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

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

     CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 5 -- Employment in the
Fredericksburg area grew at a considerably faster rate than in the
state as a whole and 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 RADCO 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 a 5.7
percent rate during the period, compared with a rate of 3.2 percent
for the state and 2.2 percent for the nation. RADCO's showing
ranked it first among the planning districts.
     The service sector, with a 25.4 percent share of the
workforce, is the largest employment sector in the district,
according to U.Va. economist John L. Knapp, director of the
studies.
     The planning district includes Fredericksburg and the counties
of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford.  All of the
localities except Caroline are now included in the Washington, D.C.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
     The study cites projections from a private forecasting firm
that the planning district will see a 2.6 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 a 1.7 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 15:57:18 EST]