BRISTOL, Va. – While he didn’t promise any money, Gov. Tim Kaine said Thursday he is "intrigued" by the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance’s plan to establish a downtown cultural heritage center.
Kaine received a briefing about the proposed $10.5 million facility during a luncheon meeting with BCMA leaders. The nonprofit organization recently began a fundraising campaign to establish the center in a vacant Cumberland Street building.
"I’m really intrigued by it," Kaine said after the meeting. "I’m very excited about what has happened with The Crooked Road, and we’re looking for ways to tell the story about Virginia’s role in the birth of country music and other music forms.
"It’s a great strategy for tourism, for economic development and for local pride."
The center would focus on the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings that exposed the world to eventual Country Music Hall of Fame musicians Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family.
"It was a great opportunity to be able to sit down with the governor," said Kevin Triplett, chairman of the BCMA fundraising effort. "He is truly interested in this project. To be able to get that time and bring him up to speed adds validity to what we’re trying to do here."
Kaine said state funding will not be available this year, but he offered some hope for the future.
"It’s a hard year in the state budget," Kaine said. "I don’t think either house budget has any non-state agency money in it, because they traditionally are the first to get cut. But there are going to be non-state agency allocations while I’m governor."
Kaine also said he would look for a chance to help the BCMA connect with others who might support the project.
"I’m the governor. I know a lot of people. The more I know about what the plan is, the better the chance I can make a match with someone who is interested in music, interested in culture or economic development," Kaine said.
BCMA leaders said they were pleased just to get the chance to talk to Kaine.
"I was extremely flattered and honored that he wanted to come by and to get an update on our project and to understand details of our plans," alliance board President Fred McClellan said.
"He [Kaine] expressed the reality of the budget cycle that we’re in. But he pledged his support and commitment for the remainder of his tenure and, without question, it was genuine and sincere," McClellan said.
dmcgee@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2532
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