On May 27, 2021, The Advancement Foundation (TAF) celebrated the graduation of 56 new businesses through its 7th annual Gauntlet program and made awards, totaling $300,000 in cash and in-kind services, to kick-start those business ventures. This included four of the participants from Buena Vista’s Community Business Launch (CBL) program, which partnered with TAF on the training and mentoring portion of their CBL program!
Buena Vista’s prize-winning businesses included:
- On Course Racing Ratings Systems | $18,850
- Bluebell Bakery | $17,575
- White Tree Inn | $11,680
- Coiner Country Store | $2,570
Two of the winners, Bluebell Bakery and Coiner Country Store, have exciting plans to become their own landlords by purchasing and rehabilitating buildings in downtown Buena Vista. Both of these endeavors will be first-time, small-scale real estate development projects, and while White Tree Inn already owned its location, they’ll use part of their prize funds for the rehabilitation of the structure.
“We have four active constructions projects on our main street, Magnolia, right now, and all of them are related to CBL. It is exciting to see new energy coming to town!”
– Tom Roberts, Economic Development Director, Buena Vista
Coiner Country Store’s new location (pictured above)
virginiamainstreet.com 