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November 22, 2010
Islamic Center Seeks 9/11 Recovery Grants for Lower Manhattan
By KAREEM FAHIM
The directors of the planned Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero have applied for grants from an agency tasked with helping Lower Manhattan recover from the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The request was for about $5 million, said a person with knowledge of the grant application.
In a statement, the developer, Sharif el-Gamal, said that the board of Park51, as the center is known, asked for the financing from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation about two weeks ago. The money, which would come from a pool of $2 billion in federal financing administered by the corporation, would be used for domestic violence prevention programs, language classes, art exhibitions and other social services at the center.
“Park51 remains committed to exploring all sources of revenue and funding to build the community center in Lower Manhattan,” Mr. Gamal said. “It is important to note that this community center will provide hundreds of construction jobs over the next few years and when opened will provide 150 permanent jobs.”
The center would include a Muslim prayer space, a swimming pool, a preschool and a 9/11 memorial.
The competition for the latest rounds of financing from the development corporation, totaling about $17 million, is expected to be intense. Julie Menin, who sits on the corporation’s board, said that 255 groups had requested a total of $170 million.
Applicants have to show a “nexus to revitalizing the World Trade Center site and its surroundings,” Ms. Menin said, adding that the applications panel would favor proposals focused on job creation and partnerships with other Lower Manhattan organizations.
“Because the economy is in the state it’s in, we’ve had more applications than ever,” Ms. Menin said. “There are going to be very tough choices.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/ny...l?ref=nyregion
Islamic Center Seeks 9/11 Recovery Grants for Lower Manhattan
By KAREEM FAHIM
The directors of the planned Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero have applied for grants from an agency tasked with helping Lower Manhattan recover from the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The request was for about $5 million, said a person with knowledge of the grant application.
In a statement, the developer, Sharif el-Gamal, said that the board of Park51, as the center is known, asked for the financing from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation about two weeks ago. The money, which would come from a pool of $2 billion in federal financing administered by the corporation, would be used for domestic violence prevention programs, language classes, art exhibitions and other social services at the center.
“Park51 remains committed to exploring all sources of revenue and funding to build the community center in Lower Manhattan,” Mr. Gamal said. “It is important to note that this community center will provide hundreds of construction jobs over the next few years and when opened will provide 150 permanent jobs.”
The center would include a Muslim prayer space, a swimming pool, a preschool and a 9/11 memorial.
The competition for the latest rounds of financing from the development corporation, totaling about $17 million, is expected to be intense. Julie Menin, who sits on the corporation’s board, said that 255 groups had requested a total of $170 million.
Applicants have to show a “nexus to revitalizing the World Trade Center site and its surroundings,” Ms. Menin said, adding that the applications panel would favor proposals focused on job creation and partnerships with other Lower Manhattan organizations.
“Because the economy is in the state it’s in, we’ve had more applications than ever,” Ms. Menin said. “There are going to be very tough choices.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/ny...l?ref=nyregion