Warren County Community Center Awarded $300K State Grant 👏🏽

A major win for this Historic Warren County building!

One of Warren County’s most notable historic sites, the Warren County Community Center has been awarded a grant for $300,000.00 from the North Carolina State Capital and Infrastructure Fund (SCIF).

According to the Committee Report, page H55, item 571, “this funding is for improvements, therefore the funding must be spent on capital improvements.”

Shauna Williams, Board President of the Warren County Community Center stated she has secured several grants over the years. She noted, “This is the first substantial grant we have gotten that will allow us to rehabilitate our aging building and make it accessible.”

Shauna Williams, Board President of the Warren County Community Center

NC Senator Don Davis, who represents the Fifth Senatorial District, was the key reason The Community Center received the grant. “He presented it and got it into this year’s state budget,” Williams stated.

When asked he supported the Community Center, Senator Davis stated:

“The Community Center is a pillar of strength and vitality for not only Warren County, but all of eastern North Carolina. Since 1934 when the association was founded, it has served as a critical site for educating young people, bringing together social leaders and families, and uniting us together through our shared history in North Carolina. I’m proud to champion the renovation of this community center and investing in its mission as we work for a brighter future in the east.”

Senator Don Davis spoke during a Black History Program at Warren New Tech High in 2020. (📷: Shauna Williams)

Williams explained how the process went:

“We had to submit all types of information to the NC Office of State Budget and Management over the course of several weeks starting in January. The information about the work was included in: a Scope of Work, which includes objectives, expected results, performance measures and a budget. Further we had to determine Grant Performance Measures, describing the work to be done, showing start and completion dates. From there, the state drew up a contract that I signed and they signed and then they sent the money! We were able to see the electronic transfer on Friday, February 25th.

I called a Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, February 28th and informed our entire Warren County Community Center, Inc. Board of Trustees.

Next week, I’ll attend another state Office of Budget and Management webinar to learn our reporting requirements with details!” – Shauna Williams

Williams concluded they will be rehabilitating the entire building, inside and outside. The work will include exterior porch, steps, walls and handrails; roof, electric, plumbing, lighting, upgraded bathrooms and kitchens, pain, roof, insulation, new interior and exterior doors, and addition of a lift with required walkway to make the building accessible.

We look forward to seeing the end results to this prominent historic property and how it will continue to serve the Warren County community!

The Warren County Community Center is located at 111 West Franklin Street in Warrenton, NC.

📷: Warren County Community Center/ Crystal Myrick (The Warrenist)

Source: Press Release

Share