CHESAPEAKE — Officials now say the Chesapeake Community Center will not be closing at year’s end.

Ruth Damron, director of the center, tells The Tribune that the facility will be staying open.

She had spoken with The Tribune last week, expressing concern about funding and said the building could close after December.

Damron said, however, after talking with board members and hearing from the Port Authority, who co-own the building, that she has been assured it will remain open.

“The Port Authority is investing a lot of money and time into the building,” she said. “And we now have several new members.”

The community center is privately owned, but open to the public and receives it’s funding from those who sign up for memberships to take part in its offerings, which include a basketball court, weight rooms and classes such as Zumba and Modern Arnis stick fighting. Damron said the center is hoping to recruit a yoga instructor as well.

Memberships are $20 for adults and $15 for students.

Douglass Scott, who serves on the board of directors, said the center plans “to do more things and offer more activities and events.”

He also said the center would not be closing.

“We have too many things on the drawing board,” he said.

Scott said the center is especially popular on weekends, when it is used for basketball.

“You see cars lined up all through here,” he said.

He said work is expected to begin soon to replace the building’s aging furnace, which has left the center without heat in recent days.

He said bids are being taken and the job should be done quickly.

The center is also home to Chesapeake Community Mission outreach, which provides food to low income families. The group is organizing its annual Christmas giveaway of food and toys, which will take place in the week before Christmas. Donations for new toys are being taken, which can be dropped off at the center.