In an effort to capitalize on the high-tech industries coming into the state, Gov. Jim Gilmore has referred to Virginia as the "Digital Dominion." In May, Travelocity.com announced a new $2.27 million travel reservation center to be built in Dickenson County.
      "Travelocity.com's decision to locate in Southwest Virginia is a major economic development win for the region and for the Digital Dominion," says Gilmore. Travelocity.com's announcement comes at a time when state officials are pushing for investment in the southwestern part of the state. "Bringing new jobs and investment to areas of the Commonwealth has been a priority of this administration," adds Gilmore.
      Botetourt County is home to a new 992-acre (401-hectares) mixed-used development park, Botetourt Center at Greenfield. The park features The Greenfield Education and Training Center, which will provide work-force training for the park and the greater Roanoke Valley. The Training Center is a publicly funded joint venture between Botetourt County, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College and Virginia Western Community College. The Commonwealth of Virginia and the local county have also provided funding for the center.
      "We provide custom training for area business, industry and education," says Ruth Hendrick, work-force development coordinator of the center.
      "We'll set up classes to meet the specific needs of the business when and where they like." In March of 1999, Koyo Steering Systems USA became Greenfield's first tenants.
      The company will employ 200 workers and will feature high-end manufacturing. Altec Industries announced last August plans to employ 150 workers at its new facility in the park. The firm will manufacture equipment for the telecommunications industry.
      Work force development efforts are also the focus of the Roanoke Higher Education Center. Opened last year, the center took over the old Norfolk Southern railroad building in downtown Roanoke and is now home to 16 member institutions and agencies. Schools offering courses include Hollins College, Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia and Hampton University. The center has extensive training classes from high school to the graduate level.

Top New & Expanded Plants in Virginia 1/1/2001 - 7/13/01
Company	N/E	Location	Investment US$ (thousands)
Infineon Technologies	E	Henrico County	1100
Kinder Morgan Power	Salisbury	Power Plant	400
Kinder Morgan Power	N	Brunswick County	300
Tenaska Inc.	N	Buckingham	300
Dominion Virginia Power	N	Prince William County	294
ASTROLINK International	N	Richmond	205
Cinergy Corp.	N	Martinsville	150
ERNI Components	N	Chesterfield County	98.4
Sara Lee Coffee & Teas	E	Suffolk	93.
Coors Brewing	E	Elkton	85
Adolph Coors Brewing	E	Rockingham County	85
Source: Conway Data Inc. New Plants Database

      "This center came about as part of a grass-roots effort on the part of business leaders in the area who felt education was key to our region's future success," says Thomas L. McKeon, executive director of the Roanoke Higher Education Center. "We in Roanoke were the only major metropolitan area in Virginia that did not have a major university. This center fills that need."
      Roanoke also offers The Roanoke Japanese Saturday School to allow Japanese families living in the area the opportunity to keep up with their peers at home. The school is only one of 72 in the U.S. and offers Saturday classes in Japanese and mathematics. Children attend class for three hours on Saturdays and the center offers Japanese language instruction for those who may attend school in Japan in the future.
      Carilon Biomedical will build a new $10 million R&D facility in Roanoke. Precision Technology Group will employ 100 workers at its new manufacturing facility. The $2 million facility will be located in Roanoke.