Partners

In order to accomplish the many programs and initiatives of the Center, many individuals and agencies have provided support. We are grateful for their support, because without them, the variety of programs offered at the Center would not be possible.

Grant support has been received from the following sources:

Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development

Highland County Community/Economic Development Planning project funded by a $10,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The Highland Center is the Project Administrator for this county grant.
 

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Entrepreneurial Initiative, for more information see http://www.arc.gov/programs/reginit/entrep.htm

• $50,000 grant award in 1999 for the establishment of the Farmers' Market & partial equipping of the Incubator Kitchen.
• $23,902.00 grant award in 2000 for establishment of the Business Resource Center and to provide technical support to small businesses.
• $31,843 grant award in 2001 to offer fuller services to entrepreneurs in both Highland and Bath counties through workshops, technical assistance, using the well-equipped Resource Center and Library at the Center.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development

Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG)$98,840.00 grant award spanning 2000 - 2001. Grant funded replacement of Center's coal burning furnace with an oil furnace; completion of building renovation feasibility study created by Frazier Associates; made equipment purchases for the Incubator Kitchen and the Business Resource Center.

Virginia Department of Transporation (VDOT)

The Richmond office of this agency is beginning work with The Highland Center as project manager for its TEA-21 grant. For more information about this agency, see www.fhwa.dot.gov/tea21/implinks.html
 

Transportation Enhancement Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) Grant
$50,000 grant award for preliminary design work related to the Center's historic rehabilitation project.

Local Supporters

Highland County Board of Supervisors

The County was former owner of The Highland Center facility when it was used as the Highland Elementary School through the 1996-97 school year. In 1998, the County sold the building to The Highland Center, a newly formed nonprofit organization.

The county has provided seed matching money for the Center's ARC Entrepreneurship Initiative grants. Have worked with Center in making applications for CDBG and TEA-21 grants.

For more information about the county, see www.highlandcova.org/
 
 
 

Town of Monterey & Highland County Public Schools
The town and school system provided seed matching money for the Center's initial ARC Entrepreneurship Initiative grants.

Other Supporters

Bill Strider, Executive Director of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, has provided invaluable advice to the Center since its inception. Members of his staff have provided assistance to the Center's board in a visioning process. For more information about this agency, see http://www.cspdc.org/

Bill Frazier, Owner of Frazier Associates in Staunton, conducted the Center's Feasibility Study for the renovation project, provided guidance in the PIF stage of the register nomination, and completed the application form for designation to the State and National Registers. For more information about this company, see http://www.frazierassociates.com/

Bill Day of the Virginia Department of Health has provided suggestions on our Incubator Kitchen, as well as helped with several food related workshops. For more information about this agency, see www.vdh.state.va.us/LHD/cshd/INDEX.HTM

Laurie Joy,Food Safety Specialist Senior, Office of Dairy and Foods, Division of Consumer Protection, of the Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services has assited us with design ideas for our kitchen. She has provided information for meeting the requirements for our vendors to sell food products at the Farmers' Market. In addition, she has made presentations at several food-based workshops. For more information about this agency, see www.vdacs.state.va.us/regulatory/index.html
 

Tim Roberts of the Cooperative Extension Service at Virginia Tech has guided us in equipment purchases and selections for our Incubator Kitchen. He has also made presentations at our food-based workshops. For more information about this agency, see www.chre.vt.edu/HNFE/
 

Six workers have been placed at The Highland Center through AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program.  These VISTA members have done invaluable capacity building work for the Center.  For additional information about this acency, see www.americorps.org