What’s next?
So the yard sale is complete and it was a hit! Many thanks to all those who came out to support and those who supported from afar. All proceeds have been added to the fund to help with renovations and costs associated with planning for the future.
Our next big steps will be obtaining historic status and getting our nonprofit status.
From the historic perspective, the property was evaluated and an application was started (perhaps 2-3 times before now) but nobody completed the application. We are restarting that application process. Cody Straley at the WV State Historic Preservation Office has assisted with the initial information we needed to get the ball rolling. With the help of the WV Brownfields and Preservation Alliance, we have hired a historian. Kelsey Hartmann of Hartmann Preservation Services LLC is our official historian working on the application and digging through all the history behind the original IOOF Group Home. If you’d like to check out more about her, click here. Once we get our historic status, then we can really start getting a plan in action for all our renovations.
From the nonprofit status, we are working closely with Mike Bell. He owns Mike Bell and Associates LLC and has years of experience not only with nonprofit groups but also fundraising, leadership, marketing, public relations, and strategic planning. If you’d like to find out more, click here. Once we get our nonprofit status, we begin work forming our board of directors and fine tuning the long term goals of the property. Our nonprofit status will also open the doors for anyone to make tax deductible contributions.
I’ve already written about the long term vision, but many people have come forward with more ideas to consider. Potentially adding open spaces for businesses to rent. Consideration for integration of a charter school, facilitating interaction with pediatrics and geriatrics, all learning topics of self preservation, land development, manual skills, healthcare, and so much more. Securing a safe space for women and children in the community. Establishing a home for people with disabilities. There are many ideas floating around and I love to hear them all, so keep them coming!
I am immensely grateful to everyone who has reached out to me. There has been an outpouring of support for the project and it fills me with hope for the future. This is a very large undertaking and it will take a village to make it happen. I am so happy you’ve decided to join me on this journey.
Let’s see where the future takes us.
