The Boys and Girls Club in Galesburg will not serve as a community center for the town but it will still receive some support from the city. Aldermen this week agreed to provide $65,600 for repairs to the facility on Depot Street.
The money comes from the $115,000 available after the sale of the city’s previous community center building.
The club will use the money to get a high efficiency boiler for the gym and it will replace a furnace and air conditioner for the recreational area. Smaller projects will include an Internet upgrade and the installation of Wi-Fi.
Jeannie Shelton, Executive Director for the Boys and Girls Club, said she is relieved the organization will receive some financial assistance even though aldermen turned down its offer to serve as a community center.
“I’m satisfied. And I think that there are people that are still interested in moving forward and helping us. So I’m looking forward to the progression and the support,” Shelton said.
Shelton said she will begin taking bids for the furnace and air conditioner. She said the club will look for other ways to raise money to fund services and programs the club provides for youth in the city.
“Looking for grant funds and fundraising, of course. And the process has been difficult but there’s been people who kind of stepped up,” Shelton said.
Shelton added the club will no longer try to become the city’s community center, and will wait to see what the city determines for that.
