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News Article
Attucks ‘incubator' project studied by consultants
From staff reports
editor@kentuckynewera.com
A Mobile, Ala., firm begins a three-day study here
today to help sketch the future of the former Attucks High School
campus.
"The meeting is being held
to involve community leaders in determining whether there is support and
resources available to convert a portion of the Crispus Attucks building
into a business incubator that will house and nurture new businesses for
two to three years," said Kelly P'Pool in a news release from Pennyrile
Area Resource Conservation and Development.
P'Pool serves as chairman
of the agency.
Stacey and Associates, a
research, marketing and consultant firm from Mobile will begin gathering
data during an afternoon session today at the Commerce Center on Fort
Campbell Boulevard.
Scheduled for interviews
Tuesday are individuals representing the Economic Development Council,
the Minority Economic Development Initiative, city utilities,
congressional representatives and Planning Commission staffers.
A related workshop for
small business owners and entrepreneurs will be at the Best Western
Hotel from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Data-gathering efforts
Wednesday will focus on the Crispus Attucks Community Association,
ministers, educators and other governmental representatives.
The Attucks Alumni
Association owns the building and has received $1.1 million in state and
federal grants for the project. Christian Fiscal Court is overseeing the
grant expenditures, while the Planning Commission is the lead agency in
the renovation work.
Attucks, built in 1916,
was the city's only high school for African-American students for many
years. The last class graduated in 1967. It became an integrated middle
school the next year. The school closed in the late 1980s and has been
vacant since.
The gymnasium addition,
which will house the economic development project, was constructed in
the late 1950s.
The school system
transferred ownership of the building, one of the most cherished
landmarks in the black community, to the alumni group in 1998. |
