The City Council has approved a grant for as much as $150,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Murray. The money comes from the city's economic development fund.
Boys and Girls Club director Bob Dunn says the money will be used to construct a 5,000-square-foot addition, which will house the club's Walk-In Program for teens, computer-education center and a half-size gymnasium. Roof repairs are also needed. The club is located at 244 E. Vine St.Three weeks ago, it appeared the 40-year-old community mainstay would lose $85,000 in funds it requested through a community development block grant. The council granted the club just $50,000 of the $135,000 it had requested. The council instead opted to fund a proposed community center at Horizon Elementary with the remaining $85,000.
Dunn said he was heartbroken when the full funding was denied. "We went in thinking we would get the $135,000," he said. "We have a lot of needs out there."
The Boys and Girls Club of Murray serves an estimated 250 youths each day. As the organization continues to attract clientele, it becomes more and more apparent that the current facility is inadequate, Dunn said. "There's just no space there. We have to use Mount Vernon (Academy's) gym for karate (classes)," he said.
Luckily, the club has fans on the City Council. The council not only cast a unanimous vote granting the economic development funds, it also signed off on an updated lease agreement with the club for Mayor Lynn Pett to sign. The 50-year agreement allows the Boys and Girls Club to expand its base westward and use the new parking lot north of its building. Cost to the club is $1 each year. Pett is expected to sign the agreement this week.
The Boys and Girls Club of Murray may just get its original funding wish, though. Because of strong opposition to the proposed community center at Horizon Elementary - and a petition urging the council to reopen the community development block grant hearing - the March 26 funding proposal will be reheard May 28. If the community center loses, the Boys and Girls Club will win the $85,000 surplus, gaining as much as $235,000 in funds this year.
However, Dunn isn't expecting a windfall.
"If the $85,000 comes, we would only use up to $150,000 for the contractor. In reality, anything we don't use reverts automatically to the economic development fund," Dunn said. "Just $5,000 to $10,000 of the $150,000 may actually be used. There may not even be a penny used."
Money for the economic development fund comes from power, water and sewer enterprise funds. The need-based fund benefits programs and companies that substantially contribute to the community.
Community development block grants and economic development funds are dispersed after July 1, when the new fiscal year begins.