Story posted Friday, July 3, 2009
Resource Center To Open August 29
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
The late arrival of furniture has pushed back the opening of Mt. Prospect's Community Connections neighborhood resource center nearly a month.
Originally scheduled to open Aug. 1 in a shopping center at Algonquin and Busse roads, the center's official opening was delayed until Saturday, Aug. 29, with a time yet to be determined.
"We plan on still opening by Aug. 1 (soft opening), but we also want a few weeks to make sure our computer system and database is running properly prior to the grand opening," said O'Shea. The Community Connections Center will be located in two connecting storefronts in the Crystal Court Shopping Center on Algonquin Road. The center's purpose is to provide residents with a south side branch for village hall, library and police services. The space will provide room for a library substation, reception area, three offices, community room, restrooms, kitchen area, and storage.
O'Shea said construction of the center is "right on schedule" having begun Mar. 1. Support beams are in place; heating, cooling and ventilation systems are ready and drywall is complete. Crews recently installed the ceiling grid and began installing flooring.
According to Maura El Metennani, the village's public information officer, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 29 to dedicate the center's official grand opening.El Metennani said after the ceremony, there will be a "festival" of sorts that will consist of a raffle, giveaways, tours of the center, and more. Invited guests will include Mt. Prospect Mayor Irvana Wilks, village trustees, the Mt. Prospect Library, other community partners of the center and possibly some state legislators.
Representatives from Chicago Community Trust, who provided grant money to the center, will also be on hand, in addition to anyone else who donated their time or money to get the center up and running, O'Shea added.
The resource center's lease will span five years---a three-year minimum plus two optional years. Rent for the first year will total $40,056.
The library will be responsible for one-third of the rent, totaling approximately $13,000. The difference will be made up between the Village of Mt. Prospect and six organizations that will be part of the NRC. Those six organizations are CEDA Northwest, Children's Advocacy Center, Northwest Community Hospital, Township High School Dist. 214, Elk Grove Township School Dist. 59 and Korean American Community Services.
Four positions will be staffed at the NRC: two part-time receptionists, a social worker, and community service officer (CSO). The receptionists and social worker will report to the Human Services Dept. and the CSO will report to the police department.
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