Maintenance Funding Sought for PCDI Washington Street Property

One of several buildings at Washington Street site

The Washington Street property will be shown to a prospective business developer later this month. Prowers County Development Incorporated Executive Director Lisa Nolder informed board members of an interested party during their June 26 monthly meeting.

Nolder said interest in the building developed from a contact she made during the annual AWEA, American Wind Energy Association trade show held in Atlanta, GA in early June. This is the third show that Nolder has attended as PCDI executive director. It was noted from the meeting minutes that the plumbing leak in the building several months ago was not due to a burst pipe, but a split plastic nut under the toilet. The stream of water bored a hole in the drywall. The problem has been fixed and there was no permanent damage to the wall or adjacent carpeting. The property has been given a once over in anticipation of the pending visit. The company that will view the site distributes shrink wrap used for shipping wind tower components and is seeking a distribution center in Colorado or Nevada. Other Prowers County sites will also be viewed. Nolder informed the board that because the fate of Wind Production Tax Credits is in the hands of Congress, pending its approval of an extension by year’s end, the wind energy industry is curtailing orders and development.

The Washington Street property was donated to PCDI by Big R several years ago when the local offices moved to the Pueblo region. The donation served as a business incentive for PCDI and as a charitable deduction. The property has been listed for sale since then, locally and regionally. A financial set-aside was provided for on-going maintenance to the buildings and land, and that has been used to provide insurance, utilities and general maintenance since it was donated to PCDI. The board has made substantial cutbacks on expenditures, but additional funding will be needed to sustain the facility. The board approved seeking local incentive donations to support the property.

By Russ Baldwin