Blue Hill Community Center Looking at $40,000 Remodel

(12/02/2009) KHAS-TV - Eight Nebraska cities were awarded grant money for their civic, cultural, and convention centers. 4 of those are right here in Central Nebraska. The Cairo Community Center is getting $99,000. The Beaver City Civic Center will receive $51,500. $20,000 will go to Blue Hill Community Center. And the Dannebrog Dansk Hal Community Center is receiving $69,000. The money will be used for development and improvement of the facilities. $700,000 is being awarded statewide.

The grants are provided by the State of Nebraska, Department of Economic Development, Division of Travel and Tourism. Legislation passed in 1999 created the Local Civic, Cultural, and Convention Center Financing Fund. The Fund’s purpose is to support the development in Nebraska municipalities of civic, cultural, and convention centers, particularly those that attract nonresidents from outside of the state.

All grants are for no more than 50 percent of the total cost of construction, renovation, or expansion. The minimum amount that any municipality can request is $20,000. The maximum amount, determined by the population (2000 Census) of a municipality, would have been $100,000 for a community the size of Blue Hill.

In anticipation of the grant, the Blue Hill City Council previously budgeted an additional $20,000 in municipal resources for renovations of the Community / Senior Center.

Proposed projects include; gym floor refinishing, new tile and fixtures in the bathrooms, kitchen remodel and new kitchen appliances, new carpet, weatherization, painting, and much more.

Let us know your opinions on this grant and what improvements to the Blue Hill Community . Senior Center you feel are most important.