Site work for a water / sewer project in Blackstone, Virginia. Completed plans call for site work for a water / sewer project.

The Town of Blackstone, Virginia is looking to renovate the Harris Memorial Armory Center for use as a multi-purpose facility. The primary use will consist of job training programs offered by Virginia State University (VSU) and Transition Solutions Enterprises (TSE), a local non-profit, to train workers for the hospitality industry. Other uses will include renting the venue out for events such as weddings and receptions. Due to the recent opening of the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center facility at nearby Fort Pickett, there is a significant demand for additional lodging in the area to accommodate students at and visitors to the facility. One hotel has already opened in Blackstone, with more planned for the area. To meet the need for workers to fill the jobs being created by the new lodging, the Town is partnering with VSU and TSE to provide job training programs for new workers in the region. The Armory has been identified as an ideal facility for this use, given its location and proximity to Fort Pickett. The Harris Memorial Armory Center, located at 200 North High Street (at the intersection of North High and Tavern Streets) in Blackstone, was constructed around 1936. The facility served the Virginia National Guard until the late 1980's and has been vacant since. The building is now owned by the Town. The existing facility is approximately 16,400 square feet. It contains a large gymnasium/multi-purpose room with a small stage on the east end and shallow balcony on the west end. The front of the facility contains stairs, offices, restrooms, and miscellaneous support spaces. The rear of the facility contains storage, stage support spaces, mechanical/storage on a lower level, and other miscellaneous rooms. Studies by architects and certified lead/asbestos inspectors have identified numerous renovations to the building that are needed before the building is suited for its planned use. Part of the identified renovations include lead abatement, asbestos remediation, and removal of an underground storage tank. For this IFB, bids are being sought from qualified contractors to undertake the removal of the underground storage tank at the Armory site. This work is part of the overall renovation planned for the facility. The Town has secured a grant from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, through the Virginia Brownfields Assistance Fund (VBAF), to help with covering these costs. The Town of Blackstone is seeking bids from qualified licensed contractors to remove an underground fuel storage tank at the site of the Harris Memorial Armory Center. See attached IFB for more information.