ADVANTAGE VALLEY GROUP HOSTS KICK-OFF DINNER

April 20, 2000 - Charles Ryan (Charles Ryan & Associates) listens as WSAZ's Don Ray (photo, right) explains their subcommittee's charge for developing a Regional Identity at tonight's kick-off dinner for Advantage Valley's efforts to provide joint marketing for what has become known as the "Advantage Valley" of West Virginia. Local Media - including WSAZ-News Channel 3 have agreed to donate a total of $48,000 worth of media advertising time to promote the regional effort. Charles Ryan and Associates will provide donated time and talent to produce the expected 30-second announcements.

Representatives from six sub-committees explained their activities and vision for the long-term program proposed by the Southern Growth Policies group in the report prepared for the Advantage Valley region within the past few months. Subcommittees include: Regional Identity, Education, Entrepreneural/Industrial Base, Transportation, Regional Planning, and Quality of Life.

Steve Day, President & CEO, City Holding Corp. (Left photo) listens intently to the committee presentations. Mr. Day - co-chairman of the Entrepreneurial and Industrial base sub-committee - reported on a meeting of his group held earlier this week. The sub-committee includes representatives from various economic development organizations from Ashland, KY, east through Wayne, Cabell, Putnam, Kanawah and beyond.







Co-chairmen Tom Potter (R) and Mike Perry, explained the need to "energize the effort ...to get the job done." Potter explained that Advantage Valley is a "long-term effort" that requests financial support from various organizations for a three year period. Mike Perry announced that with the leadership of State Sen. Oshel Craigo (D-Putnam) the state was providing three-year support of $100,000 to allow the group to hit the ground running and undertake joint promotion of the region..

Frank Gritt, Jr., President of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, presented Perry with a check for $10,000 from the Chamber in support of Advantage Valley and other members are forthcoming. Co-chairman Tom Potter stressed the importance of a regional approach in light of the "reality of the global marketplace."