In fact, so much money had been set aside for these issues there were pools of funds not completely used in the Decatur area. “Amounts allocated for these purposes are not being used at rates we expected to see when approved,” said Wrighton in a report. “And there is more money still available for these same uses.”
Council members appeared to favor a series of guidelines set forth by Wrighton who suggested allocating two-thirds of the $458,000 to help citizens “retool and reset their lives” following major disruptions caused by the onset of the pandemic.
Those re-tooling ideas included funding a “Maker-Space” at Decatur Public Library that might be equipped with gear ranging from 3D printers to laser cutters and computer-controlled milling machines. The idea, said Wrighton, is to help people create their own products and learn new skills that can lead to new businesses…
