DATE: Monday, October 6, 1997               TAG: 9710060043

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: DECISION '97 

SOURCE: BY LIZ SZABO, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   95 lines

AT ISSUE: WHO HAS THE WINNING SMALL BUSINESS PLAN?

David Wong's family has been making Chinese noodles in Hampton Roads for more than four decades. They have learned it takes more than culinary expertise to run a business.

Many days, taxes alone seem to eat up all their profits, said May Wong, David's wife.

``Sometimes it seems we pay the government more than we make ourselves,'' she said.

The couple has run Sun Noodle and Food Co. - a combination factory, retail outlet and wholesale business - at their South Norfolk location for more than four years. David Wong's father ran a noodle factory in Norfolk for many years, first on Church Street and later on Reservoir Road.

The Wongs watch their 10-year-old daughter in a specially decorated playroom they've created next to their office. Their daughter keeps busy there after school. As she is more fluent in English than her immigrant parents, it is her voice recorded on the family's telephone answering machine. May Wong immigrated from Macao 21 years ago. David Wong immigrated from China in 1950, when he was 16. All are U.S. citizens.

It's no coincidence the Wongs have located in South Norfolk, a once-thriving independent city that has fallen on hard times in recent years. Many of its downtown storefronts are now boarded up. Many of its residents have relocated to the more prosperous Great Bridge area, several miles south in Chesapeake.

The Wongs were attracted by the relatively safe neighborhood, the large building and the affordable price. A low-interest business loan from the city - made possible because South Norfolk is an enterprise zone - helped. They were able to build an addition to their building, borrowing money at 2 percent less than the market rate.

Small businesses like theirs could use more help like this, May Wong said. Chesapeake officials personally helped her through much of the paperwork and regulations she faced when she moved to the city. She'd appreciate such help from state lawmakers, as well.

May Wong hasn't yet decided for whom she'll vote this fall. But she'll be listening carefully when candidates talk about their economic policies.

``I don't care if they're Republican or Democrat,'' Wong said. ``We care which one can really help the small businesses.'' MEMO: Donald S. Beyer Jr. and James S. Gilmore III, candidates for

governor, will debate tonight at Virginia Commonwealth University. The

gubernatorial debate will be televised live on Local News on Cable from

8 to 10 tonight. (Channel 4, 8 or 25. Check your Cox cable listings.)

Immediately after the debate, Pilot 13 News will offer analysis,

highlights and feedback from viewers. Your comments during and after the

debate may be aired - post to the Hampton Roads TalkNet discussion under

Pilot Online's ``Debate the Debate'' icon at http://www.pilotonline.com

or call INFOLINE, 640-5555, and enter category 2562. Public

broadcasting station WHRO will re-broadcast the debate tonight from 10

to midnight. ILLUSTRATION: SPENDING PRIORITIES

MORT FRYMAN

The Virginian-Pilot

May Wong, who owns Sun Food Noodle Company with her husband David,

says taxes eat up the profits from their store.

May Wong's question: What would you do to help more small businesses

succeed?

CANDIDATE'S RESPOND

[Donald S. Beyer Jr.]

BEYER

Small businesses are the fastest growing source of new jobs and I

will put the same emphasis on small business development that we put

into attracting major corporations. Small business needs lower

taxes, access to capital and a well-trained workforce. Businesses

owned by women and minorities will get special attention in my

administration.

GILMORE

James S. Gilmore III: The access to capital is an acute need of

small and expanding companies. I will continue to fund Virginia's

successful capital-access programs. I am committed to:

Expanding programs that assist firms with gaining venture

capital.

Creating a new venture capital fund specifically for technology

firms.

Focusing more resources in Virginia's Cardinal Venture Fund to

start up manufacturing firms.

Proposing creative ways to ensure that firms get the capital they

need by bringing together banks and other lenders and the

small-business community.

To make sure that the Virginia Department of Business Assistance

provides businesses with the information they need, I will establish

a toll-free line.

Every call will be answered: ``Virginia is eager to help your

business succeed. What can we do for you?'' KEYWORDS: GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE SMALL BUSINESS DEBATE

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