Altavista’s former fire station will soon become the Spark Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art coworking facility focused on supporting entrepreneurs and small business incubation. The new center will offer office-like amenities, wireless/wired internet access and broadband, high-quality copiers/printers, plotter and 3D printing capabilities, and other valuable resources for entrepreneurs and mobile workers, while also providing innovative and collaborative youth technology camps and activities that promote creativity and community!

Many small business owners and tele-commuters in our area are trying to work hard and live the American dream, but they don’t have the appropriate space or resources to do their best work. This leaves them feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, unable to reach their goals. We think it’s wrong that anyone in our community is being held back from achieving their American Dream. That’s why, this exciting idea will become a state-of-the-art coworking and innovation space in the heart of historic downtown Altavista, with everything a business owner will need to work, create, and thrive! – Sharon Williams, Community Development Director, Town of Altavista

The Town of Altavista’s local Main Street organization, Altavista On Track (AOT), received a $25,000 Financial Feasibility Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), helping the community identify the highest and best use of the property and develop the necessary plans and/or studies that would allow the Town of Altavista to effectively begin the rehabilitation process.

The locality was able to secure additional funding from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help aid planning efforts, as well as reduce costs associated with furnishing the facility. The Town of Altavista has also allocated $200,000 for the capital improvement project!

Through free design services offered to Advancing Main Street Communities, such as Altavista, AOT secured façade drawings and schematic floorplans from Frazier Associates, a full-service architecture and planning firm in Staunton, Virginia. The images above show the former fire station (pictured left) and how the building’s façade could appear after the rehabilitation process (pictured right).

We’re greatly looking forward to seeing the Spark Innovation Center come to fruition, and the Town of Altavista will be releasing more information on the facility’s social media presence and website in the coming weeks and months!