Interest in establishing the center grew out of the Waynesboro’s annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, which was started 10 years ago by Waynesboro Downtown Development Inc.

Waynesboro, nicknamed The River City, was once dependent on the manufacturing and textile plants located downtown on the South River. After being polluted, the river began to be viewed negatively, Poulin said. With the establishment of the Center for Coldwaters Restoration, the river will once again be an asset.

The Center for Coldwaters Restoration, named that because several natural springs chill the waters of the South River as it flows through Waynesboro, will hopefully one day house a research center, an aquarium and museum, several state agencies and a fish hatchery, Poulin said.

However, for that to happen, millions will have to be raised, Poulin said. Something which may be easier to accomplish if prospective donors can see an example of what will be one day housed in the Center for Coldwaters Restoration.

“Each of the four components will be represented in the model,” Poulin said. “This is critical. No one is going to make the type of investment we need without seeing a business plan.”

Virginia Main Street and Dominion Virginia Power have awarded grants totaling $35,000 to the Waynesboro Downtown Development Inc. for construction of the Center for Coldwaters Restoration model, which will include a demonstration tank, Poulin said. The Waynesboro Rotary Club recently pitched in $5,500 and the Waynesboro Kiwanis Club chipped in $6,000, Poulin said.

“The community is supportive of this and they get it,” Poulin said. “Even though it might not be a lot of money, the message is absolutely huge. I’m very happy with the progress we’re making.”