CITY RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT FOR NEWTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER

Sarasota - The City of Sarasota has been awarded a $247,500 Economic Development Initiative grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist with the renovation of the Robert L. Taylor Community Center in Newtown.

"Through the efforts of Congressman Vern Buchanan, the plans to redevelop the Robert L. Taylor Community Center have been greatly enhanced," said John Hawthorne, the Newtown Redevelopment Director. "This grant will assist in providing a state of the art community center, with amenities, that will meet long overdue recreational, social and community service needs across the multi-generational population of the Newtown community."

It is anticipated $10million for the new building will be included in the upcoming Sarasota County penny surtax renewal. It is hoped the new facility will be completed and open to the public by the year 2009 or 2010.

Youngsters and adults gather at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center for an array of recreational activities, including weight lifting, swimming in the outdoor pool and football on the athletic fields.

For more information, please contact:
Jan Thornburg, Public Information Officer (941) 954-4160
jan.thornburg@sarasotagov.com