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Edgerton Community Outreach renovation will include elevator

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

A $375,000 grant will allow the Edgerton Community Outreach to redevelop its 18,000-square-foot warehouse on South Main Street.

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

A grant will allow the Edgerton Community Outreach to redevelop the second floor of the building at 106 S. Main St. The space is only suitable for rough storage now.

What it is: Renovation of the upper level of Edgerton Community Outreach, 106 S. Main St., Edgerton.

"We're having an elevator installed so we can access the upper floor,'' said Sarah Williams, executive director.

Offices, a break room, conference room, storage space and new volunteer work areas will occupy the 6,000 square feet on the upper level, she said.

Bachmann Construction has been hired as the construction manager of the renovation project that comes with a $750,000 price tag.

Funding sources include a $375,000 Community Development Block Grant and $140,000 raised by Edgerton Community Outreach.

"We're launching a fill-the-gap campaign to raise the additional funds (needed) within the next three weeks," Williams said.

Renovation to the 18,000-square-foot tobacco warehouse is a necessary project for the nonprofit, which provides a food pantry, rent assistance, emergency lodging and other programs for people in need, she said.

"We have a severe lack of space," Williams said.

Renovation is intended to boost store revenue, increase storage space and beautify the building.

The local Knights of Columbus donated supplies and labor to build an accessibility ramp to the building. A façade grant through the city of Edgerton paid for a new entrance door with an accessibility button and ramp.

"Prior to this past fall, the building was not accessible to someone with a disability," Williams said.

Edgerton Outreach will continue to operate six days a week during the renovation, which will start March 1 and end by Sept. 30.

"Our plan is to be open through the whole renovation although some areas of the building might have to be closed for a little bit. The goal is not to stop any services during the renovation that will allow us to operate on a much more functional level," she said.