The Patrick County Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved $85,000 for the Business Development Center’s (BDC) design contract at its July 27 meeting.
The request was made after the Stuart Town Council rejected a request to fund the full cost of the $358,000 contract.
Since the council meeting, Sean Adkins, the county’s director of economic development, said he’s talked with the design firm to request a lower bid amount.
“We got them to come down to $311,000, so we’re going to get hopefully the remainder of the $311,000 from” other grants, he said.
Adkins said he’s talked with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Virginia Region Revitalization Commission about reallocating some of the awarded grant funds for the center’s design contract.
The EDA previously received $1.2 million from the two organizations for the project.
Adkins also plans to talk with the council and ask for funds again.
“I realize that they didn’t have warning and I came at them with a very hefty sum. So, even though we tried to talk through it and wheedle it down, it’s hard to get over that initial approach. A miscalculation on my part, so I will be going back for funds,” he said.
In other matters, the authority:
*Discussed Adkins’ meetings with Foresight Health president and CEO Dr. Sameer Suhail and Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Joseph Hylak-Reinholtz. Adkins said Foresight officials plan to hold a roundtable meeting with the local fire departments, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and rescue squads on Aug. 2 to hear about the local challenges of providing healthcare in the county. A town hall also will be scheduled to solicit residents’ concerns.
*Heard from Patrick County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rebecca Adcock about the Patrick County PCVA Business Builders program. “So far, we have gotten a low number of applications in. At this time, we are not going forward with it,” she said.
Adcock said the chamber is looking to work with Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) since the college teaches the class. “They are looking at doing another one for Martinsville and Henry County in the fall, and so we don’t completely lose the people that did apply at this time they are willing to open it up to Patrick County,” she said.
Adcock said interested Patrick residents may attend the program or participate via Zoom. Local residents will have their own pitch night with separate funds to be awarded.
*Heard from Stuart Town Manager Bryce Simmons about the town’s search for proposals for the Star Theater feasibility study, “which I hope will go well with the Downtown Revitalization Business District plan. I really do hope that those two plans can work well together as we try to revitalize the town of Stuart,” he said.
*Discussed a resolution to provide a letter of support for the Meadows of Dan Freehouse Brewery. Adkins said Arthur Lucas, who owns Freehouse Brewery in Charleston, SC, bought Cockrams Mill in the Meadows of Dan area with the intention of turning it into a brewery. The purchase closed in June.
*Approved the June 27 meeting minutes.
*Heard a financial report from Adkins.
*Paid the bills.
*Discussed the Rich Creek shell building October auction.
*Discussed the SoVA Housing Summit in Danville on Aug. 18.
*Heard an update on the façade grant program.
Debra Shelor and Dave Lusk did not attend the meeting.