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Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center asks county for help after memberships fall short
Summary
Presenters told the Greenbrier County Commission the new aquatic center is running roughly $200,000 a year short of operating costs because memberships are about 420 versus an expected 1,000; they asked commissioners to explore financial or partnership support.
The Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center asked the Greenbrier County Commission for help keeping the recently opened facility afloat, saying membership revenue is covering only about half of operating costs.
"We're running about $200,000 a year short," said Tagayon, the center's presenter. He told commissioners the facility opened just over three weeks ago and currently has about 420 memberships — far below the 1,000 memberships used in the project's business plan. He described operating costs of about $2,000 a day (roughly $700,000 a year) and said membership income supplies roughly half that amount, with the remainder coming from smaller grants, fundraising and retail sales.
The presenter said the center offers income-based scholarships so no one is turned away for financial reasons and that new corporate memberships are beginning to materialize. "We just started a corporate membership program — seven corporate members and four in the last 10 days — so we're hopeful," he said, adding that the center has paid down an initial $500,000 loan to an expected remaining debt near $100,000 after anticipated year-end adjustments.
Commissioners and staff praised the facility's programming and community impact. The chair said the center is "changing people's lives," noting its value for seniors and families who need low-impact exercise. A commissioner added that arts and recreation has funded past requests from the center.
No formal county appropriation was made at the meeting. The presenter offered to meet with county officials and commissioners to explore possible avenues of support; commissioners said they would review the presentation and the materials the presenters left for the county website.
Next steps: presenters asked the commission to consider possible financial or partnership options and said they would be available to meet with county staff and commissioners.
