|
Highland Center celebrates 10th anniversary
 | | The Highland Center recently celebrated ten years of cultural and economic support to the Highland County community with a dinner at the Center, Jan. 14. The current board members, former board members and spouses were invited. A short power point presentation with highlights of past activities and comments by Lloyd Bird, current president, and past board members completed the evening. (Photo courtesy The Highland Center) |
|
MONTEREY - On Monday, Jan. 14, members of The Highland Center met to celebrate the Center's tenth anniversary. During the celebration, board chairman, Lloyd Bird, gave special thanks and recognition to the founding board members and prior board chairs - Debora Ellington, John Reynolds, Laurie Berman and Bo Aldredge.
Additionally, Bird commented, "The Center was an integral part of the decision making process when our family considered moving back to Highland County."
A catalyst for cultural and economic development, The Highland Center has accomplished much for the area. They are as follows.
Business and Community
Incubator Program
• Seven business and/or nonprofit tenants have graduated.
• Seven businesses and five nonprofit organizations call the Center home in 2007. No space remains available.
Incubation is a form of economic development that provides a nurturing environment for startup and emerging businesses. It combines space, support services, technical assistance, counseling and equipment in one place to offer startup businesses a place to grow and thrive.
The Highland Center's unique approach to incubation combines nonprofit organizations and businesses in its tenant mix. This allows expanded networks and draws upon more diverse resources, increasing the Center's value to this small rural community through innovative programming.
For example, Valley Program for Aging Services created a fulltime job when it relocated its programs to the center and contracted with a Center tenant to use the incubator kitchen to prepare meals for their senior program. In 2007 14,940 meals were prepared for seniors throughout Highland and Bath counties.
Counseling and workshops
• 39 different business and economic development workshops attended by 919 people.
• 152 people have been assisted in starting a business or operating their current business.
• 51 nonprofit organizations have received technical assistance.
Workshops on starting a business, establishing an Internet presence, youth entrepreneurship, business planning, food safety, and agritourism have helped spur business and economic development.
In 2002, the Center became a branch of SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business, Chapter 427.
With SCORE and Small Business Development Center, the Center counseled and provided technical assistance services to startup and existing businesses.
The Center provides resources including a library and shared-use equipment, which have been used extensively by businesses and non-profits.
Highland farmers' market
• 10 seasons completed.
• Sales have quadrupled since the first year.
• Member "Virginia Grown," a farmers' market network.
• 102 vendors have sold their products.
• Participates year-round in local festivals.
• Completion of permanent, beautiful market pavilion.
Food-based initiatives have been a focal point of the center's work with local entrepreneurs. These initiatives include the Highland farmers' market, the Center's flagship program, the incubator kitchen, and work with businesses to promote, sell, and test locally produced food and value-added products.
In its efforts to build on Highland's agricultural assets, the Center secured a grant to study the feasibility of a value-added meatprocessing facility in our fourcounty region of Virginia and West Virginia. The feasibility study has been completed and The Highland Center is in the forefront as efforts move forward, with the dual goals of securing funding to build a regional agriculture center and marketing local lamb and beef to consumers. Public venue and community
activities
• 46 plays, musicals & concerts performed in center's auditorium.
• 225 individuals acted in plays.
• 11 summer children's drama camps that attracted 403 students.
The Center has been an important venue for community events such as reunions, receptions, the bloodmobile, 4-H Club activities, community meetings and forums.
The Highland County Chamber of Commerce, Highland Historical Society, VPAS and the Highland County Arts Council routinely used our facilities to hold workshops, meetings, community theater productions, children's theater camp, art classes, concerts and dances.
Youth Employment Program
• 59 youth worked in 41 private and public sector jobs.
• Program modified by creating a youth mentoring advisory committee; opening job opportunities to all county youth; providing opportunities to participate in the Governor's Work Preparedness Institute; partnering with the school and interested citizens to raise student awareness of local business opportunities.
Since 2002, the center has operated a youth employment program that gives actual work experience as well as employment and life skills training to local teenagers. By increasing YEP's funding base with contributions from local businesses, civic groups and governing bodies the program has become more sustainable and integrated with the local business community.
Partnerships and outreach
The Center has established extensive partnerships with local organizations and businesses as well as regional, state and federal community and economic development agencies. Recently, the center has joined with Highland Public Schools, Highland County Chamber of Commerce and Highlanders for Responsible Development to form Highland Occupational Mentoring Experience, which raises student awareness of local small business opportunities.
Building Renovation
• The 2001 coal furnace replaced with oil furnace.
• Complete renovation of VPAS' senior center.
• Renovation of business resource room.
• Renovation of school kitchen to incubator kitchen.
• Creation of scale models of renovated facility and theatre design.
• Complete design for exterior stabilization phase of renovation.
• New roof and gutter .
• Constructed permanent farmers' market pavilion.
In 2001, the Center was listed on the Virginia Register of Historic Places and in 2002 the Center received designation on the National Register of Historic Places. The Center is embarking on a major renovation of its building and facilities, with the aim of preserving the historical integrity of the building while upgrading it to further promote the Center's mission of securing the region's economic and cultural future.
As part of the renovation, the Center is developing a conference and retreat space that will draw professionals and groups into the area year-round, adding business for local restaurant and hotel establishments, increasing employment opportunities and bolstering the local economy. In addition, the conference and retreat component will add income to the Center's operations, increasing its sustainability for the future.
| 
)