Construction Starts on Long-Awaited Owego Community Center

Work has gotten underway on a Tioga County project that's been under discussion for several years.

A 15,000-square-foot community center is being built on a site in the village of Owego between North Avenue and Central Avenue. It's located near a facility that's now home to Tioga County Rural Ministry.

The rural ministry agency will use the new Neighborhood Depot, along with Racker, Catholic Charities and Tioga United Way.

Bob Brazill of Racker said the project "started as kind of a dream for nonprofits to come together and share services" in a centralized location.

Brazill said the Owego site is designed to provide village residents with easier access to services.

During recent major flooding events in Tioga County, emergency services and supplies were not located close to many of those most in need of help.

The new facility will serve as an emergency response center in the future. The complex will include a large conference room that could house up to 150 people if needed. The site also will have showers, a large kitchen and an industrial-sized emergency generator.

The estimated cost of the Owego project has risen from $4.8 million five years ago to $8.1 million today. Funding is being provided by government and private sources. A public campaign is being conducted to raise an additional $350,000 for the project.

Brazill said the agencies are expected to be able to start using the new building by next June.

LISTEN: Bob Brazill of Racker discussed the Owego project during a WNBF News interview on November 15, 2023.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.