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Community Center KANSTEP Project
Online resources and information for community leaders, activists and volunteers involved with the rehabilitation of the Horton Community Center, better and otherwise known as The Blue Building. Online volunteer sign-up, archived volunteer updates that are e-mailed to volunteers, grant information and planning documents related to the rehabilitation are all available for your convenience.
Volunteer Online
Volunteer Updates
Grant Information
Planning Documents
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In 2001, residents of the City of Horton began an endeavor to
restore their nearly 40-year old community center, known throughout the
community as simply the "Blue Building."
In April 1963, residents of the City of Horton voted for issuance of
$30,000.00 in general obligation bonds for the construction of a
community building. Ordinance 678, passed on April 29, 1963,
provided for the issuance of those bonds.
On March 22, 2007, the
City of Horton received notice from the Kansas Department of Commerce
that it had been awarded $300,000.00 in funding in order to
renovate the community center. Forty-four years after its
original construction & six years after the good residents of the
City of Horton began their endeavor to renovate the Blue Building, the
Blue Building will be restored, beginning in August 2007, thanks in no
small part to the diligent efforts of the staff of the Kansas
Department of Commerce.
The Kansas Department of Commerce, Division of Community
Development, is responsible for the administration of the State of
Kansas' federal community development block grant ("CDBG")
program. Under the Kansas Small Towns Environment Program
("KANSTEP"), the Department of Commerce and the City of Horton have
reached an agreement where Commerce will pay for the goods and
materials needed for the restoration of the Blue Building and community
members commit to volunteering "sweat equity" for the labor necessary
for the restoration.
Individuals interesting in volunteering time and energy for this
very noble project are encouraged to contact Lisa Merz by phone at
(785) 486-2681,
sign-up to volunteer online at
hortonkansas.net/community/bluebuilding/volunteer or
e-mail lisa.merz@hortonkansas.net.
