The Shadow
The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism held an Arts Focus Group meeting in the WestRock Room of The Historic Masonic Theatre on Wed., Feb. 8.
Executive Director Teresa Hammond welcomed those in attendance and asked attendees seated around the semicircle of tables to state their names and identify the organization each individual was present to represent.
Following the introductions and welcoming comments by Hammond, she and Tammy Scruggs Duncan, executive director of the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council, proceeded to share a video featuring Kate Pittman, executive director of ViBe Creative District in Virginia Beach.
A webinar was set up with Pittman following the video presentation about the way government and community businesses have cooperated in Virginia Beach to turn a rundown area of the city into a ViBe Creative District via grant writing and matching funds.
She shared before and after photos concerning the revitalization of Virginia Beach, the before photos showed there were no sidewalks, no bicycle stations, and no murals in the ViBe Creative District before the project began.
Pittman stressed the importance of developing undesirable areas by approaching property owners directly and advocating for improvements to assist businesses to become more successful.
She pointed out that $75,000 was made available for a matching grant program in 2018 and that the property value in the area increased by $45 million from 2015 to 2021.
According to Pittman in 2015, tax incentives were initiated, and property owners were given $2 per each $1 provided by the private sector.
Also, she noted that Virginia Beach offered an incentive to property owners to improve their properties by freezing their tax rate for 10 years regardless of the amount of improvements they made to their properties during those 10 years.
She revealed that 300 living units were added in the ViBe District following the initiation of tax incentives.
Covington City Manager Allen Dressler asked, “How did the development build-up in the area turn out in terms of volleyball and other sports in the area.”
Pittman responded by stressing the addition of sports opportunities in a revitalization plan and noted that bicycle stations, walking paths and running paths were part of the ViBe District’s success.
She added that there are thousands of athletes who visit Virginia Beach to compete in various sports.
Dressler noted that the Jackson River Sports Complex & Amphitheatre draws thousands of people to Covington where hundreds of teams compete, and he noted that by having nearby access to the Jackson River that many tow their boats when they come to compete in tournaments and go fishing while visiting the area.
She explained that a nonprofit board of non-paid directors in the ViBe District meet quarterly and that the paid-board of directors meet monthly.
Following the question and answer period, Hammond discussed the tourism zone in the Alleghany Highlands and noted that a tax abatement program and matching grant program would benefit the area.
She cited the SBA grants during COVID-19 and observed that the shuttered venue grants kept some nonprofits from closing their doors.
Town Manager Chuck Unroe represented Clifton Forge at the meeting, and Mayor Tom Sibold accompanied Covington City Manager Dressler at the table.
Mary Donnan, executive director of The Alleghany Foundation, attended the meeting, and Justin Reiter, executive director of The Historic Masonic Theatre, was on hand to assist with the audio-visual presentation.
Reiter introduced Amy Wratchford, president of the Wratchford Group, and he informed those in attendance that she is conducting an audit of The Historic Masonic Theatre.
Duncan helped conduct the meeting and offered to book the next meeting at the Discovery Center in Covington.
Matt Garten, chairman of the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors, attended the meeting, and Mott Atherholt, president of Clifton Forge Main Street, was in attendance.
Keely Massie, director of the Clifton Forge School of the Arts, was present as was Kester Dingus, the purchasing park ranger for Douthat State Park.
Thomas Smals, a Covington city employee, attended the meeting as did Connie Baker, director of the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center.
Josh Taylor represented the Chamber and presented each one in attendance with a “Happenings in the Highlands” flyer.
Upcoming events listed on the flyer are The Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center’s “The Chocolate Bar: An Evening of Art & Spirits,” on Feb. 11, at 7:00 p.m.
The Sadie Hawkins Valentine’s Day Sock Hop at The Farm at Glen Haven will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 11 as well.
The third event on Valentine’s Day in the area is the “A 90s Valentine’s Day Dance” at the Covington Moose Lodge.
“Forever Simon & Garfunkel” will take place at The Historic Masonic Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, and an “American Spiritual Ensemble” will be conducted at Covington High School on Feb. 26 at 3:00 p.m.
Rumors Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band will perform on stage at The Historic Masonic Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on March 2.
