In December, officials from the Economic Opportunity Program of Chemung and Schuyler Counties announced EOP was getting a $7.5 million state grant to upgrade and expand the Ernie Davis Community Center.
On Tuesday, March 3, officials from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, which administers the NY BRICKS (Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors) program, showed up in person to detail how the grant and those to other Southern Tier communities will have a big local impact.
The authority is also providing a $1.41 million grant for renovations at the West Family YMCA in Johnson City, operated by the YMCA of Broome County, and $1.3 million to the Greater Ithaca Activities Center to support construction of a new community center that will expand youth and family programming in Tompkins County.
“NY BRICKS represents a meaningful investment in the heart of our communities,” said Dormitory Authority President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez, who stopped at EOP in Elmira on Tuesday to tout the award.
“In Elmira, Johnson City and Ithaca, these projects will create stronger, healthier spaces where families can connect, seniors can stay active and young people can grow,” Rodriguez said. “By partnering with local organizations across the Southern Tier, we are delivering real improvements to the everyday places New Yorkers depend on.”
The community center, named for Elmira sports legend and 1961 Heisman Trophy Award winner Ernie Davis, was opened in 1971 and currently has a 6,680-square-foot gymnasium and another 9,750 feet of community kitchen and office space.
The expansion will add a proposed 4,450-square-foot Ernie Davis Legends Hall to the front of the building, and another 7,200 square feet of office space. The project will also upgrade the existing facilities.
“We are excited to welcome even more people in the community to programs and services at the Ernie Davis Community Center and Legends Hall,” said EOP CEO Andrea Ogunwumi. “So, this represents a new beginning not just for EOP, Inc. but for the entire community.”
EOP will hold fundraisers to generate the balance of the money to finance the project, Ogunwumi said.
Once the funding is in place, the design phase will take at least nine months to complete before construction can begin, according to Jamie Gensel of Fagan Engineers.
“As chair of this project and someone who knew Ernie personally, I’m proud to help ensure that his life and contributions are honored in a space that will serve families and future generations here in Elmira,” said Chemung County legislator Martin Chalk, who is also an EOP board member.
“The $7.5 million NY BRICKS investment in the renovation and expansion of the Ernie Davis Community Center is a major investment in Elmira’s future,” added Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell. “This funding will expand and modernize a space that supports youth and childcare, health care access, housing security, and food security, ensuring the center can continue meeting the needs of our community for years to come.”
Follow Jeff Murray on X (Twitter) @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: How $7.5 million grant will change Ernie Davis Community Center in Elmira
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
