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Oakley-Lindsay Center grant still awaits funding

3 months, 3 weeks ago by Paige Traeder

A grant for $800,000 for a new storage building and major electrical upgrades has been approved and it now moves on to the Governor's office

A grant for $800,000 for a new storage building and major electrical upgrades has been approved for the Oakley-Lindsay Center and it now moves on to the Governor's office.

At Wednesday's Oakley-Lindsay Civic Center Board meeting, Executive Director Rob Ebbing reported the new storage building remains on hold while they wait on the outcome of the DCEO grant application. It has been approved, but they are now waiting on the Governor's office for funding.

"The grant has been approved through DCEO, we've gone through all their hoops," Ebbing says, "It then moves on to the Governor's office for the appropriations side of it. We just don't know exactly if and when it'll be funded."

The $800,000 grant will be used to build a warehouse on OLC's property and to do some major electrical upgrades to Kent and McClain Halls. The grant will help bring another 600 amps of power into the building and allow for more lighting up above that can be adjusted for wedding receptions and other events.

There is no set date on when the Board expects the grant, but Ebbing is okay with that.

"We're just happy we jumped through the first big hurdle with the grant application. Now, it's going to be a matter of when the state can find ways of funding it."

In the meantime, OLC is renting a warehouse space at 421 Payson, which means the trailers on the property will disappear soon.

In other business, re-surfacing of the concrete floors in both Kent and McClain Halls has started and will be finished in about 2-3 weeks. The building also lost all 3 of its boilers on Monday, which Building & Grounds Chairman Tony Crane said was "very unusual." The Board is working with Peters Heating and Air to fix the problem.

Also, OLC is starting the process of rebuilding their website that will make it much easier to upload current information and events and will be incorporating the facility video with 360 degree technology, giving prospective customers a full view of each of the rooms and expo halls.