Programs

Business and Community Incubator

The Highland Center combines space, support services, technical assistance, counseling and equipment in one place to offer start-up businesses and non-profit organizations a place to grow and thrive.  The Center currently has 6 business and 5 non-profit tenants.  

Business Resource Center:
The Center has shared-use equipment and a business resource library available for businesses and non-profits.  Equipment includes computer workstations networked with high-speed DSL connection, printers, copier, fax machine and scanner.  Our  library features software, books, tapes and journals.

Business Counseling:
Through James Madison University's Small Business Development Center and SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business, The Highland Center provides free and confidential business counseling.  To schedule an appointment, call (540) 468-1922.

Business Workshops:
The Center hosts business and economic development workshops.  Past topics include financial planning, business planning, youth entrepreneurship, food safety and agri-tourism.  For information on upcoming workshops, please visit our Calendar page.
  

Food-Based Initiatives  

The Highalnd Center seeks to build upon our area's natural assets in food and agriculture.  Thus, food-based initiatives have been a focal point of the Center's work with entrepreneurs. 

                             


Highland Farmers' Market:                  
The Center's flagship program, the Market is part of the Virginia Grown Farmers' Market Network.  Markets are held every Friday from June to September from 3:30 to 6 pm.  For more information, please visit our Market page.

 Incubator Kitchen: 
An inspected commercial kitchen is available for food-based businesses and community organizations.  The kitchen is  equipped with a walk-in freezer and cooler, commercial mixer, pH meter, steam-jacketed kettle and convection oven.

Value-Adduded Agricultural Ventures:
The Highland Center is working with local producers, agricultural associations and Virginia and West Virginia Cooperative Extensions to bring an agricultural center to our region.  The center is envisioned to include a meat processing facility, marketing capabilities and space for education and training.  For more information about this project, please visit our Ag Center page.

 


Youth Development

Youth Employment Program (YEP): Each summer, The Highland Center gives local teenagers actual work experience by placing them with area businesses and organizations.  YEP recipients also receive  job and life skills training throughout the year.

Youth Mentoring & Entrepreneurship: The Center has partnered with Highland County Public Schools and interested citizens to raise student awareness of local small business opportunities.





Public Venue
 
The Highland Center's auditorium provides space for fundraisers, theater productions, dances, blood drives, dinners, weddings, concerts and reunions.  The Center also has space to accomodate meetings, conferences and workshops.  Our space is regularly used by the Highland Arts Council, Highland Chamber of Commerce, Valley Program for Aging Services and Highland 4-H.  The lawn is used by Little Rock Preschool for trike-a-thons and Easter Egg hunts.

Easter Egg Hunt


 
 
 
 
   


 

P.O. Box 556 | Monterey, VA | 24465
Phone: (540) 468-1922 | Fax: (540) 468-2551 | E-mail: highlandcenter@htcnet.org
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