VALLEY HUB INC

ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL REPURPOSING PROJECT - THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING AS A SELF-SUSTAINING COMMUNITY RESOURCE. IT WILL HOUSE A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, INCLUDING CHILDCARE, ADULT AND YOUTH EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE SERVICES, SENIOR SERVICES, ARTS PROGRAMS, A MAKER SPACE, RECREATION AND COMMERCIAL RENTALS. THE HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY WAS OWNED BY THE ROCHESTER STOCKBRIDGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (RSUD) DURING ALL OF 2024.VALLEY HUB, INC (VHI) WORKED TO FACILITATE SALE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL TO THE TOWN OF ROCHESTER FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT INTO THE MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY CENTER, PLANNED FOR 2025. THIS WORK, CONDUCTED BY VHI VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDED PREPARING GRANTS FOR THE TOWN AND ORGANIZING COMPLIANCE REVIEWS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER APPLICABLE REGULATIONS. RSUD PLANNED TO RENT SPACE FROM THE TOWN IN THE HIGH SCHOOL. VHI IS NOT A PARTY TO THE LEASE. 2024 PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING - - HELD PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL REPURPOSING PROJECT ON 6/10/24, 9/4/24 AND 10/29/24, AS WELL AS COMPOSED, PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION MAILERS TO ALL ROCHESTER MAIL RECIPIENTS. - WORKED WITH THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION TO COMPLETE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY, SPECIFICALLY PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2 OF THE BRELLA ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL; CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION REPORTED OUT ON 4/16/24. - NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT WITH THE ROCHESTER STOCKBRIDGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO LEASE SPACE IN THE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL, ALLOWING THE ADJACENT ROCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO EXPAND ITS CREATIVE ARTS CURRICULUM, USING THE ART ROOM, MUSIC ROOM, AUDITORIUM AND EVENTUALLY THE SHOPS. - COMPLETED MITIGATION OF 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN HAZARD BY INSTALLATION OF TWO FLOOD DOORS ON THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. - ACTIVATED THE NEW NON-PROFIT ENTITY VALLEY HUB, INC., WITH INITIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS, WHO THEN ADOPTED THE BYLAWS AND MISSION STATEMENT. - INVENTORIED HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING CONTENTS AND BEGAN COLLABORATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT FOR DISPOSITION OF THE CONTENTS. - WON 2.3 MILLION CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING AWARD FOR THE PROJECT, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN. - WON 10,000 PLANNING GRANT EXTENSION FOR THE TOWN TO CONDUCT FURTHER ARCHITECTURAL INVESTIGATION OF DESIGN OPTIONS AND COSTS ESTIMATES FOR RENOVATION. - PROJECT WAS APPROVED FOR WAIVER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS BY VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - WORKED WITH TWO RIVERS TO ENABLE TOWN TO ISSUE GRANT-COMPLIANT RFP TO LIST OF ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS; ASSESSED RESPONSES AND RECOMMENDED WINNER TO TOWN OF ROCHESTER, WHICH WAS SELECTED. - OBTAINED SIGNED MOUS FROM 7 PROSPECTIVE TENANTS TO LEASE FINISHED SPACE IN THE REPURPOSED HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.