PILOT MOUNTAIN — Bidding for the renovations to the Pilot Center in Pilot Mountain are planned for next week, and Town Manager Blair Knox said it’s part of the effort to get the learning center more quickly underway.

“We’ve got the space, and now we’re just getting the ball rolling to make it exceedingly easier to get funding,” Knox said yesterday.

In May, the town received an $800,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation to help it transform an existing building into a learning center tailored to meet the needs of the community. The grant was among $2.06 million in grant money that the foundation awarded for projects in Surry County. Known as the Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative Grants, they went to Surry Community College to assist it with the establishment of Centers for Learning, Education and Retraining in Pilot Mountain and Elkin to help address increasing unemployment and local educational access.

The 70,000-square-foot former Amos and Smith building at 612 E. Main St. will be the home of the learning center in Pilot Mountain along with several other possible projects in the works for the town and existing businesses in the building.

Since the inception of the Pilot Center, the town has been working to get additional funding to support its endeavors to become a regional hub for progressive industries and learning.

According to the town’s 2009-2010 budget report, the Pilot Center’s budget is $71,800, which includes $34,700 for contracted services, $22,800 for utilities, and $6,000 for insurance and $8,300 for debt service.

Knox said the town is working on obtaining additional funding for interior and exterior constructions, along with a $2 million technology access grant and energy sufficient grants to support “green” power.

“We’re searching for anything that’s revenue generating,” he said.

Part of that includes using additional space in the building that will not be part of the learning center as available area for rent or leasing. Blue prints state that more than 8,000 square feet are available in future expansion.

He suggested that the front entrance of the building, which has wooden floors and large windows, as a space for a restaurant or student common area. Part of the front area is already occupied by Head Hunters, a hair salon and spa. Another portion of the building is where the indoor East Main Flea Market in town is located.

A blue print provided by the town of Pilot Mountain shows the renovation of the former Amos and Smith building to include a training area of 4,447 square feet, about five classrooms, several storage areas and offices, a GED learning center, a conference room and a student common area. The plans also mark space for an agriculture center and future expansion.

The agriculture area will act as a distribution center for fresh produce, Knox said. There, the produce will be delivered, packaged, stored and refrigerated.

From the agriculture center, the produce will be available for delivery to local restaurants and area schools.

“We’re asking Golden LEAF for more grant funding for the Agriculture Center,” Knox said. So far, the town has had one refrigerated unit donated. He said the Agriculture Center may also be combined with a culinary school or wine center.

Those additional funds will help repair the roofing of the Agriculture Center and seal its floors to meet health requirements.

“With Golden LEAF funds, we want to get a truck to deliver and transport the produce,” he said. He said the town originally requested $100,000 for the Agriculture Center.

In the training area, which will be split into a working area for nurse training and other workshops, Knox said there are plans to put a wall and have patient dummies attached to beds that fold out of the wall.

“There have been no renovations made yet, it’s been strictly engineering and design,” Knox said, adding that Clearscapes of Raleigh is handling the architecture and designs.

Knox also said the town is seeking a $2 million federal grant to help, which if awarded, its plans to sub-grant to Mount Airy, Dobson and Elkin. “I think we have a greater chance of receiving (grants) if we combine our efforts. Once the Pilot Center is complete, I see it drawing people regionally, it’s not going to just be for Pilot Mountain.”

About 1,200 students are expected to enroll once the learning center opens early next year.

Once bidding for the Pilot Center’s renovations are finished, an award of contracts is planned for next month. A little more than 150 days of construction are expected to start in September and be complete by the start of next year.

Contact Erin C. Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.