BizBeat: Credit union to open local community center

A local credit union plans to build a community center on the site of an old restaurant near Jefferson City's Old Munichburg area.

River Region Credit Union plans to build a 3,000-square-foot community center on the site of the former Zesto Drive-In at 501 Broadway St., just off Whitton Expressway.

Rick Nichols, River Region Credit Union president, said the financial institution wants to build the community center for its members and other area residents to use.

The Zesto location on the site closed years ago and later was demolished. Since then, the site has sat vacant. River Region hopes the center will be used for weddings and other community gatherings.

"It's very exciting considering the high visibility of that location," Nichols said.

River Region has about 23,000 members and assets of $220 million. Based in Jefferson City, the credit union has three locations in town as well as in Ashland and Columbia, with plans to open a second Columbia location. Membership is open to anyone who works within Boone, Cole, Osage, Callaway, Moniteau or Miller counties.

River Region will announce plans to regarding the community center and an expansion of its 3124 W. Edgewood Drive location Thursday.

Nichols declined to say what River Region plans to spend on the project. The credit union's members own River Region, so it wants to inject money back into the community, he said.

"The intent is to support the community that our members live in and give something that is greatly needed by the community," Nichols said. "We're putting some of their money to use."

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