FEMA green-lights Jackson Community Center safe-room funding

The Jackson Community Center is one step closer to becoming a reality.

City officials announced Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved funding for the tornado safe room portion of the project, meaning bids for construction will go out soon.

In 2012, the city's voters passed a quarter-cent sales tax to fund the center's operation after it's completed. Community-based not-for-profit group Jackson Community Betterment Corp., formerly the Southeast Missouri Medical Center, donated $3 million for construction costs in addition to $200,000 donated by the Cape Girardeau County Historical Society.

Architectural plans for the facility were submitted in November to FEMA for a $2.4 million grant -- which included a $1.8 million or 75 percent federal share -- to pay for a safe room that could withstand an EF5 tornado.

In early March, the city requested additional funding for the construction of the safe room because of site conditions that caused the estimated eligible construction costs to be higher than anticipated. The facility will be built on donated property on East Deerwood Drive, near Whitey Herzog Stadium.

After receiving news of the approval, the grant award total now equals $3,361,685, including the 75 percent federal share of $2,521,263 and 25 percent local match of $840,422.

Mayor Barbara Lohr said the approval was a critical step toward beginning construction.

"Not only did we receive final approval of additional funding for the safe room, but we also received approval for the plans and we had to have both to go out to bid," she said. "Now we're prepared to go out to bid very shortly."

If bids for the construction of the estimated $5 million community center project are issued by August, the city is optimistic bids could be reviewed and a contract awarded by September. A ground-breaking ceremony could tentatively take place by the end of October.

At this point, it would be difficult to pinpoint a completion date for the project's construction, but Lohr said she is hopeful all will go well now that the FEMA question has been answered.

"It does depend on the weather," she said of the project's completion date, "but the good thing is normally September, October and even heading into November, the weather is pretty good as far as construction is concerned."

Once complete, Lohr said the community center will provide the city with more space and opportunities to host programs and special events.

A rendering of the facility is available from Kansas architectural firm Incite Design Studio at incitedesignstudio.com/our-work.html under the FEMA tab.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Jackson, Mo.