The project to expand the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in downtown Greensboro, and turn the entire block into a World Heritage Site, is moving along swiftly.
However, Guilford County Commissioner Justin Conrad said the museum should be cautious about counting on state money for the project because the State of North Carolina never paid Guilford County government $7 million that was promised to the county for the construction of a new mental health center.
Conrad said the state never delivered on that $7 million, and he added that the state should still pay Guilford County the money.
“In my opinion, the state still owes us $7 million,” Conrad said.
Guilford County and its mental health service partners opened a new mental health center in Greensboro last year. The entire project cost over $20 million. When the $7 million from the state never showed up, the county commissioners took money away from other county projects and programs and used those funds to fill the hole the state legislators created.
In the past week, both the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and the Greensboro City Council have agreed to give $2 million each toward the museum’s project, which will involve buying the former First Citizen’s bank building next door, renovating that structure and adding exhibits and meeting space. The purchase of the building is costing $10.25 million, and the renovation, exhibit creation and other work will cost an estimated $10 to $15 million on top of that.
In other words, the project will cost about the same as the county’s mental health center did. But since the mental health center is built, the county will likely never see a dime of state money for it.
“Now they say they don’t need to pay because the project is complete,” Conrad said. “But the county could still use that money.”
Like Guilford County, the museum is hoping that millions in funding will come from the state.
The $7 million for the mental health center was included in a state budget passed by the legislature in 2019 and vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper.
Conrad said he recently read with interest that State Rep. Jon Hardister, a fellow Republican, was in favor of Guilford County funding the museum and was sounding like the state would give money too.
Conrad said that, if the state has money to give to the museum project, then where’s the $7 million for the mental health center, which provides an absolutely essential service.
According to Conrad, he and other county commissioners constantly have to make hard choices about how to spend money and that usually means prioritizing essential county services rather than other things that may be great projects but not essential one.
“I still like Jon – we’re friends,” Conrad said, but he added that he wished state officials would reconsider the funding for Guilford County.
Tell the State that the money is for BLACKS and the money will come through immediately. It pays to be racist and only blacks qualify.
“…For BLACKS….” Racist much Martin? Or just showing your insensitive upbringing from decades past?
Guess you can’t play the race card!
Tell them that the money is for BLACKS and the money will be approved immediately. Everything is racist now. There is NO diversity, there is no justice. Only blacks matter in society today. All decision made by the City Council now is INVALID because there is NO white men in the City Council. There is NO diversity. GOD help Greensboro. Let us hope that Russia will solve Greensboro’s problem. And YOU think that I’m kidding.
Lol, the articles point, I assume, is to not trust the state about promised funds but you get triggered on race. You must not have scored well on reading comprehension.
Aren’t there other priorities to spend the money on versus another museum that few people visit. Does anyone have the numbers on how many people have ever visited the museum?
Let’s do things that draw people to Greensboro.
skip and the money pit will not release those numbers too embarrassing for them that the “economic engine “ they touted for downtown Greensboro is nothing but a pedal car
Drawing people to Greensboro doesn’t put money in the pockets of elected officials like Alston, et al. Who was it that said. . . .”A fool and his money are soon parted”?
Drawing people to Greensboro doesn’t put money in the pockets of elected officials like Alston, et al. Who was it that said. . . .”A fool and his money are soon parted”?
Justin Conrad, the clown who ran Libby Hill into the ground for his family, trying to lecture us on finances. LOL!
Owen the fish were great , you should have spent more of your hard earned money on fish than all those ” feel good ” juke joints and gang activity down town. THANK YOU JUSTIN FOR YEARS OF GREAT EATS AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
does the state owe us $7 mil ? the budget was vetoed by guvner. & dun? good, edible, uncontaminated seafood is hard to find ? we chose hydrocarbons, toxic chems, concrete over our food supply. local water supply (buffalo creek) poisoned by airport fire suppression (pfas) training then washed into creek. criminal, stupid, or, just mindless gov’t?
What an ignorant comment. You clearly don’t know anything about him or his businesses.
Awful food drove Libby Hill into the ground where it belonged. Lol.
For years now, I have hosted the Guilford County mental health center. Right here in my house. Send money, as everyone else with their hand out is getting it.
Moat real thing you have ever commented here… nutters home place!!!