A Brief Building Update
Greetings! I hope this finds you well. I want to give you a update on the JOC building project and again ask you to pray for the project. In one sense, we are still where we were at the end of the year—focused on finding the money so we can restart construction on Phase One.
In other ways, a lot is happening. At year end we contracted with a Project Management Firm and Construction company to get updated costs and more clarity from the City of Aurora on what would need to be done to get a Certificate of Occupancy for Phase One of the project (completing the first building, exteriors on both buildings and the parking lot). We expected a significant jump from where we were, based on construction cost increases and permitting with the city. In addition, the Contractor who had led this free of charge was no longer available for the project. We thought we were around $1 million away from finishing Phase One but the estimate was around $1.5 million. We think we can minimize that cost some, but are grateful to have a solid number in hand.
All that to say, we still face a large financial challenge. But, we also serve a great God. In addition to continued fund-raising attempts, we are also pursuing a couple of large government grants. Our target pool is money from the American Rescue Protection Act (ARPA) signed into law by President Biden early in his term. Unlike most government money, we do fit into the target groups for the money. We currently have a $1 million request in to Adams County and will also make a $1 million request of the City of Aurora in the next month. Be in prayer for that and for all other fund-raising attempts.
Given the financial size of the project, not just in Phase One but also in Phase Two, we have begun pursuing other creative options to meet the challenge and would love your prayers for that as well. We are in conversations with several different groups on this front, looking at partnership models that could help bring in the cash needed to complete Phase 1 and also begin to create a pathway to Phase 2. While it is a little premature to discuss details of who the groups are and what the partnerships might look like, we are very encouraged by the possibilities on this front. We think highly of each of the groups we are talking with and trust that God will create a path forward for the building to begin serving our friends.
We as the JOC Board and Leadership Team are committed to a time of prayer and discernment on all of these fronts, trusting that God will lead to a good solution. Please pray with us. Our friends along Colfax need the community, help and healing that the project will provide.
We will keep you posted as we get further in these discussions.
Blessings,
Shawn
PS: I also want to give you a quick family update. Diane and I often get questions about our family and in particular about our five daughters. Here is an update, starting with marriages. Our youngest, Shadia, got married to Cam Gonzalez a week before Christmas. Spenser, the middle of our five girls and the only one who is still single, is engaged and will get married in July to Oscar Gandara. Darrah (our oldest) and Jeff are expecting their sixth child in April. Shea (second oldest) and Sean just welcomed their second child into the world last week. Daviah (number four) and Sumner have a young son. So, by July, all the girls will be married and we will be up to nine grand-children. Right now it is four boys and four girls so Darrah and Jeff’s newborn will break the gender tie. And, for the most part they are all in town so we enjoy that a great deal. In addition, after six years of living with one foot on Colfax and the other in SE Aurora, we have our house under contract. Pray for us as we seek a permanent home in North Aurora.