The central location will also allow the organizations to share resources, and without building management issues to address, will give them more time to serve the community.
The CRC started as the dream of Rev. Dr. Ron Leichty and the late Dr. Kent Guild. Discussed as a dream over breakfast by the two local leaders, it has become a reality 23 years later.
“We talked about what we could do for the community,” said Leichty of that breakfast 23 year ago. “I’m only sorry that my friend did not live long enough to see this dream come true.”
Donnelly praised the venture as proof of the dedication of citizens to Marshall County and praised Leich-ty’s efforts as well.
“I’ve met him time and time again and he always seems to be helping somebody else,” said Donnelly.
Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter spoke of the need for the CRC to serve the community.
“All you have to do is drive by the Neighborhood Center or Care and Share and you can see the need is great,” said Senter. “This will help meet that need.”
“This is a testament to how we work together,” said President of the Marshall County Commis-sioners Kevin Overmyer. “You see it every day in this county — people working together to make this a better place to live.”
“I’m not sure if anybody realizes just how much this will mean to everybody in the county,” said State Representative Nancy Dem-bowski. “It shows just what we can do when we work together.”
The Center will put the property on Jefferson Street, long abandoned, back on county tax roles and the funding is in the form of a loan that will be repaid by operation of the CRC itself.
Leichty stated that hopes are that the building can be complete with tenants able to move in by next summer.