Project Grant CE152660

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - THE APPALACHIAN CENTER FOR HOPE (ACH) IS A COMMUNITY GROUP REPRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FROM THE MOUNT ROGERS HEALTH DISTRICT. ACH DEVELOPED FROM COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN 2017 THROUGH THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT EXECUTED DURING THE ACQUISITION OF SMYTH COUNTY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL BY BALLAD HEALTH. DURING THIS IMPORTANT WORK OF COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSET AND NEED EXPLORATION, THE PASSION AND CARE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE AREA WERE EVIDENT ALONG WITH A COLLECTIVE DESIRE TO DO MORE TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) IN THE MOUNT ROGERS REGION. THE GROUP CONTINUED TO MEET, ACQUIRED 501C3 STATUS AND CONFIRMED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND RECOVERY HOUSING TO BE THE TWO MOST NEEDED RESOURCES IN THE REGION AND PROJECTS TO COLLABORATE. IN 2021, THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGREED TO DONATE A STATE-OWNED BUILDING TO SMYTH COUNTY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD BE USED BY ACH TO ADDRESS SUD IN THE COMMUNITY. ACH BEGAN AN EXTENSIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS AND DETERMINED THAT THE BEST USE OF THE BUILDING WOULD BE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH SUD. BEFORE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES CAN BE LAUNCHED, THE BUILDING NEEDS EXTENSIVE RENOVATION. IT HAS BEEN ENTIRELY OUT OF USE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AND WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT UPDATES TO THE FACILITY FOR MUCH LONGER. THE BUILDING REQUIRES A NEW ROOF AND UPDATES TO THE ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, AND FLOOR PLAN TO ADEQUATELY FULFILL ITS INTENDED PURPOSE AS A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY. THE SMYTH COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS PLEDGED A DONATION OF $3 MILLION TO ACH FOR RENOVATION WITH THE STIPULATION THAT THE FUNDS WILL ONLY BE RELEASED AFTER ACH DEVELOPS EXTENSIVE PLANNING DOCUMENTS AS TO HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT AND THAT THE PROGRAMS CREATED WITH THOSE FUNDS WILL BE SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM. THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY WILL GIVE ACH THE CAPACITY TO CREATE THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE BUILDING, INCLUSIVE OF HVAC, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, AND ROOFING REPAIRS, AND THE CREATION OF PLANS FOR HOW A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER CAN BE ESTABLISHED IN A SUSTAINABLE AND COLLABORATIVE MANNER. THE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR LONG TERM RECOVERY HOUSING, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES.