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

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

     CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 5 -- Employment in the Piedmont
Regional Planning District grew at less than the state national
average between 1980 and 1991, according to an economic profile by
the University of Virginia's Center for Public Service.
     The profile of the 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 the district grew at a rate of .9 percent, compared with
3.2 percent for the state and 2.2 percent for the nation. 
     Services, including health care and education, is the largest
employment sector, with 20.7 percent of the workforce, according to
U.Va. economist John L. Knapp, director of the studies.
     The planning district includes the counties of Amelia,
Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince
Edward.  The district is second only to the Central Shenandoah
Planning District in land area, but it has the lowest population
density in the state.
     The study cites projections from a private forecasting firm
that the planning district will see a 0.4 percent annual employment
growth rate for the 1990s, compared to the 1.5 percent rate
projected for the state.
     Per capita personal income in the region is projected to rise
at 1.9 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 16:01:51 EST]