I. Authority for Study

In an attempt to ensure a promising economic future for the Blue Ridge region of the Commonwealth, the 1991 General Assembly adopted House Joint Resolution No. 451 (HJR 451). The resolution established a 23-member commission to propose recommendations to promote and stimulate economic development in the Blue Ridge region of the Commonwealth. The Commission's membership was composed as follows: six members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker; five members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and twelve citizen members from the Blue Ridge region of the Commonwealth, including two representatives each from local governments and from the business and industrial communities, two local economic development officials, one representative each from the banking community, a major utility, and a four-year institution of higher education, and one community college president, all appointed by the Governor.

Delegate Joan H. Munford served as chairman of the Commission, with Senator Frank W. Nolen acting as vice-chairman. The resolution directed the Commission to submit its findings and recommendations to the 1992 Session of the General Assembly.

II. Objectives and Study Design

Although economic development of the southern states and certain regions of the Commonwealth has been the focus of numerous national, regional and state studies, none of these valuable studies have directly addressed the exceptional challenges facing the Blue Ridge region of Virginia. Thus, HJR 451 created a commission to explore ways to promote and stimulate the economic growth of the Blue Ridge region and defined it to include the following 20 counties:

Alleghany
Amherst
Appomattox
Augusta
Bath
Bedford
Bland
Botetourt
Campbell
Craig
Floyd
Franklin
Giles
Highland
Montgomery
Nelson
Pulaski
Roanoke
Rockbridge
Wythe

The geographic area included in the study also encompassed the following 11 cities:

Bedford
Buena Vista
Clifton Forge
Covington
Lexington
Lynchburg
Radford
Roanoke
Salem
Staunton
Waynesboro

Twenty-eight towns were also considered in the study, including Blacksburg, Pulaski, Vinton and Wytheville.

The Commission focused on a wide range of issues in an attempt to determine the strengths, weaknesses and characteristics of the Blue Ridge region and spent a great deal of time analyzing specific data concerning the potential for its economic growth. The resolution specifically directed the Commission to consider individual and regional efforts which might be conducted in partnership with state government, .educational institutions and the private sector; expansion and diversification of existing industry; regional data collection and analysis, information services and communication needs; marketing strategies to promote tourism, business and industry; and initiatives to enhance the education and training of the workforce.

In addition, the Commission received testimony from the Secretary of Economic Development and the Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources and from representatives of the Departments of Economic Development, Conservation and Recreation and Waste Management. Representatives from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) also presented testimony to the Commission. Lastly, the Commission sought the input and expertise of economic development specialists to explore traditional as well as innovative methods of spurring economic development.

In order to work more effectively and efficiently, the Commission established six task forces to address the specific issues and concerns stated in HJR 451:

• Partnerships Between State and Local Governments, Educational Institutions and the Private Sector

• Marketing Strategies to Promote Business and Industry

• Expansion and Diversification of Existing Industry

• Strategies to Promote Tourism and Market Local Attractions

• Initiatives to Enhance the Education and Training of the Workforce

• Regional Data Collection and Analysis, Information Services and Communication Needs

Each task force was comprised of Commission members and ad hoc appointees drawn from regional entities in the Blue Ridge region and met at least once a month to explore issues in detail. (See Appendix E.) The task forces reported their findings and recommendations to the full Commission at its final meeting of 1991.