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A $6.1 million revitalization project is underway to transform the blighted former Courtesy Ford building in Buena Vista into the Wilson Workforce Development Center.
Construction and renovations began on the 18,750-square-foot building March 21 and are expected to be completed in February of next year. Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced that a $650,000 Industrial Revitalization Fund grant had been awarded to Buena Vista in support of construction of the workforce center, which is a project of Mountain Gateway Community College.
The center, according to information from the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, is to offer degree and nondegree programs in “hard trades” such as HVAC technician, commercial driver’s license, diesel mechanic, advanced manufacturing and welding. These employment fields are included in the Virginia Community College System’s FastFor ward program, which provides tuition assistance to Virginians training for in-demand jobs.
Projected enrollment for the first year is 125, with the expectation that it will rise to 300 students by year five. MGCC leadership has established industry agreements for a total of 60 new jobs and 40 retained jobs at three local employers – Modine Manufacturing, Everbrite and Lee-Hi Travel Plaza.
MGCC anticipates the creation of 28 direct jobs as a result of this project. Collectively, commitments from the local employers represent over $2 million in planned investments. The center, said a CSPDC spokesperson, “will be a cornerstone to Buena Vista’s downtown development as it will bring students, faculty and staff from around the region and contribute directly to local merchants and restaurants.”
The IRF grant, the CSPDC spokesperson continued, “leverages other financial sources to modernize the one-time Courtesy Ford facility. The dealership was built in 1916 and is part of the Downtown Buena Vista Historic District. It’s also listed on the Virginia and National Registers of Historic Places. The structure has remained vacant since about 2010. During a Buena Vista Community Development Block Grant Business District Revitalization study in 2019, the building was identified as blighted.”
Fundraising for the construction project continues, said Dr. John Rainone, president of MGCC, as construction costs are almost 20 percent higher than were anticipated when planning began.
Alluding to the IRF grant that was awarded through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Rainone commented, “We are appreciative of DHCD for their financial commitment to this exciting project. We are also deeply grateful to the city of Buena Vista and [Director of Community Development] Tom Roberts in particular, for his work on this application. We would not have done it without his support.”
Nearly $5 million has been raised for the project that includes a federal grant of $3.1 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, $128,220 from individual donors, $680,000 from foundation donors, $750,000 in state grants and $155,365 in support from the local governments.
KNA Contracting LLC of Roanoke is the general contractor for the construction project. The center is named for Joe Wilson, a Buena Vista native who is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.
