$200K state grant allows Carr Center to upgrade building's safety and efficiency

ZANESVILLE − The Carr Center received $200,000 from the state of Ohio for facility upgrades that will help make it safer and more efficient, according to its Executive Director Katie Graham.

“I could just cry talking about it. It means so much to us,” said Graham of the Strategic Community Investment Fund grant awarded by Sen. Al Landis as part of a larger $350 million effort by the state senate. “The building is a little bit in disrepair. As a nonprofit, we really don’t have the money to do the things that need fixed. With this money, we are now able to upgrade our facility and make it safer, more efficient, and better functioning.”

The same pot of money also funded a Zane State Regional Engineering Hub with $625,000. The Times Recorder reached out to Zane State, but they did not return messages seeking comment.

The Carr Center provides services through more than 18 active programs to children and adults living with disabilities in Muskingum County. It will use the $200,000 to fix multiple building issues.

“We need commercial grade doors implemented into our facility,” said Graham of the Beverly Avenue location. “We also need major roof repairs. The building still has the same windows that is had when it was built 50 years ago, so we need all new windows, all new carpets, and chairs.

“So many things that we’ve needed we’ve pushed to the side in favor of making sure we have quality programming,” said Graham. “We’ve done repairs on a need-to-need basis.”

Graham said they do several fundraising events each year with the cake auction being one of the most successful.

“That money goes right back into our programs,” said Graham. “We really don’t have the extra fluid cash to fix everything we need. This money will take us into the next 50 years.”

The funding is expected at some point in July once the government finalizes the budget June 30 and Gov. Mike DeWine signs all the associated bills into action.

“We’re ready to hit the ground running as soon as we receive the money,” said Graham. “By late fall, we’ll have everything up and running and fixed.”

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: $200K state grant allows Carr Center to upgrade building's safety and efficiency