The Jefferson City Council recently approved five projects they would like to see additional funds from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation be used on.

City Administrator Mike Palmer says the City already receives one-half of a percent of the adjusted gross revenue from Wild Rose Casino, but they will also receive an extra $50,000 from the non-profit, gaming license holder. The additional funds were decided on a per capita basis among the municipalities in Greene County.

The Council is going to dedicate $10,000 to help the volunteer fire department with a match to a grant to upgrade their airpacks, another $10,000 will be given to the Bell Tower Community Foundation toward a grant to purchase additional bells for the Mahanay Bell Tower, $10,000 will be used to improve the City’s swimming pool, $10,000 for continuing improvements to the downtown square and the final $10,000 will go to the City’s Neighborhood Improvement Program.

“This is a fund that we’re currently using to demolish houses but the City Council wants to expand this fund and almost have like a mini grant setup (for) when people maybe need some work on their houses to improve the looks of their houses. It kind of takes the ‘no’ out of why people can’t do something to their house even though they may want to, they just may not have the money.”

Palmer adds that the Council needed to present a ‘letter of intent’ to GGCGC, notifying them of what projects the City plans to use the extra funds on.

GGCGC will hold their first-ever grant award ceremony on Monday, April 4th at the Greene Room events center at Wild Rose.