KXLF

Posted: May 18, 2010 7:50 AM
Updated: May 21, 2010 4:10 PM

Bozeman's American Legion building, which was destroyed in the 2009 downtown explosion, will receive a grant totaling more than $30,000 to rebuild.

Bozeman City Commissioners approved the grant at their Monday night meeting.

Over the weekend, members of the American Legion were scattered across town, raising money for the construction project. Construction costs for the new building are roughly $750,000, more than the insurance proceeds.

"We want this project to succeed, and I think we're showing up here and we're doing what we can to make sure we do get to the finish line," Bozeman City Commissioner Sean Becker said.

"We all feel indebted to the Legion. We all appreciate narrowly in the broadest sense of what they've done for our community and for our country. There's agreement unanimous amongst us to give them the $30,000-plus. That money will free up their ability to raise money elsewhere," Bozeman City Commissioner Chris Mehl said.

The money comes from the city's big box fund, which charges chain stores like Target or WalMart to help with other types of economic development in Bozeman.

Also at Monday night's meeting, Bozeman City Commissioners passed the downtown sidewalk encroachment permit program at their Monday night meeting that will allow for various uses in the public right-of-way of the downtown business district.