Dear Representative Goodlatte,
I read with interest your comments about the Poff Federal building in Roanoke and you not wanting GSA to spend Recovery Act money on the environmental improvements to that building. I do not write to comment on your position, but certainly understand it as well thought out. As a disclaimer, I am a HUBZone contractor working for the GSA in Blacksburg, Virginia so I understand the nature of the program and the intention of it to both stimulate the economy and encourage "greening" of public buildings.
As you probably know, Montgomery county and Blacksburg have had significant challenges since our high school gym collapsed in February of 2010. It is now very apparent that our High School will be condemned after an engineering report is finalized at the end of this month - one that has already necessitated the relocation of students for the coming year. The reason I am writing is that I would like to propose that you, Representative Boucher, Senators Webb and Waner, State Senator Edwards and Smith, State Delegate Shuler and Nutter together or separately petition the Obama Administration to allow a portion of the $51 million budgeted for Poff to become available for the building of a new Blacksburg High School to help our community.
I understand that you do not represent Blacksburg, but consider that Virginia Tech is undergoing great expense on community improvements to increase it's ability to recruit top notch faculty and that the improvements to Virginia Tech help the entire South West Virginia economy at large which you do represent. I also know that shifting this sort of funding is quite a stretch, but Federal Recovery Act money is completely fungible and can be directed to other programs as long as the funds do two things: stimulate the economy for which they were intended and advance green technologies. I believe replacing Blacksburg High School could do both of these: the new high school will employ construction workers, architects and engineers and could in fact be designed as LEED Gold or Platinum certified, fitting the greening requirement and even giving the Virginia Tech community a higher profile in this regard.
I simply request that you consider this and discuss it with Representative Boucher and other colleagues. It is a stretch, but the potential community impact and positive story this could generate- the true thinking outside of the box use of what is ultimately all of our money - could be tremendous. I do not advocate the Federal money solely as a "the Federal Government can come to the rescue" type of action- I am pushing the state and the local community to fund this solution as it can. I have advocated a special local tax assessment located just in Blacksburg, not all of Montgomery county, as well as the setting aside of county and state help. I have told the county as an individual and small business owner that I would donate to a fund for the High School construction. I think the solution to this problem can come from all levels of government and personal responsibility as all levels of government are simply an ever expanding extension of what we can all do as larger and larger communities.
The county estimates $24 million to complete the new High School, as the site has already been selected and purchased. The LEED platinum solution may require more in initial investment, recovered over the first 5 years of the project.
I simply ask that you consider this and please do feel free to contact me with any questions about our local situation that extends in so many ways beyond our small community.
Sincerest Regards,
Doug Garnett-Deakin
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