County awarded $650,000 for telecenter project By ROBBY LUCKE Staff Alleghany County's five-month quest for a grant to establish an information technology center proved successful last week. The N.C. Rural Internet Access Authority gave the go-ahead to the Blue Ridge Telecenter Sept. 27, approving a $650,000 grant. Local government and educational leaders who worked to obtain the grant did not take much time out to celebrate. Instead, they were busy early this week planning the next steps necessary to make the Blue Ridge Telecenter a reality. Telecenters are required to be in operation by Jan. 1. The former Bassett Walker building will be the BRT's permanent home; the BRT group has an option on the property. BRT leaders hope to have renovations on the building done by August 2002, in time for the beginning of the fall semester at Wilkes Community College-Alleghany Campus, which will also be housed in the building.

TELECENTER — An architect's rendering of the proposed Blue Ridge Telecenter is shown above. The building last housed Bassett Walker.

In the meantime, while the renovations are being done, BRT has leased space on Main Street — the former Sheets Jewelry location — where the telecenter's operations will be located during the transitional period. Officials see the telecenter as a potential boon to the local economy, attracting and helping businesses which can benefit from state-of-the-art communications technology. The BRT will offer job training and flexible office space available for lease. About 10,000 square feet will be set aside for a customer service call center.

At a news conference Monday, Patrick Woodie, one of the BRT effort's leaders, said of the telecenter, "I believe this is critical to what I'd call economic redevelopment in this county.

"I hope this sends a message to everyone in Alleghany County that we intend to be the master of our own destiny, create a new sector of the economy and new jobs and go forward."

Woodie is also an Alleghany County commissioner and the director of New River Community Partners, which was the official grant applicant. Patricia Ferguson, chairman of the RIAA's telecenter committee, said one of the factors which helped Alleghany's grant application was that "potential telework clients for call centers have been identified."

Woodie confirmed that, saying, although nothing is definite yet, "We have a specific client we are working with" toward a call center. That would provide 20 to 60 jobs over a period of time.

He added that space will be set aside for a call center whether or not BRT is successful recruiting that client. The call center space could support up to 75 people.

In addition, said County Planner Jack Conaway, the Bassett Walker site offers additional acreage available for expansion.

Woodie agreed, saying, "It's an eight-acre lot with the possibility of building another building if we had a client large enough."

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