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Refurbishment Begins At UCAN City Mission

The UCAN City Mission recently received funding from several sources for a refurbishment project. From left are UCAN program director Jeff Rotunda, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, UCAN executive director Scott Linden, city development director Vince DeJoy and Jamestown economic development coordinator Stephanie Wright. P-J photo by William Mohan

A historic Jamestown building with a mission will soon have a new look.

On Wednesday, Mayor Sam Teresi, city development director Vince DeJoy and economic development coordinator Stephanie Wright met with members of the United Christian Advocacy Mission to review the current refurbishment of the organization’s First Street location.

The project began July 1 and started from the side of the building adjacent to the parking lot on First Street facing the railroad tracks. The UCAN City Mission is in the former location of the Jamestown Union Gospel Mission.

“That’s the beginning of the outside construction,” UCAN program director Jeff Rotunda said. “They’re going to do the full outside. (We’re) making the building live up to her beauty again.”

Rotunda said the project is expected to last from July to the end of September barring weather and any unforeseen circumstances.

The project involves new paint, awnings, window panes and signage. In addition, the bricks will receive new mortar.

“That’s the big project we have been waiting for,” Rotunda said.

Since the project is only addressing the exterior of the building, Rotunda said operations at UCAN will not be curtailed in any way.

The total project will cost $140,000.

Funding for the project was made possible through the city of Jamestown’s annual Action Plan through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant.

Through the program, Jamestown qualifies annually for funding from HUD to support housing and community development projects.

The funding from CDBG is part of the 2018 allotment of $1,158,549 to the city of Jamestown. From this amount, the city allotted $100,000 for the masonry work.

Additional funding was provided by the CDBG’s Greenlining Facade Improvement Program. The amount was for $20,000 and will be used for exterior applications to the UCAN building. This includes windows awnings, signage and paint.

Linden also said UCAN received matching funds from the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation’s Building & Business Improvement Program.

Both Rotunda and Linden credited DeJoy and Wright with the securing of funding for the project.

It is under these circumstances that Rotunda said that UCAN received funding for the project.

“This is important. Making the building attractive is part of self-esteem. This is both a public safety and an aesthetic project,” Teresi said.

For more information on UCAN City Mission, call 488-7480, visit ucancitymission.org or find UCAN City Mission on Facebook. UCAN City Mission is located at 7 W. First St. in Jamestown.

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