|
Highland Center seeks $2 million
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
 | | After 10 years, the farmers' market gets a new pavilion. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) |
|
MONTEREY - "She's past due for necessary repairs and improvement for the continued and expanded enjoyment of the Highland Community," said Lloyd Bird, president of The Highland Center board, last Friday.
Well into its ninth year, The Highland Center has secured its primary role as a community hub in Highland - fostering the growth of small businesses, hosting a variety of events, and offering a home to organizations like the Highland County Chamber of Commerce and Highland County Arts Council.
But the building itself is 85 years old, and its old body is in need of a makeover so it can keep up with its youthful mission: to be a catalyst for cultural and economic development.
Monterey High School was built in 1922 to serve students in the vicinity of town. In the fall of 1963, Monterey High School students moved to the new Highland High School campus on Myers-Moon Road while elementary school students remained at the old campus. In 1997, when the new Highland Elementary School was opened next to HHS, the building was vacated as a school altogether.
But that year, The Highland Center was founded to not only serve an increasing role in Highland's broadening business opportunities, but also to preserve the aging historic structure.
So Friday, The Highland Center capital campaign was launched in an effort to secure the resources for upgrades in keeping with the historic character of the building.
Caroline Smith, campaign chair, said the good news is, the center has accrued $940,000 in grants, donations (one anonymous donor gave the center $250,000), the new pavilion, and in the value of last year's roof upgrade.
But the center needs another $2 million to do complete the list of renovations and maintenance.
"We've just reached the point where the building is impeding a lot of our forward progress, and that progress is going to be what saves it," said Smith. restroom," she added. "You can't have a building that requires food servers to carry food from the kitchen, outdoors, and all the way up flights of stairs to serve. You can't invite people into a building that in the wintertime is very cold and where you can't hear very well in the auditorium."
Smith explained the center helps foodbased businesses with a commercial kitchen and as an agricultural business incubator. It also markets local agricultural products, especially with its popular weekly farmers' market, in addition to being home to the chamber, senior center, and arts council. As part of its core mission, the center also sponsors jobs and mentoring for teenagers, hosts community gatherings, performances and exhibits, and nurtures arts businesses.
The planned renovations include developing a conference and retreat center, creating more room for businesses and nonprofit start-ups, upgrading the commercial incubator kitchen, and expanding the auditorium.
"My goal is to raise the money we need by December 2008 … I'm dreaming of having another dedication of this building in July, 2010," said Smith.
"There were skeptics all along the way," said Highland County supervisor Robin Sullenberger. "What I've seen happen here has really been amazing … This place is always a beehive of activity - it's a variety of activities - that speaks well for what they are trying to do here … The county wishes everyone associated with this facility well for the future and we are delighted to see you are moving forward … The best of luck as this moves forward."
As head of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, Sullenberger said, "The challenges of doing things to stir economic growth in a rural community are vastly different from a heavily traveled transportation corridor where the population base is strong, (and) there are universities and all those things happening. My personal feeling about that is, there are many components to a vital community that will become a part of how you grow an economy in a rural region … I think this is a perfect example of that. Certainly the incubators have had success in various localities. As we unveil the new facility (the pavilion) today, it is something that will add an additional component, an ability to make this community grow step by step. I think it is absolutely critical that we recognize that and support it. I see that is already occurring."
For more information on the capital campaign and how to contribute, call The Highland Center at (540) 468-1922, or email bettymitchell@htcnet.org.
For more information on The Highland Center visit its Web site at: www.thehighlandcenter.org.
| 
)