MARION ? (April 13, 2006) ? The board of directors of Virginia?s aCorridor is announcing that Tom Elliott of Independence is the economic development organization?s new executive director.

Elliott, currently the executive director of the Carroll-Grayson-Galax Economic Development Authority, begins his duties at Virginia?s aCorridor April 17.

Virginia?s aCorridor (?a? for access) is a region situated primarily along I-81 and I-77 that includes Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties and the cities of Bristol and Galax.

?We are delighted that Tom Elliott is coming on board to lead our organization,? said Suzanne Jennings, chair of the Mount Rogers Development Partnership, Inc., the group that promotes the region as Virginia?s aCorridor. ?He has the business and economic development experience to continue the momentum that this region has developed in promoting the aCorridor.?

Since 2002, Elliott has been involved in economic development efforts in Grayson and Carroll counties and the City of Galax. Originally employed by Grayson County to establish an economic development program, he added responsibilities for Galax in 2004 and Carroll County in 2005.

From 1988 to 2001, Elliott was the principal in Elliott Training and Consulting in Independence, and conducted training seminars for public and private sector organizations throughout the United States. A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, he held management positions with Southern Bell and AT&T for 15 years prior to locating in Independence.

Elliott serves on the aCorridor?s marketing advisory committee and on the board of directors for the Crossroads Institute in Galax. He served as chairman of the board of directors and is currently a board member for the Southwest Regional Enterprise Center, a regional small business incubator. He is a member of the Virginia Economic Developers Association.

?The aCorridor has been working very hard to position and promote our part of southwestern Virginia as an excellent location for new companies and existing business expansion. I?m looking forward to working with the local economic development professionals to further our marketing efforts,? said Elliott.