The survey asked members of a regional chamber of commerce and a technology group to imagine what the Roanoke region will look like in 10 years.

Ranked first was "older population." Coming in at sobering second was "population growth stagnant/declining." These survey results and other data were shared Tuesday morning during the annual "economic summit" organized by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, which had surveyed its members and members of the New Century Technology Council and received about 200 responses.

This year's summit focus was entrepreneurship -- a serious subject in a slow-growth region still tied in large measure to manufacturing and celebrated nationally as a lovely place to retire.

But there were bright spots, too, during the three-and-a-half-hour event at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Beamed in from Washington, D.C., U.S. Sen. Mark Warner emphasized with a smile that those who tout his history as a megasuccessful entrepreneur frequently overlook a salient fact: "My first two businesses failed miserably."

With caveats, the senator said he believes "the [national] economy is moving in the right direction." And improv troupe Big Lick Conspiracy stirred levity during a rowdy break from men in suits and ties.

Otherwise, discussion targeted regional barriers to entrepreneurship, ranging from limited access to capital to a region said to be risk-averse. About 85 people attended the summit; roughly 140 people attended the one in 2008.

Greg Feldmann, president of Christiansburg-based StellarOne Bank, cited venture capital companies operating in the region, including Third Security LLC in Radford, 460 Angels and Business Seed Capital.

BSC is affiliated with Total Action Against Poverty in Roanoke. On Tuesday, BSC's Web site was under construction.

Several speakers, including Warner and Roanoke College economics professor Garry Fleming, cited the need for banks to start lending again.

"Banks are a little stingy right now," Fleming said. "The big question [for a potential entrepreneur] is, 'How will you fund your startup?' "

Feldmann said bank lending tends to consider comparatively mature companies with evidence of revenue and profitability. Angel investors are necessary for early-stage financing, he said.

Much of what was discussed Tuesday has long been the subject of regional hand-wringing. Feldmann said fundamental changes in regional economies take time. "It's a generational commitment to changing the entrepreneurial environment in this region," he said.