FERGUSON, Mo. — For the first time, 5 On Your Side took a tour of the largest building donation in Urban League history.
Centene gifted the multi-million dollar space in Ferguson. It will now be called the Urban League Centene Connected Community Center.
It's a space created several years after Michael Brown's death.
At the time, Centene's goal was to create jobs and transform the area. Now, the Urban League aims to do the same.
The building costs about $25-$30 million with 60,000 square feet on 8 1/2 acres.
Urban League's President and CEO Michael McMillan said, "This is a perfect location for a North County hub because it's right here at I-270, Pershall and New Halls Ferry, right in the heart of North County, it has huge visibility."
The main building has three floors and it will be multi-purpose. It'll have a regional command center for its food operations and hold all of its partnerships and programs.
- Each floor in the main building can have 125 employees.
- The second floor will be for their partners and the third floor is dedicated to the Urban League's programs.
- The main floor also has a kitchen, which will focus on job training for the hospitality industry.
5 On Your Side also toured the daycare facility, which will turn into their Head Start space.
Our last stop was the conference room, which can hold 150 people. It will be a training space for programs and it will be a spot for empowerment workshops. The Urban League will open it up to the community for free, as well.
Bigger capacity also expands capabilities.
"Our other location on Jennings Station Road, we were bursting at the seams and we needed more space and capacity," McMillan said.
This new community center will open this summer and the timing is important, as Ferguson marks 10 years since Michael Brown's death in August.
The intention for this building was to re-energize and the Urban League aims to keep the momentum going to stay visible in the heart of north St. Louis County.
"When you look at the 10-year anniversary of everything that took place in Ferguson, the eyes of the nation will look at St. Louis, Ferguson and the entire region and say what did you do? This repurpose is one we will all be proud of as we come up on the 10th anniversary," McMillan added.
Ferguson is already home to three other Urban League locations. This fourth space will have its grand opening at the end of July.