Requirements for $1.5 million in grants proved prohibitively expensive for the Fieldale Heritage Inc. board of directors, who recently voted to decline the funding to renovate the Fieldale Recreation Center.
“The decision comes after careful consideration of the grant requirements and their potential impact on the facility’s long-term sustainability,” the board said in a news release.
The funding package consisted of $1 million from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and $500,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
“Although the return of grants is not a common occurrence for DHCD programs, it has happened on rare instances under both ARC and CDBG [Community Development Block Grant program],” said DHCD spokesperson Alexis Mehretab.
The board’s concerns were financial, according to President John Garland. He and two other recently added board members abstained from the vote. [Disclosure: Sherry Quinley, Cardinal’s sponsorship sales manager, is a member of the board.]
“The board would hire a manager and assistant manager,” he said. “The fact was the expenses [would be] far greater than income.”
Garland said hiring a manager would cost somewhere from $40,000 to $60,000 annually, while an assistant manager would cost another $30,000 to $45,000.
The board would have to focus on additional ways to raise money on a regular basis, he said.
The package was earmarked for renovations to the Fieldale Recreation Center, a community center and event space adjacent to an apartment complex Garland and his partners renovated in 2023.
A historic building, the center has served its community as a gathering place with few updates to the structure. This prompted Fieldale Heritage Inc., which oversees the recreation center’s operations, to seek out funding for renovations.
Renovation of the building has been an ongoing topic for years. In 2024, Henry County officials petitioned the state to release a majority of a funding package following the completion of a required environmental review.
Henry County Administrator Dale Wagoner said the county remains committed to the project.
“While we are disappointed by the Fieldale Heritage Inc. Board’s decision to reject the $1.5 million in grant funds from DHCD and ARC, we respect their autonomy in making this choice,” Wagoner said in an email. “The county invested considerable effort to secure these funds with the intent of enhancing the center and the community it serves. While we will continue to support revitalization efforts as appropriate, we hope future opportunities can align with shared goals for the benefit of our residents.”
Garland said that while the total project cost hasn’t been determined, the $1.5 million funding package would only cover a portion.
Garland said the renovations include improvements to the electrical and plumbing systems, a new HVAC system, new finishes and a reconfiguration of spaces.
He said the board’s decision does not mean the renovation project is over.
“The board, by not accepting this grant, is not saying this is the end of the road,” Garland said. “They are not throwing up their hands and saying ‘we give up.’”
Board member Jane Eggleston agreed, saying the board’s decision allows for some flexibility.
“Our commitment to renovating and maintaining the Fieldale Recreation Center and complex remains unwavering,” she said in the news release. “By pursuing private funding, we can better align the project with our community’s current needs and ensure the complex’s sustainable operation for years to come.”
