94-03-05 New U.Va. Center for Public Service Report Gives In-Depth Economic Profile of Central Virginia Planning District

NEW U.VA. CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT
GIVES IN-DEPTH ECONOMIC PROFILE OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA PLANNING
DISTRICT

     CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 5 -- Employment in the Lynchburg
area grew at a slower average annual rate than either the state as
a whole or the nation between 1980 and 1991, according to an
economic profile by the University of Virginia's Center for Public
Service.
     The profile of the Central Virginia Regional Planning
District, in the latest edition of the center's "Virginia's Local
Economies" series of occasional economic reports on each of the
state's 21 planning districts, shows that employment in the
district grew at 1.9 percent average annual rate, compared to 3.2
percent for the state and 2.2 percent for the nation.
     Manufacturing remains the largest employment sector in the
district, with 25.5 percent of total employment in 1991, according
to U.Va. economist John L. Knapp, director of the studies.  But
this a decline from manufacturing's 1980 share of total employment,
which was 33.6 percent.  Private services, with 23.7 percent of
employment in 1991, was a close second in importance.  Private
institutions of higher education and medical services account for
its significance.
     The planning district includes the cities of Lynchburg and
Bedford and counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell.
     The study cites projections from a private forecasting firm
that the planning district will see a 1.2 percent annual employment
growth rate for the 1990s, compared to the 1.5 percent rate
projected for the state.
     Real per capita personal income in the region is projected to
rise at an average 1 percent annual rate, compared to 1.1 percent
for the state.
     The "Virginia's Local Economies" series includes updated
comparative data on all planning districts and local government
finances, as well as projections of population, employment, income
and school enrollment, and additional information about each
locality in a region.  The series is aimed at community planners,
economic developers, business and government officials, educators,
libraries and residents seeking local economic information.
     Cost is $12 per report, or $200 for the set of 21 reports. 
For additional information contact the U.Va. Center for Public
Service at (804) 982-5638.
                               ###
                                                    March 4, 1994
     EDITORS, REPORTERS:  John Knapp may be reached at the above
number.

[Submitted by: Karen A. Castle  (kac@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu)
               Mon, 21 Mar 94 15:54:48 EST]