Do you feel like your dollar doesn't go as far as it used it? You're not alone.

Economic figures released this spring by the federal government show Roanoke's per-capita personal income rising slower than others in the country.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average personal income of those in the Roanoke metropolitan statistical area rose, on average, 4.3 percent a year from 1996-2006 to $33,693.

It's now ranks 133rd of the nation's 363 MSAs. The national average is $36,714.

In 1996, Roanoke's per capital personal income was $22,998, ranking it 125th. The national average rose more than 5 percent a year over the sane time.

Slow and steady growth, Roanoke's economy continues to show. Does that concern you at all?

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As the housing market continues to be soft locally and disastrous nationally, many homeowners are looking at remodeling as a way to continue enjoying their homes.

An innovative program in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech's Center for Real Life Kitchen Design, is here to help. In August, the center will hold its Explore Your Dream Kitchen workshop.

Here's what participants will learn at the workshop, according to a Tech press release:

* To plan a kitchen that meets the needs of you and your family;
* About the principles of a well-designed kitchen;
* About new technologies in the home and the latest in kitchen appliances;
* To plan a universally-designed kitchen to meet changing needs and abilities;
* To plan a kitchen that is a safe and healthy part of your home; and
* About new kitchen products and materials

The Center for Real Life Kitchen Design, which includes six fully operational kitchens, opened in 1998 and then reopened in 2007 after renovations and upgrades.

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The Roanoke Area Chamber of Commerce held its fifth-annual Economic Summit this morning at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. About 140 attended - many stayed until the end.

It was fascinating, and you can read a full report in tomorrow's paper by Duncan Adams.

The chamber lined up a good cast of characters for the four-hour event, including economist Christine Chmura discussing the regional economy, Virginia Tech's Sean McGinnis talking about "green" business practices, Franklin County Director of Commerce and Leisure Services Scott Martin talking excitedly about development, and Roanoke City Councilwoman Gwen Mason leading a panel about sustainable business practices.

While it was all very educational, especially for a newcomer to Roanoke like me, I was kind of tickled about one thing: many of the attendees to the conference that focused on environmental consciousness left their paper cups and plastic water bottles behind.

I wonder if they were being recycled?

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Here is some information appearing in Wednesday's business section:

Unemployment rates across the region and state dropped dramatically in April, according to figures recently released from the Virginia Employment Commission.
More than 1,000 people left the unemployment rolls in the Roanoke metropolitan area, dropping the unemployment rate to 3.3 percent from 4.0.
In the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford metro, unemployment dropped by more than 600 people to 3.7 percent from 4.5 percent
Statewide, unemployment dropped to 3.3 percent in April from 3.9 percent in March.

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From a Wednesday brief in The Roanoke Times by Jeff Sturgeon:

Passenger traffic dropped 15 percent during in April at Roanoke Regional Airport, when the figures are compared with those of a year ago.
Total passengers came in at 50,339 last month, down from 59,438 in April 2007, according to the airport’s monthly report released Tuesday.
Airport spokeswoman Sherry Wallace said it is possible economic conditions have reduced business travel.
But the other consideration is that April 2007 passenger traffic was abnormally high, she said. Both spring break and Easter fell in April 2007 while, this year, both fell in March. In addition, countless additional travelers used the airport in April 2007 due to the Virginia Tech shootings.
“We were expecting some drops, maybe not so much so soon,” Wallace said. “Aviation can be cyclical. Things do happen.”

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