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4th Ward ministry get grant funds

Living Water Ministry wants to renovate old Jefferson school for a community center.

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer 11:23 PM Friday, December 25, 2009

HAMILTON — A mere nod of the head has ensured that tens of thousands of dollars will go toward transforming a former school into a community center.

The board of directors at Hamilton Living Water Ministry at the corner of 9th and Sycamore streets in the 4th Ward plan to move their center of operations to the former Jefferson Elementary.

Plans involve tearing down the old portion of the building, renovating the newer portion and regrading the blacktop playground area, said Tim Horvatich, chair of the Jefferson Site Development Committee.

Horvatich presented the plans to City Council Monday night, Dec. 21, and asked that they consider allotting $84,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds for the project.

Mayor Don Ryan and other council members said they support the idea and asked Bud Scharf, neighborhood development director who’s in charge of administering the federal and state CDBG program funds, if there would be funding available to support the project.

While next year’s CDBG budget has mostly been established, Scharf gave an affirmative nod to council members that he’ll look for a way to adjust the budget to include it.

Horvatich said the money will be used to refurbish the building and the grounds.

Plans include building a kitchen for providing meals to residents who need help, reinstalling a basketball court and possibly a soccer field.

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