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AgCenter expansion delayed as state grant issues stall project; church election to move to AgCenter
Summary
County committee members said a planned multi-acre development behind the AgCenter is delayed by state grant complications and agreed to host a local church’s election in the AgCenter front room.
At a Bedford County committee meeting, commissioners said plans to develop several acres behind the AgCenter have been delayed because of complications with state grants, and they agreed to let a local church hold its upcoming election at the AgCenter front room.
The issue arose during an update on AgCenter activity when Commissioner Anderson said Summer Leverett reached out to ask whether the county would allow a church that no longer wants to host its election to use the AgCenter. “Of course, the answers are resounding yes. That's what the place is for, so we're gonna have... and we'll let them have the front room,” Commissioner Anderson said.
The committee also discussed a planned property project on the back side of the AgCenter. A commissioner said the project — described as “several acres” on the other side of the creek — faces a delay and “it looks like it may be next year for some reason before we get to do it.” The speaker attributed the delay to a snag related to state grants for broadband and agricultural programs: “We're having so much difficulty with our state grants on our broadband and on our ag. And there's just there's a lot of undecided situations going on.”
Committee members said the planned development would include natural grasses, walking paths and space useful for school field trips if the project proceeds. One commissioner characterized the site as a potential asset to the AgCenter and said it would provide “something different” for visitors and students.
The discussion was informational; the committee gave informal assent to allowing the church election at the AgCenter front room and did not adopt a formal ordinance or vote to allocate funding for the property work during the meeting. Commissioners indicated the scheduling and construction timeline are contingent on resolution of outstanding state grant issues.
The AgCenter update also noted increased facility use, including a major horse show the previous month, and that summer programming is starting to ramp up.
