By Taylor Boyd
The Patrick County Economic Development Authority (EDA) heard a potential issue for its plans for the Business Development and Recovery Center at its Wednesday, Dec. 8 meeting.
EDA Director Sean Adkins said the building at the corner of the intersection of Slusher Street and Rye Cove Road must be in operation by December 31.
“That’s been up there for me to kind of scramble to get somebody in there, so we don’t have to give the money back,” he said.
Adkins said the issue was discovered after auditors went through the documents to ensure everything was in line. If the building is not in operation and occupied by an operating entity by the end of the year, the EDA could be forced to return the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds used on the facility.
Bill Clark, chairman of the EDA board, said he thought the Wi-Fi for public use qualified the building as operating.
“We were under the impression that the utilization of the building would be satisfied because of the public Wi-Fi, and anybody could come by and sit in the parking lot and do whatever they want to and utilize it,” he said.
Adkins said that does not suffice under the guideline.
He suggested the group move some of the materials from the former Results building and place them in the new center to help prepare it for operating use.
“Then, you come in and have a staff member in there available to help businesses,” he said.
Adkins said a solution he found is Total Action for Progress (TAP) from Roanoke, an organization that helps people and families achieve economic and personal independence through education, employment, affordable housing, and healthy environments.
“Total Action for Progress is going to make an offer to go in there, realizing that it’s not going to be the end all, but to just check the spots. For small things, for business assistance, and pay a small amount of rent just to have somebody in there,” he said.
He added the arrangement could be beneficial to TAP because the group wants to start and expand its local presence.
“I believe they want to be involved in the Development Center after it’s developed. They’ve got a young entrepreneurial program they want to be here – business assistance,” he said.
In other matters, the EDA board:
*Approved the Oct. 27 meeting minutes as amended.
*Heard from Crystal Harris, member of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors. Harris expressed her gratitude to the EDA and its work during her 20 years tenure on the board.
*Head the finance report.
*Approved and paid the bills.
*Heard a broadband update.
*Heard a grant application update.
*Recognized George Stovall’s resignation from the EDA.
*Appointed Debra Shelor as the new EDA secretary.
