A director with the St. Joseph’s Kingsbridge Community Group says there are opportunities for community hubs in small Huron County communities.
Jennifer Miltenburg has asked Huron County council for some help make these opportunities a reality.
Specifically, she has asked council for a grant to offset property taxes already paid, the creation of a special tax class for community hub buildings, or a policy ensuring minimal tax/guaranteed grant equal to the property taxes to support a community hub creation.
Miltenburg says without the church there was nothing left in the community and the only other option was to demolish it.
“Basically to help communities like ours who are re-purposing faith-based buildings as community hubs for the first five years because there's a tremendous capital need to upgrade these buildings,” says Miltenburg.
Miltenburg says they need help in bringing the building up to standards - both for Kingsbridge and other communities that are re-purposing faith-based buildings that are no longer usable.
Renovations to the basement of the former church in Kingsbridge are expected to be done next year.
“Which is the point of this building. We have a cultural centre which pays the operating costs of the building so the community can have a low-cost centre for our seniors, family and youth and we are continually focused on that,” says Miltenburg.
Huron County staff has been asked to prepare a report.
