Herndon Visitor Center Faces Financial Difficulties

The Herndon Dulles Visitors Center's board of directors sent a letter to the town council late last week to let them know the center is running low on funding.

Reductions in revenue for the center has resulted a recent reduction in hours. The center used to be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is now open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays only.

However, even with the reduction in hours the center only has enough funds to remain open through Dec. 5. Drew Gillespie, chairman of the board, said in the letter that even with ongoing efforts to secure grant funding the visitors center lacks the dedicated funding it needs to be able to continue to provide services.

"We will continue to explore all available options, although the VC may be forced to close its doors, temporarily or permanently, when its funding is depleted," Gillespie said in the letter.

A large piece of the funding for the Herndon Dulles Visitor's Center came from the Town of Herndon. The fiscal year 2010 budget gave the center $35,000, and the fiscal year 2011 budget provided $32,000, although the request was for $70,000.

The board sent the letter to the Town Council, among other local government and organizations, to begin letting the public know that help is needed. The letter asks community members to express their support and recommendations for the Herndon Dulles Visitors Center.

Since the center opened in 2001, nearly 50,000 people have stopped in to learn more about Herndon, the letter said. Those with comments or recommendations may e-mail Gillespie at drew.t.gillespie@ampf.com.

Herndon Patch will have more on this continuing story later this week.