Fairfield Innovation Corridor

The Fairfield Innovation Corridor is one of the components of the Huntington Innovation Project or HIP Plan which won the $3 million grand prize in the America’s Best Communities national competition. The winnings were awarded to the Foundation for the Tri-State Community as steward of the funds which are designated only for the HIP Plan projects.  The ABC funds will be used to leverage other dollars to carry out this and the other HIP projects. To date, over $3,000,000 has been leveraged for this project.

The Fairfield Innovation Corridor is a complete and holistic revitalization of the Huntington area from 8th Avenue to I-64 and from 12th Street to 28th Street. The Fairfield effort identifies specific projects and steps to help implement visions and initiatives developed through extensive input from members of the Fairfield Neighborhood as part of the America’s Best Communities HIP Plan and the HUD Choice Neighborhood Master Transformation Plan.  . 

The initiative’s success relies on:

1. Including residents, businesses, the faith community and anchor institutions in the planning process

2. Strengthening existing community entities that provide services

3. Developing a master transformation plan that focuses on all challenges that face Fairfield

4. Maintaining the culture and heritage of this traditionally African American community

Key initiatives involve the following, all of which are catalytic in nature:

• Creation of a fully developed Master Transformation Plan

• The redevelopment of the old Northcott Court public housing project as a mixed-use development with a grocery store

• Creation of a land-use redevelopment plan including an arts district and a sports/wellness district

• The redevelopment of Hal Greer Boulevard into a complete street with access points for the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH)

• Remodeling, strengthening and expansion of A.D. Lewis Community Center and growing its programs

• Organization of a community development corporation to help carry out these initiatives

• New in-fill housing

• Removal of blighted housing

• Landscaping and improved lighting

• Urban agriculture project

• Special programs at Spring Hill Elementary School

• Restoration of the Memphis Tennessee Garrison House owned by the Carter G. Woodson Foundation 

• The creation of jobs and programming designed to uplift residents and allow them to achieve their full potential

 

MOST RECENT PROGRESS

• Black History Month Banners to be displayed downtown to honor 150 Black individuals
• Dedication ceremony held at the newly named Phil Carter Plaza
• Construction of Hal Greer Boulevard Project to begin
• Fairfield CDC launches its first newsletter
• Fairfield CDC held its second “Word on the Block” event in October, 2022
• Fairfield Mentor U Program teaches individuals how to deconstruct and reconstruct in their community
• Huntington Fire Department helps install smoke detectors with other organizations in Fairfield
• Huntington Banks expands First Time Homeowners Program across Huntington 
• Fairfield Community Annual Juneteenth “Race for Equality” 5K Run/Walk
• New playground equipment has arrived at the A.D Lewis Community Center
• Fairfield Community Development Corporation's website is now live
• "Word on the Block" event sponsored by Fairfield Murals & Positive People Association
• Fairfield Community Development Corporation launches its new website!
• First of three murals revealed at Ebenezer Community Center
• Huntington receives grant for project
• AD Lewis Center gets $1M endowment from CHH
• America's Best Community: Projects progress behind the scenes
• Fairfield group has high hopes for revitalization plan
• Huntington Innovation Project revitalization plan
• The historic Memphis Tennessee Garrison House in the Fairfield community is undergoing a transformation that will eventually create a museum to honor her contributions to the local African American community.
• Fairfield strong community native Sanders chosen to lead neighborhood organization
• Huntington Bank Homeowners Program will likely be extended to other parts of the city of Huntington
• The Ebenezer Outreach Building has been remodeled and they are looking to open the doors for use by community organizations to utilize the building in the best way possible.
• The City of Huntington received approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demolish Northcott Court. The City of Huntington in partnership with the Huntington Housing Authority received a HUD Choice Neighborhood grant to develop a Master Transformation Plan. This plan is now complete. You can find this plan here. 
• Expanding the education programs is one of the benchmarks for the A.D. Lewis Community Center and several steps are underway using a $1 million endowment gift donated by Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation to the A.D. Lewis Community Center Fund of the Foundation for the Tri-state community for STEAM Education. A.D. Lewis has taken the following steps:
  • A program coordinator was hired to coordinate STEAM activities in the afternoons/evenings and summer.
  • Marshall University work-study students visit and work in the Center to support the STEAM activities.
  • A modular classroom was donated by Marathon and, with the help of additional contributors,  installed behind the Center to provide space for this programming.
  • Programming activities have begun and also include field trips and excursions to Heritage Farm, the Butterfly Garden at Marshall, Carter Caves, the Clay Center, Columbus Zoo, Beech Fork and horseback riding.
  • Activities are planned for the upcoming months and planning is underway for a Fairfield Job Fair.
  • CARES funding is being implemented for a children’s meal program that is being delivered by A.D. Lewis staff.
  • A new passenger van was purchased for resident/meal transport.
• Numerous upgrades have been made to the A.D. Lewis Community Center facilities with City CDBG Funds:

  • A new roof has been put on the Center

  • A new fence has been erected

  • With the help of Marshall University, a new running track has been installed

  • Entrance improvements including a new concrete pad and ADA ramp

• Private donations have allowed for additional updates to the A.D. Lewis Community Center including:

  • New bleachers, signage, playground equipment, ramp to comply with ADA

  • Marshall University Minority Health Institute awarded one million dollars from UniCare Health Plan of WV

  • A corridor management plan that covers from the I-64 Interchange to Third Avenue has been completed by the West Virginia Department of Transportation. See details here.

  • RaShad Sanders was hired as the first executive director of the Fairfield Community Development Corporation. 

  • From 2017 through Mid-2020, 162 blighted structures have been demolished in Fairfield.

  • Two National Park Service grants have been awarded to the Memphis Tennessee Garrison House Restoration.

  • Fairfield CDC is partnering with Huntington Bank which will loan 80% of the home price in a conventional loan with 15% as a no-payment, interest-free loan, and the borrower will put down 5% toward the purchase price. 

  • Received $65,000 in CARES funding for a meal program for children that will be delivered by staff of the A.D. Lewis Community Center to provide assistance to 30 families

  • Received $40,000 donation for signage and new playground equipment at A.D. Lewis Community Center

  •  An ADA accessible ramp has been added off the gym at A.D. Lewis Community Center to the track by Collins Career Center and staff and A.D. Lewis

  • A new passenger van was purchased by the City of Huntington for resident/meal transport for A.D. Lewis Community Center.

The award money, as well as any funds donated from individuals/businesses/organizations, is given to the Foundation for the Tri-State Community, our region’s community foundation that controls the allocation of the funds to the projects as required by competition parameters.

Donations may also be made by check. Please make payable to The Foundation for the Tri-State Community, Inc. and mail to:

Foundation for the Tri-State Community, Inc.
916 5th Avenue, Suite 403
P.O. Box 7932
Huntington, WV 25779-7932

Please put "ABC Fund" as well as the specific project name in the memo line.