Clear Lake council approves grant for new Chamber facility

CLEAR LAKE — The Clear Lake City Council last night approved providing a $250,000 grant to the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce to use for their proposed $2.3 million new facility at their existing location.

The existing Chamber building is about 50 years old and is undersized for the operational efficiencies and requirements of the organization’s present and future needs, and it also has a number of deficiencies such as an outdated HVAC system and accessibility.

City Administrator Scott Flory says the money would be dispersed between the Fiscal Year 2025 and 2026 budgets. “The initial grant disbursement would be made once the level of 40% of the total project cost had been achieved, but not prior to June 1st of 2025. Then the next payment would be at the 70% threshold, so not prior to June 1st of 2026.”

Councilman Bennett Smith says the new Chamber office will be a great improvement for the community.  “I think this is a great investment for our future down there with the new Chamber building and visitor’s center for folks who come to Clear Lake. I’m very excited about it and I just encourage everyone to get behind the support of the project.”

Chamber officials say they’ve raised at least $600,000 toward the project and can put $500,000 of their own funds into the new building. Construction is slated to begin in the spring with it being completed by the summer of 2026.