LEWISTON — While efforts to raise revenue to save the YWCA of Central Maine are going forward, organizers say the nonprofit still needs help cutting its costs.
Members of the group’s board asked Lewiston councilors Tuesday to set aside money from its federal Community Development Block Grant budget to perform an energy audit on its East Avenue headquarters and help pay for efforts to make the building more energy efficient.
“We’re asking for Community Development Block Grant money to give our organization a chance to continue for the future,” said YWCA Board President Lee Young. “With better energy efficiency, our revenues won’t be sucked dry by an old building and pool.”
Financial consultant Tamela Paradis said the agency’s annual heating bill increased from $40,000 to $120,000 between 2003 and 2008. A 2003 energy audit suggested the building would need $150,000 worth of repairs.
Councilors agreed to set aside $10,000 from the block grant fund to pay for a new energy audit. Councilor John Butler suggested postponing a request for money for efficiency repairs until the energy audit is finished.
The YWCA of Central Maine had spent its endowment and faced tough times, debt and deferred maintenance issues. The agency owed $565,000 on its mortgage and $150,000 in unpaid bills, mostly for heating and repairs.
Board members announced in August plans to close the organization’s doors, but since then the Lewiston agency has raised $350,000 in donations. That includes an anonymous benefactor who has given $50,000 and promised another $50,000 when the agency’s fundraising efforts reach $450,000.
Young said the current effort has three goals: reducing the building’s mortgage from $575,000 to a manageable level, paying off outstanding debt to community contractors and operating more efficiently.
Young said the agency is taking its pitch all around central Maine, to other towns and agencies.
“We are doing everything we can,” Young said. “We are doing this upside down.”
But resident Pauline Gudas of Raymond Avenue said she would prefer the city use the $10,000 to provide energy audits for residents.
“I don’t think we should do a bailout like this for any nonprofit,” Gudas said. She urged councilors to postpone a vote until they had more time to review the agency’s finances.
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