By Heather Fabritze
News Editor
The project leaders behind the Washington College Innovation Plant hosted an informational session on Nov. 14 to report the results of the community stakeholder process they engaged in last year with members of the local community.
According to the invitation that project leader and Thomas V. Miller Director of Civic Engagement Dr. Pat Nugent sent for the event over email, the study engaged with over 800 participants in total, some of whom attended the in-person meeting at 800 High Street.
Previous Elm coverage from last spring described the plant as the focus of a collaborative course between the Departments of Business and Education. Students enrolled in the class collected feedback from community stakeholders to determine how the College should transform their vacant 800 High Street property.
The class included the instruction of Chair of Education Dr. Sara Clarke-De Reza, Chair of Business Dr. Caddie Putnam Rankin, and Dr. Nugent, all of whom are working as head developers for the initiative.
According to the presentation slides that project leaders presented, the innovation plant will “catalyze educational and economic opportunity, empowering our region through access to tools, technology, and expertise.”
This mission includes facilitating stronger relationships between local community members and campus partners, as well as allowing these groups to develop new skills and technology, engage in entrepreneurship, and collaborate to solve Kent County’s “most pressing social challenges.”
Part of the meeting included the presentation of the data the class collected. Their set included 28 interviews, 22 focus groups with 107 participants, more than 500 surveys, and four public meetings with more than 150 participants.
Stakeholders from across this set — including, but not limited to, WC and Chesapeake College students, business owners, local government officials, artists, and users of the Kent County education system — shared a few common goals they identified with. Above all, they hope that installing the plant will result in growth for economic development in Chestertown, as well as leaving a social impact and giving opportunities to younger members of the community.
An important part of the stakeholder process also included conversations with former staff workers at Vita Foods and Dixon Valve, in addition to their descendants. The 800 High Street building held a specific value to the local community, according to Dr. Nugent, which was a fact that the class hoped to directly address.
Initial responses from the feedback collection process indicate that the building will likely host photographs or a small exhibit acknowledging the historical importance of the space to Chestertown.
“We’ve seen this story before,” Dr. Nugent said. “It’s a building bridge with history, standing perhaps on its last legs, overgrowing with weeds…and yet it’s calling forth this dynamic group of people who are coming together to build something new, something to meet the moment, and something to pass onto future generations.”
Out of the potential options for what the hub could include, initial participants stated that they would be most likely to access computers with software, a photo/audio/video studio, and rapid prototyping tools. They also indicated that they hoped to learn more practical or advanced training and to receive support in starting small businesses.
The team modeled the initial plan for the plant after these desires. Currently, a few of the proposed rooms in the building include meeting rooms, shared and private workspaces, a community kitchen, computing technology, and a woodworking lab.
In terms of the practical side of the project, the College completed phase one, or demolition, over the summer. They are now moving into the next phases, which involve pledging funds to the project.
According to the presentation, the Kent County Local Management board pledged $20,000 in alignment with Governor Wes Moore’s ENOUGH ACT initiative. A private donor also pledged $200,000 for a directorship, and the team is pending a $1 million grant from the Department of Commerce’s Building Our Future program.
With increased funds, WC hopes to expand this idea even more to include a mobile innovation lab similar to Chesapeake Heartland’s truck, and to host summer programs for local high school students.
In terms of immediate action items, there are a few that project leaders listed at the meeting.
“It sounds like a lot for this small space,” Dr. Clarke-De Reza said. “I sometimes think that too, but I think…next steps move
us toward an actual architectural plan with folks who know how to make amazing spaces like this happen.”
The College commenced a formal search for suitable architects to create a vision for the building in the near future. They are also in the process of creating a Strategic Advisory Board and an Uptown Innovation Community Council to inform the process.
Photo by Ella Humphreys.
Photo Caption: The building at 800 High Street currently sits vacant, awaiting further construction.