St. Paul, Virginia

St. Paul Celebrates Main Street Designation

Originally posted on January 12, 2012 by Doug Jackson on http://dhcdvms.wordpress.com/

Residents of St. Paul, one of four newly designated Virginia Main Street communities, recently gathered to formally recognize the distinction and enlist new volunteers at a kick-off event in November. Attendees included more than 40 residents, Mayor Kyle Fletcher, Vice-Mayor Sharon Steele, Town Councilmember Monty Salyer and members of St. Paul Tomorrow, led by current Chairperson Lou Ann Wallace.

The Saturday event coincided with a visit from Santa Claus aboard the CSX Santa Train and a downtown holiday bazaar. On hand for the delivery of Virginia Main Street signs were DHCD staff Jackie Stump, Jeff Sadler and Doug Jackson. Pictured at right: Mayor Fletcher, Jeff Sadler, and Jackie Stump.

In remarks to the group, Mayor Kyle Fletcher spoke of the town’s potential as a destination along the Clinch River and the potential of the Main Street effort to benefit not just residents of St. Paul, but the entire region of communities in the Clinch River Valley.

After the event, St. Paul Tomorrow Secretary Suzy Harrison commented that the community had been looking forward to receiving the signs, but noted that volunteers had already begun taking advantage of Main Street resources, including a recent educational and technical assistance visit from Kathy Frazier of Frazier Associates to begin a full improvement study of downtown facades.

Council Designates CHS Estonoa's Home School

St. Paul Town Council approved a resolution introduced by Councilman Monty Salyer which designates Castlewood High School as the Wetlands Estonoa's home school. The Town of St. Paul owns Wetlands Estonoa and the Vencil Learning Center, and Council recently appointed Estonoa mentor Terry Vencil as Executive Director of the project, which has earned national and international recognition for St. Paul High School and the area. Vencil, a former SPHS teacher, is now at Castlewood High School.

One section of Salyer's resolution states: "Whereas, the vast majority of former SPHS students have chosen to attend Castlewood High School, thus creating a new community school for the St. Paul and Castlewood Community... Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Town Council of the Town of St. Paul recognizes and appreciates the accolades of Estonoa and all its educational contributions to the St. Paul and Castlewood community, declares Castlewood High School as the home school for Estonoa Wetlands and the Vencil Learning Center."

August 15, 2011 – For Immediate Release

Governor McDonnell Announces Designation of Four New Virginia Main Street Communities
– Preservation-based economic development tools put to work to support entrepreneurship and job creation in Bristol, Farmville, Hopewell and St. Paul –

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the designation of four communities in the Virginia Main Street (VMS) program as part of the "Opportunity at Work" budget initiative approved during the 2011 Session of the General Assembly. With the addition of Bristol, Farmville, Hopewell, and St. Paul to the network of downtown revitalization efforts, the total number of Designated Virginia Main Street Communities reaches 25.

"I am pleased to welcome these communities to the Virginia Main Street program," said Governor McDonnell. "With public and private investment in our traditional commercial districts, we can spark entrepreneurship and job creation downtown in rural and distressed regions of our commonwealth. Main Street is a proven model that uses limited state resources to support local strategies and leverage local resources."

Each community brings a unique set of historic assets and strategic focus to its revitalization work. Bristol and St. Paul, in Southwest Virginia, are aligned with a 19-county strategy that promotes the region's cultural heritage and natural assets. Downtown Hopewell's placement on the James River is the centerpiece of a local quality of life strategy, and Farmville is strengthening ties with local universities and the emerging regional cultural heritage strategies in Southern Virginia. Virginia Main Street will provide technical assistance, training, and expert resources to assist the communities with aligning resources and achieving these goals.

Once designated, Main Street Communities receive intensive direct services from the Virginia Main Street staff and key consultant services including those focused on economic restructuring strategies. Additional services will also be provided including those based on initiatives developed as part of the "Opportunity at Work" budget initiative. The approximate total value of the suite of services is $60,000 to each community ($240,000 total in combined cash value and staff time) in the first year.

A program of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Main Street uses the National Main Street Four Point Approach® model to encourage private investment and job creation in Virginia's downtowns. The program helps communities develop strategies that create economic growth and pride in their downtown areas.

"Since its inception in 1985, the Virginia Main Street program has attracted more than $677 million in private investment and created more than 4,600 jobs in the past five years." said Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. "The expansion of this vital program will generate more private investment, as well as jobs, in Virginia's most distressed regions."

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) accepts applications for new Main Street designations every three to five years. Communities seeking Main Street designations must have populations of 75,000 or less and be committed to a community-based approach that leverages volunteer investments.

For more information about the Virginia Main Street program visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov/mainstreet. Contact information for the newly designated communities is provided below.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=881.

September 25, 2010 ~ Hillman House Visitor Center Dedication   On hand at the ribbon cutting and dedication of the historic Hillman House were Congressman Rick Boucher, Senator Phillip Puckett, Delegate Bud Phillips and St. Paul Mayor, Kyle Fletcher. Honored guests were descendents of the Hillman's who built this home circa 1900.                          BOUCHER SECURES FEDERAL FUNDING TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL $120,000 in Federal Funding Will Be Used to Renovate the Hillman House   Revitalized Downtown Area Will Foster Tourism Growth   (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that the U.S. Congress has approved and the President has signed into law a federal appropriation which he requested in the amount of $120,000.  The federal funding will be used to renovate the Hillman House in downtown St. Paul.  "The Hillman House is an outstanding opportunity for the Town of St. Paul to encourage new tourism development in the downtown area.  This provision of federal funding will enable the Town to begin its work in developing the structure into a major tourism asset," Boucher said. The historic Hillman House is the second oldest home located in the Town of St. Paul and is located in the center of downtown St. Paul.  The oldest structure, the Brown House, has been renovated and is now operating successfully as the Town's Rail Road Museum.  Using the federal funds which are being announced today, an extensive renovation project will be launched to repair damages and disrepair which the structure has sustained over the years.  Following its renovation, Hillman House will be used as a Welcome Center for the Town of St. Paul.  The Center will provide visitors with information regarding the existing biking trails nearby, offer bicycle, canoe and tubing rentals and showcase local arts and crafts.  The renovated Hillman House will also house a tea room or small eatery.   The renovation of Hillman House is part of a larger revitalization project taking place in the Town of St. Paul.  Future plans for the downtown revitalization project include the development of a Farmer's Market along the alley adjacent to the Hillman House and the development of Fraley Park.  The Town also plans to perform major renovations to Lyric Theatre and transform the facility into a regional performing arts center and meeting site.   "The revitalization of downtown St. Paul is a worthy project which will not only foster new tourism growth, but also protect the historic structures located in the downtown area and instill a new pride by residents in their Town.  I am pleased that Congress has honored my request and is providing this allocation of federal funding to renovate the historic Hillman House," Boucher concluded.

4/22/2010   St. Paul receives banner as part of the Crooked Road

At Monday's meeting of the St. Paul Town Council Meeting, Jonathan Romeo, Executive Director of The Crooked Road welcomed the town as a member of The Crooked Road and, with Tourism Director Bill Smith, presented a banner to the Town indicating membership.  Romeo told Council that The Crooked Road stretches the 300 miles from Rocky Mount to the Breaks Interstate Park, and Smith added that St. Paul is the first community to be a part of the expansion of The Crooked Road. Romeo concluded by saying The Crooked Road in 2008 brought $23 millon in tourism to the area.