THE HIGHLAND CENTER STORY
The Highland Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to cultural and economic development in the Allegheny Highlands region of Virginia and West Virginia. In 1997, when the Highland Elementary School building became vacant, a group of concerned citizens came together with the idea of restoring and using the building for activities to benefit the community.
In 1998, the building was purchased and The Highland Center was formed as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. Surveys were conducted among Highland County residents to help direct the Center’s programs. Economic development, tourism, business growth and enhanced agriculture were cited as top issues to be addressed. The Center established its business incubation, farmers’ market and commercial kitchen programs as a result of the survey. Since then, The Highland Center has served as a public venue for countless community events, operated an employment program for youth and led important regional initiatives to advance tourism, agriculture and the arts. Today, the Highland Center houses numerous tenants, a mix of individual artists and non-profit organizations. The Highland Center’s reach has expanded beyond Highland County to benefit the entire Allegheny Highlands Region, including Bath County, Virginia and Pocahontas and Pendleton Counties, West Virginia. In addition, the Center operates programs around four main areas:
Business Incubation
Youth Development
Community & Economic Development
Local Food & Agriculture
