Webster Community Center Gets State Grant
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - Hopefully, crossed fingers can straighten out with relief because the Community Focus Fund grant for the North Webster Community Center was approved at the maximum level - $500,000.
The building will house the activities of the Lakeland Youth Center, a senior activity center, the North Webster/Tippecanoe Library, the North Webster town offices and police department, as well as provide Kosciusko YMCA fitness programs. Future plans include an indoor walking track and a place to hold community events.
The idea to transform the former elementary school building into a community center began almost as soon as the Wawasee School Corp. announced plans in June 1999 for a new elementary school.
The North Webster Community Center Inc. was formed as a nonprofit organization, and purchased the building for $1 in February.
Members of the Community Center board of directors and town council will travel to Indianapolis Wednesday to accept the grant.
A local 10 percent match of $375,000 is required for the project.
Jeff Thornburgh, vice president of the board, said, "Our fund-raising efforts become more imperative to complete the match for this grant. We are about one-third of the way to our goal."
With a recent $10,000 donation by the North Webster American Legion and $2,000 from Sprint, the group has raised or received pledges of $121,000. Among the promises of financial support is $50,000 a year for 10 years from the International Palace of Sports Foundation. The foundation has made its first payment, with the money going toward operations and maintenance.
An open house is set in the community center Nov. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Patrons will be "issued" passports to travel the halls of the school. Each room will have interactive activities, from dancing and karate to senior sing-a-longs. Pickup basketball games will be held the gym, and the fitness center will be set up.
As each room is visited, the passport will be stamped, collected at the end of the "journey" and combined with others for a prize drawing.
NWCC board members are: Jon Sroufe, president; Jeff Thornburgh, vice president; Peg Lawrance, secretary; Jeff Morgan, treasurer; Dennis Wagoner; Gloria Shipley; Sherman Goldenberg; Dick Hinton; Larry Kinsey; Carole Gilbert; Tracy Benzinger; and Chris Bruno.
Lakeland Youth Center signed a one-year lease Thursday, said executive director Sandy Mafera. All tenants will pay a lease fee for space and utilities.
The Indiana Development Finance Authority also approved a $100,000 interest- free loan for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.
For more information, contact: Jon W. Sroufe - [email protected], 888-894-4171; Peg Lawrance - [email protected], 834-7894; or executive director Sandy Mafera - [email protected], 834-4270. [[In-content Ad]]
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NORTH WEBSTER - Hopefully, crossed fingers can straighten out with relief because the Community Focus Fund grant for the North Webster Community Center was approved at the maximum level - $500,000.
The building will house the activities of the Lakeland Youth Center, a senior activity center, the North Webster/Tippecanoe Library, the North Webster town offices and police department, as well as provide Kosciusko YMCA fitness programs. Future plans include an indoor walking track and a place to hold community events.
The idea to transform the former elementary school building into a community center began almost as soon as the Wawasee School Corp. announced plans in June 1999 for a new elementary school.
The North Webster Community Center Inc. was formed as a nonprofit organization, and purchased the building for $1 in February.
Members of the Community Center board of directors and town council will travel to Indianapolis Wednesday to accept the grant.
A local 10 percent match of $375,000 is required for the project.
Jeff Thornburgh, vice president of the board, said, "Our fund-raising efforts become more imperative to complete the match for this grant. We are about one-third of the way to our goal."
With a recent $10,000 donation by the North Webster American Legion and $2,000 from Sprint, the group has raised or received pledges of $121,000. Among the promises of financial support is $50,000 a year for 10 years from the International Palace of Sports Foundation. The foundation has made its first payment, with the money going toward operations and maintenance.
An open house is set in the community center Nov. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Patrons will be "issued" passports to travel the halls of the school. Each room will have interactive activities, from dancing and karate to senior sing-a-longs. Pickup basketball games will be held the gym, and the fitness center will be set up.
As each room is visited, the passport will be stamped, collected at the end of the "journey" and combined with others for a prize drawing.
NWCC board members are: Jon Sroufe, president; Jeff Thornburgh, vice president; Peg Lawrance, secretary; Jeff Morgan, treasurer; Dennis Wagoner; Gloria Shipley; Sherman Goldenberg; Dick Hinton; Larry Kinsey; Carole Gilbert; Tracy Benzinger; and Chris Bruno.
Lakeland Youth Center signed a one-year lease Thursday, said executive director Sandy Mafera. All tenants will pay a lease fee for space and utilities.
The Indiana Development Finance Authority also approved a $100,000 interest- free loan for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.
For more information, contact: Jon W. Sroufe - [email protected], 888-894-4171; Peg Lawrance - [email protected], 834-7894; or executive director Sandy Mafera - [email protected], 834-4270. [[In-content Ad]]