CAPE CIVIC CENTER STILL IN MIDST OF FINANCIAL CRISIS

The Cape Civic Center faces a funding dilemma: It has just enough money to keep the doors open, but not enough to provide the programs it wants to offer.

The center was established to offer educational and social programs for youths, but for the past couple of years it has focused much of its efforts on keeping the doors open.

Jeff Unterreiner, treasurer, said the center has three sources of funding: rent paid by the public school's Alternative Education Program, money from the Area Wide United Way, and money collected through fund-raising projects.

"If you add all three of those together, basically it keeps the doors open," Unterreiner said. "But it doesn't allow for much else. We are wanting to expand some of the programs, and at this point in time are unable to."

Donald G. Sherwood, a member of the Civic Center board who is coordinating fund-raising efforts, calls the center's financial situation serious.

"It's serious in two ways:" The center needs money immediately to pay its bills, and it needs a long-term method of financial support, Sherwood said.

Members of an advisory committee formed in July will meet Thursday with the Civic Center's board of directors to talk about options.

The public schools' Alternative Education Program is using the Civic Center building during the day and paying rent. "Right now, the Alternative School is keeping the doors open," Sherwood said.

But in a year or two the school is expected to move to new school district facilities. At that time the center would lose that money.

Among immediate concerns is the center's mortgage on its building on Broadway. The mortgage, held by NationsBank, is overdue, and bank officials are looking for some type of payment arrangement.

Unterreiner said the Civic Center hasn't made a payment on its loan for several years. "We don't owe that much in comparison with the value of the building," he said. "In the past, the local bank has worked with us."

However, decisions about the loan are no longer made locally, he said. "We may be looking at a major campaign," Unterreiner said.

In the past, a stable source of funding for the center came from the Area Wide United Way. But in 1996, when the center failed to submit financial documents, the United Way pulled its funding.

The center is back among funded agencies of the United Way, and the United Way has allocated $12,000 to the center this year. However, in the past, the United Way funded the center with about $35,000 a year.

Unterreiner said: "Basically what's been cut out is the salary of the director. We're happy to get the $12,000. That helps us keep our doors open."

Lloyd Williams has volunteered his time as interim director to make sure children are served. The center has lots of children looking for programs.

"We're operating an after-school study program that has been fairly successful," Williams said. "We've had a lot of good comments from parents."

Children from every school in the city and from Jackson have attended. "We have had kids from high school to kindergarten, and we're busy until we close the doors around 9 p.m."

Volunteers are mostly university students. But Williams is looking for other volunteers. "If there are people with a skill or talent or who just want something to do, we can find something for them to do," he said.

In addition to a tutoring program, the public library operates a learning resource center at the Civic Center.

Several community groups meet at the building.

"We are trying to rebuild our program," Williams said. "We're trying to take one step at a time. For me, I've been involved with Civic Center since I was a kid. I've gotten so much from it. I would like to see that it continues."

"Without Lloyd there would be no Civic Center," Unterreiner said. "He runs that thing for free in his spare time.

"We would like to bring on an executive director, a full-time paid director, but right now we can't afford to pay anyone."

"I have confidence in the community," Sherwood said. "With support from people in the community the Civic Center can become a true community center."

For information or to make contributions, write Cape Civic Center, P.O. Box 391, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702.