Youth center breaks ground in Virginia City

A dream 20 years in the making takes form at the Storey County Youth and Community Resource Center as Community Chest, Inc., in collaboration with an army of donors and volunteers, broke ground on Thursday on the second phase of the center at 175 E. Carson St. in Virginia City.

Community Chest, Inc. was founded in 1991 with the vision to build the center. Storey County donated the land, and the first phase was completed more than three years ago.

The additional building space will provide a permanent home to the Virginia City library and tech center, along with youth programs, performing arts, healthcare resources and public meeting area.

“This is a major milestone for the community, which will have a lasting impact on the region,” said Shaun Griffin, executive director and founder of Community Chest, Inc. “Many of those programs were not here before Phase 1. They’re here now, robust and critical, meeting acute need. It’s going to change the face of our community in a proactive way.”

Griffin as well as builders and stakeholders for the project were on hand, including Mark Beauchamp, co-founder of general contractor Shaheen Beauchamp Builders, Darrin Berger of Berger Hannafin Architects, and community dignitaries and members.

The project was provided funding via Community Chest fundraisers, along with donors including the William N. Pennington Foundation, Barrick Gold Corp., Terry Lee Wells Foundation, Neil J. Redfield Foundation, Thomas and Thelma Hart Foundation, E.L. Cord Foundation, Marie Crowley Foundation, NV Energy Foundation, Steven Nightingale and the Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation.

Griffin said Community Chest, Inc. works across the state of Nevada to build resources primarily in Lyon, Mineral, Storey and northern Nye counties, helping other coalitions including mental and public health, food scarcity and transportation in those communities.

“The center began as the dream of a few kids,” Griffin said. “Art Hannafin of Berger Hannafin, my wife and I said we needed more resources for youth in our community and asked ourselves, ‘what are we going to do about it?’ before taking a flight of faith to make it happen.”

Griffin said the center brings much needed resources to Storey County.

“This is such a special thing,” he said. “With the growth we’re seeing in Nevada, this is a kind of light house for youth and families that will go on long past our time.”

General contractor on the project is Shaheen Beauchamp Builders LLC. The architect is Berger Hannafin.