George receives grant for hall

Remodeled exterior would tie into colonial theme

GEORGE — A state grant means a George events coordinator is excited about the future in her town.

A community development block grant from the state's Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development for up to $400,000 helps the city rehabilitate and remodel its community hall, Debby Kooy said.

The rehabilitation includes handicap-accessibility ramps to upper and lower levels in George Community Hall.

"At present we have those stairs which are very scary for somebody who is unable to negotiate stairs," Kooy said.

An enlarged and remodeled kitchen, new and remodeled restrooms and what Kooy called "significantly more" storage to hold equipment for the town's annual Independence Day-anniversary celebration are being planned.

"We have a lot of things stored in people's sheds here and there," Kooy chuckled. "That's getting kind of cumbersome, so we'll be very, very happy to have some good storage garages on the north end of the hall."

Such improvements have been in the works for several years, Kooy said.

"It's a long, slow, arduous process," she said.

Part of the process included a planning-only grant to have an architect analyze and evaluate the hall.

"So it's been a long time coming, and we're very, very thrilled this is going to happen," Kooy said.

The remodeled exterior of the hall has a colonial look, she noted. Kooy has long been a proponent of an idea which would give the town a similar, early American theme. Kooy said she's heard from some developers eyeing the town who are interested in developing along those lines as well.

"The city is in the process of formulating a theme ordinance so the commercial district in George will have a colonial look about it," Kooy said. "It will be kind of nice, the whole George Washington thing."

The grant money has to be completely spent within one year. Kooy had no idea about a start time.