By Steven Spencer
The Calhoun County Commissioners discussed the possibility of remodeling the old gym at the county offices through grant funding at their June board meeting.
Commissioner Patrick Simon said there may be grant funding available for a remodel and update through the Community Development Block Program.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity says the grants assist communities that do not receive HUD allocations, and allow federal funds for community projects such as public infrastructure, disaster response, economic development and housing rehabilitation.
“The program assists Illinois communities that do not receive a HUD direct entitlement allocation with meeting their greatest economic and community development needs,” the DCEO says. “CDBG provides federal funding for community-based projects in non-metropolitan areas.”
Simon said remodeling the building as an emergency preparedness area could possibly qualify for funding.
“We talked about remodeling the gym, with the idea that it could be partially an emergency preparedness area we use during a flood or things like that, and just a general-purpose community area,” Simon said. “I did a little research and it looks like this project would likely qualify.”
Chairman Phil Robeen said it sounds like a worthwhile project and the commissioners agreed to apply for the grant.
