Heritage Senior Center hopes to save block grant

In a last-ditch effort to maintain the funds raised since March 1999, the Heritage Senior Center is asking the city of McCook for an additional $100,000 in city sales tax revenue.

The request comes as a result of a matching grant stipulation in the $350,000 Community Development Block Grant received from Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The grant requires that all funds for the project be raised within 90 days of receipt. The center applied for a 90-day extension in October after the McCook City Council denied a request for $75,000 in city sales tax receipts. That extension expires Jan. 5.

To date, the senior center has raised $710,115 of the proposed $830,115 cost of the project, including $377,000 in grant funding.

Sue Chipman, director of the McCook Senior Center said she has received commitments for $20,000 if the city of McCook approves the $100,000 request.

The initial fundraising for the expansion began in March 1999. In May 2000, the city of McCook went to the voters to request a city sales tax, as part of its campaign, the city published a brochure, which stated the various uses of the revenues from the new tax. In the brochure, the city earmarked $275,000 to go toward the senior center expansion. To date, $150,000 has been given to the project.

Chipman said she hopes the council will approve the request. "They have been very supportive of the building project and they realize the importance of this to the city of McCook and the seniors in the community."

The council is expected to make its decision at its regular meeting, Monday, 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers of Memorial Auditorium.