Funds awarded for the Dunkirk depot

DUNKIRK — One of the city’s historic buildings will be getting some upgrades.

Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation announced Tuesday that it has awarded grant funds to partner with dollars provided by The Dunkirk Foundation for nearly $70,000 in restorations to the interior of the former Pennsylvania Railroad Depot Building.

DIDC’s grant award was approved at a meeting Monday after The Dunkirk Foundation on May 30 approved a one-to-one matching grant. 

The foundation’s matching grant will be on a one-to-one basis up to $21,000. That funding will come from the foundation’s Doctor Johnson Fund for the Dunkirk Community.

DIDC’s board, made up of Jack Robbins, Gary Glogas, Dan Watson, Gene Ritter, Dane Mumbower, Al Curts and Travis Richards, then approved a grant of $25,234.49 to cover the remaining amount needed for the $67,234.49 project.

In a press release, Robbins, president of DIDC, said the project will include a new heating and cooling system, water and sewage lines, lighting fixtures, an electrical system, restrooms, flooring and paint. The work is planned to begin this month and be completed by late fall. Judd Construction of Muncie is the lead contractor for the project, with HVAC work to be handled by Shumaker Heating & Cooling of Hartford City.

“It’s going to be, hopefully, the future site of some sort of business,” said Ritter, Dunkirk’s mayor. “We’ve had previous interest in that building in the last year that kind of spurred us to fix up the inside of the building so we could make use of it.”

An exterior renovation project, which included a new roof, gutters, ceilings, windows, pavers and tuck pointing, was completed in 2014. 

Funding for that $577,000 project came via a federal matching grant ($483,000) and economic development and DIDC funds ($94,268.80).

Dunkirk’s revitalization plan also focuses on a rail trail loop that would front the depot building.

“We want to try to get out ahead of this depot building and then eventually when the trails get here the building will be in better shape,” said Robbins. “I think it’ll be a good asset to Dunkirk to have this building functional.”

The process of raising the matching funds for The Dunkirk Foundation grant is already underway. Those interested in contributing to the project can contact Robbins at [email protected] or (765) 768-7284.