ALTAVISTA, VA – The Spark Innovation Center and Altavista On Track are excited to announce the opening of applications for Fire-Up Altavista, a Community Business Launch (CBL) program aimed at supporting aspiring and existing entrepreneurs within Downtown Altavista. This initiative focuses on filling vacant storefronts by providing training and mentorship, along with the opportunity to secure start-up grant funding through a competitive business plan pitch competition.
Participants in Fire-Up Altavista will undergo an eight-week business development training program facilitated by the Small Business Development Center – Lynchburg Region. The curriculum covers essential business topics, including sales and marketing, legal structure, compliance, operations, and finance. Throughout this course, participants will develop a business plan, which will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges who may grant start-up funds to promising businesses.
Applications are open to both new and existing businesses located within the Downtown Revitalization Overlay District, which spans from Bedford Avenue to Charlotte Avenue in the commercial areas of Main and 7th Street, and also includes portions of Pittsylvania Avenue. Participants will be selected in mid-February, with the program scheduled to begin at the end of March.
The launch of the Community Business Launch program has been made possible thanks to a $50,000 grant awarded to Altavista On Track by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). In 2025, the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission awarded the Town of Altavista $106,000 to support three years of the Fire-Up Altavista program. Campbell County’s Office of Economic Development will also contribute matching funds through its Start Small Campbell program which offers cash grants to cultivate new businesses in Campbell County.
"We are very excited to kickoff Fire-Up Altavista,” stated Reggie Bennett, Mayor of Altavista. "These funds are to establish new businesses and help existing ones to expand. The Town has numerous development projects underway, and these start-up grants are coming at an ideal time.”
For more information or to apply, please contact Autumn Evans, Business and Community Engagement Coordinator, at hello@sparkinnovationcenter.com or by phone at (434) 608-0401. Interested parties can also visit the Spark Innovation Center's website at www.sparkinnovationcenter.com to access the application.
FIRE-UP Altavista is made possible by the following organizations:
Altavista On Track | Campbell County Office of Economic Development | Central Virginia Business Coalition | Earth Right | Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance | Small Business Development Center – Lynchburg Region | Spark Innovation Center |Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission | Town of Altavista | Virgina’s Department of Housing and Community Development | Virginia Main Street
About the Spark Innovation Center
The Spark Innovation Center in Altavista, Virginia, is a community-driven hub designed to support entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses. We provide a collaborative space, practical resources, and meaningful connections that help ideas grow into successful ventures.
Through mentorship, programs, and partnerships, Spark fosters innovation and strengthens the regional economy. Our goal is simple: empower local talent, spark creativity, and turn vision into action.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Autumn Evans, Business and Community Engagement Coordinator
Spark Innovation Center | hello@sparkinnovationcenter.com | Phone: (434) 608-0401
About the Town of Altavista
Altavista is a small, historic town in Campbell County, Virginia, with a population of around 3,300 residents. Founded in the early 1900s around the development of the Virginian Railway and chartered in 1912, the town has a rich heritage tied to industry, community, and small-town life.
Located about 20 miles south of Lynchburg along U.S. Route 29, Altavista blends a friendly, close-knit community with local businesses, historic sites, and access to regional opportunities. Its downtown area and historic districts reflect the town’s past, while ongoing community efforts look toward growth and quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jamie Gillespie, Director of Planning and Community Development
Town of Altavista | jwgillespie@altavistava.gov | Phone: (434) 369-5001 ext. 103
About Campbell County
Campbell County is located in Central Virginia, strategically positioned between the Cities of Lynchburg and Danville. Encompassing 511 square miles, Campbell County residents enjoy neighborhood options ranging from scenic agricultural areas to suburban corridors and town living. A high quality of life, lower cost of living, and business-friendly policies make Campbell County an exceptional place to work, play, and live.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Nina Rezai, Director of Economic Development
Campbell County, VA | nrrezai@campbellcountyva.gov | Phone: (434) 332-9595