest shopping center for factory outlets within 100 miles of Williamsburg. Crews are completing an expansion intended to increase the number of stores in the James City County center to 83 from 53. by CNB