MARTINSVILLE, Va. – A formal plan is beginning to take shape to turn a historic building into a healthy hub.
Entrepreneurs, local educators, Environmental Protection Agency representatives and others participated in a workshop Wednesday to discuss how to potentially turn the historic Paradise Inn into a restaurant and, eventually, a store where locally grown produce is served and sold.
"We've been doing a lot of discussions in small groups with citizens and people who work and live in this community to find out what they want to see happen in the Fayette area," explained Renaissance Planning project manager Mike Callahan.
Renaissance Planning has been working with the city to organize a workshop.
Martinsville is one of 24 communities accepted this year into the Environmental Protection Agency's Local Foods, Local Places program.
"We work with communities that are looking to use the development of the local food system to help revitalize downtown, help create new economic opportunities, improve access to local healthy foods," said EPA specialist Melissa Kramer.
Martinsville native and entrepreneur Joshua Hylton is interested in using his experience in the restaurant business to help develop the program.
"I just wanted to offer any ideas or any services as far as moving forward because I am a local entrepreneur. Me and my father have food trucks," said Hylton.
As a Martinsville native, he welcomes the opportunity to help revitalize his community.
"It's one of the few places in Martinsville that used to bring business in from out of town that everybody enjoyed going to," Hylton pointed out.
Martinsville's planning and zoning director, Susan McCulloch, said the large turnout at Wednesday's workshop gives her hope that a plan will be developed to help secure funding for the project.
"We're looking for help for studies, pro formas, feasibility studies, architectural engineering studies," McCulloch said.
She's optimistic that within the next year, funding for renovating the inn will be secured.