United States Senator George Allen and Fifth District Congressman Virgil Goode will make a joint announcement involving significant funding for research at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003 at 5:45 p.m. Charles W. Steger, president of Virginia Tech, will also speak about the university's commitment to groundbreaking research in Southside. The institute is located at 150 Slayton Avenue, Danville, Va.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research's mission is to develop and attract technology and talent critical to Southside Virginia's economic transformation through advanced learning, strategic research and technology transfer, Conference Center activities, outreach programs, and technology infrastructure development. The IALR will leverage the resources of Virginia Tech in partnership with Danville Community College and Averett University and public and private entities and organizations of the region as a means to that end.

IALR will house Virginia Tech research activities, such as polymers and high value horticulture, designed to strengthen the economic competitiveness of Southside Virginia.

Other speakers will include Danville Community College President Carlyle Ramsey; Tim Franklin, director of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and of Virginia Tech's Southside programs; Ben Davenport, chairman of the Future of the Piedmont Foundation; and Ron Moffitt, director of the Advanced and Applied Polymer Processing Institute (AAPPI) at IALR.

Congressman Goode, President Steger, Franklin, Moffitt, and Virginia Tech Vice Provost for Outreach and International Affairs John E. Dooley will be available for interviews at the conclusion of the formal program. Vehicles needed to support live television coverage can be parked to facilitate the broadcast upon request.

For further information on the day of the event, contact Susan Felker of Virginia Tech at (540) 357-0126 (cell phone) or Curtis Calloway of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research at (434) 791-4161.

Susan B. Felker, (540) 231-8508, sfelker@vt.edu

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