FERRIDAY &045; At least one source of funding for a planned community center in Ferriday is pushing for the project to be finished as soon as possible.

Original grant agreements called for the project to be finished by June, but an extension was granted, Teresa Dennis said.

Dennis, executive director of the Concordia Economic and Industrial Development District, is serving as project manager.

The center will be built on the site where the Pasternack Building burned in October 2002.

The building will include a senior citizens’ meeting room and a business incubator, or place where fledgling businesses can rent space and get additional assistance when starting out.

The work is being done with $684,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants and Community Development Block Grant funds.

&uot;We have several months to complete the project with one of the funding agencies,&uot; Dennis said. &uot;But the other agency has requested that (the project) be done as soon as possible.&uot;

Final plans for the center are currently at Town Hall being reviewed. After the Town Council gives its final approval, the process of advertising for bids for construction will take 30 days.

The project will be completed in two phases, the exterior and the interior, said Dennis said that has project manager, she would like to see the project completed by spring 2006.