Group’s funding hits snag

By JUSTIN HARMON/Staff

Project Glade has been working to prop up Glade Spring’s economy for a while now, but the group recently hit a snag.
According to Project Glade President Dirk Moore, the organization received roughly half its funding for a small business incubator from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. But recently, Moore said matching funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission were denied.
“We’ve still got three years on our Tobacco Commission grant. We’re still in the same situation,” he said. “It’s just a competitive application process.”
While Moore said he felt the application was strong, he said there were a few improvements and some polish that could benefit them.
“We’d like to make the case that it’s a business center that will complement existing businesses in the area. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel,” he said.
Moore said the group is also going to look into putting more detail into the business plan. The commission looks at those sorts of things, he said.
Glade Spring, according to Moore, is an area with a great potential for growth and economic development. He said the incubator would bring in a bigger tax base and ease taxes on residents. And with that, Moore sees more people coming to Glade.
“We feel like the project is one that can project Glade into a more prosperous future,” he said.
After meeting with a representative of the Department of Housing and Community Development, Moore said he feel like the application has grown stronger.
The idea was proposed last year and received funding from the Tobacco Commission in November. In that time, the group has had some talks with the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator in Abingdon.
In previous reports, the incubator’s head Jason Berry said he’s looking to partner with Project Glade. The unofficial proposal would have Glade Spring’s incubator operate as a satellite of Abingdon’s.
Berry said in previous reports he wouldn’t enter any formal negation until Project Glade secured their funding and started moving forward.
Until then, Moore and Project Glade will have to try again when the application process opens up again.
Justin Harmon can be reached at 628-7101 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)