Local Video
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| Rotary promises Key financial help |
By: COREY BUTLER JR., cbutler@northfieldnews.com
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Posted: Friday, July 9, 2010 11:09 pm
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A financial boost is coming to the Northfield Union of Youth.
The group, also known as The Key, has received a $40,000 commitment from the Rotary Club of Northfield.
The money, which will come in installments of $8,000 a year for the next five years, will help toward a loan the group received in the spring to purchase a new facility, the former Northfield Photo Memories on West Sixth Street.
“I think The Key is important to the community,” said Chris Weber, president of the Rotary.
He and his fellow Rotarians late last year started vetting potential community partners to help fund in the coming years. A dozen or so groups were initially considered.
The list continued to narrow and The Key was selected a few months ago, but terms of the deal weren’t finalized until recently.
The partnership isn’t only about dollars, though.
“We are very different groups, but have similar goals,” said Amy Merritt, executive director of The Key.
A focus on service to the community is deeply ingrained in both groups’ missions.
“That’s something naturally we can work on together,” said Weber. “Certainly helping kids, not with just the building, but on a one-to-one basis, is something that is important to us.”
Both groups have mentoring programs, and the two will likely cross paths in the future, too, Weber said.
Merritt and Weber said other opportunities will arise where the two groups can work with each other toward common goals or benefits.
Move delayed
In the meantime, The Key continues to transisition to its new location. The move has been delayed until mid- to late-August because of necessary upgrades to the building.
There has also been issues with a leaking roof, something Merritt was aware of before the purchase, but didn’t expect to deal with for a few years. The additional work will set the group back about $20,000, she said.
On Thursday, with buckets scattered throughout the building to collect dripping water and workers on the roof, several Key kids worked on construction projects throughout the building.
Key member Danny Dobrow said he’s looking forward to the move because of the additional space that will be afforded to him and his peers. The Key plans to expand its programming once it’s in its new home, one reason for the move.
The Key secured a loan for $150,000 to purchase the property, $90,000 less than the original price tag of $240,000. Merritt said the group received a tremendous deal from the former owner.
The former Northfield Photo Memories building had an estimated value of $128,000 in 2009, according to county tax records, while the 0.18 acre of land the building sits on was valued at $194,200. The size is listed at just shy of 2,600 square feet.
The goal is to pay the loan off in five years, Merritt said.
The group has partnered with the city of Northfield for several years for its current space. The Key owns the land and building for 303 Water St. S. The city of Northfield owns the adjacent .03-acres property to the south; the building on the site is leased to The Key for $1 a year. The two buildings are connected by a doorway.
The current property and building for The Key, built in 1900, is valued at $75,600.
The Northfield City Council on Tuesday had a closed-door meeting to discuss purchasing options for The Key property and to field offers to turn around and sell the two properties together. No deal has yet been announced.
— Corey Butler Jr. covers arts, culture and youth issues for the Northfield News. Reach him at 645-1114. |
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I LOVE THIS! May be we could get more organizations to step up and match the awesome actions of the Rotary Club?
Have they gotten or can they get some TIF? They're part of the district and deserve to look good too!
Come on, show OUR KIDS we love them!