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By Kristin Edwards
Staff Reporter
Planning is underway for the construction of a new building for the
Community Organization for Missionary Endeavor Inc., known as the COME
Center.
After an agreement with the Walker County Commissioners Court, which gave the
center permission to lease a piece of land behind the Senior Center, COME board
president Frieda Koeninger said the next step is to organize grants to pay
for the construction.
"The commissioners court approved an agreement that they're going to let us lease
the land next to the senior center to use for our new location," Koeninger said. "We'll
be paying $100 to use the land for 100 years, which means we will pay $1 each
year to lease the land.
"With that agreement in place, it'll be easier to get the grants we need - at
least, we hope so, because we're now starting the process of getting grants lined
up."
Koeninger said a variety of methods will be utilized to raise money for the
center in addition to grants.
"We're going to be doing fundraisers with several organizations, and we'll also
be looking for donations in order to get money together," she said. "We'll be
sending out more information on the center as it comes to us, and hopefully people
will show their support for what we're doing."
Center director Georgia Elmer said the center is getting help with
grant research by using the GrantStation program.
"We got access to the GrantStation program from Entergy, who got to us through
the United Way," Elmer said. "It's been really helpful to us during our grant
research."
According to Elmer, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new building is tentatively
being planned for March 1.
"We're hoping to do a groundbreaking ceremony on March 1, and we want the community
to be there," she said. "We want everyone to know what we're doing for the community
and to learn about the clients we serve."
Koeninger said the new building will be used for all of the objectives the
current center is used for but will also be utilized in additional ways.
"The new center will be an integral part of the Walker County Emergency Management
Plan," she said. "In case of a disaster, we'll manage donations of food, water
and blankets, and that's why this is so crucial.
"We need this space for any emergencies because we're near the Walker County
Sheriff's Department and the senior center."
John Montgomery, building architect, said a building fund has also been established
for private donors who wish to contribute to the construction.
"Anyone who wishes to contribute to our building fund can send donations to our
PO Box 1965, Huntsville, TX, 77342," he said.
Stan Foley
Huntsville Customer Service Manager
(8)622-2619
936-435-7619
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