GILROY
– Wal-Mart’s promise to donate $60,000 a year to Gilroy on
condition of getting its Supercenter approved has changed
somewhat.
GILROY – Wal-Mart’s promise to donate $60,000 a year to Gilroy on condition of getting its Supercenter approved has changed somewhat.
The national retail giant will make community contributions in the amount of $50,000 a year, but the additional $10,000 a year it has promised in grants may last only two years.
“That’s reflective of what we’ve always stated in our original (agreement),” Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amy Hill said.
According to city records, Wal-Mart did in fact propose a two-year arrangement only. However, when City Council approved the Supercenter project, the list of conditions stated that grants would run in perpetuity.
“That was misstated,” said Mayor Al Pinheiro. “Nothing has changed from the original agreement.”
The agreement to make an extra $10,000 in charitable donations a year is one of many conditions City Council put on the recent approval of the Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Under this agreement, a special board will determine which charity gets the grant each year. The board will consist of the store manager, two Council members and three other community leaders appointed by the Council.
