YORK - Blackmon Road is at least five months further away from getting a major amount of state money to help build a community center in the neighborhood.
Due to a number of questions and concerns from state officials, the county agreed to postpone an application for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to build the neighborhood center proposed by a coalition of local churches.
Blackmon Road, which sits just outside the city of Rock Hill, is one of the poorest neighborhoods in York County. Grazier Rhea of the Catawba Regional Council of Governments said that state officials have expressed some concern about the county's plans. State officials said:
There cannot be any religious gatherings at the center such as church services or Bible studies.
There should be formal agreements with state agencies such as the Department of Social Services or groups such as Keystone to provide services.
There needs to be a long term maintenance plan.
There are questions about when the bathhouse and laundry facility would be opened, how they would be staffed and how liability issues would be addressed.
State officials also had questions about how the center would benefit York County residents. "The state is concerned that most of the clients will be Rock Hill residents," Rhea wrote in a memo.
That particular point irritated some County Council members. "Do they not know Rock Hill residents are York County residents?" asked Councilman Buddy Motz.
Rhea said some members of the state Department of Commerce, which administers the block grants, aren't very familiar with the project. In addition to using the extra months to identify a site for the neighborhood center, the time can be used to educate state officials, she said.
Instead of applying for the April round of block grants, Rhea suggested the county apply for a $20,000 planning grant. The grant would require a $2,000 match from the county. Thanks to local churches' efforts, the county can now apply for such grants. Church members assisted in getting income surveys filled out in the neighborhood, something the county said has needed to be done for five years.
"We like to make sure the project is as strong as it can be and competitive as it can be," Rhea said. The care center will have to compete against projects throughout the region and the state for grant money whenever it is submitted.
Contact Sarah O'Donnell at 329-4071 or sodonnell@heraldonline.com.
Instead of applying for the April round of block grants, Rhea suggested the county apply for a $20,000 planning grant. The grant would require a $2,000 match from the county. Thanks to local churches' efforts, the county can now apply for such grants. Church members assisted in getting income surveys filled out in the neighborhood, something the county said has needed to be done for five years.
Blackmon Road, which sits just outside the city of Rock Hill, is one of the poorest neighborhoods in York County. Grazier Rhea of the Catawba Regional Council of Governments said that state officials have expressed some concern about the county's plans. State officials said: