The New Grand Junction Community Center committee has launched a GoFundMe campaign as part of its efforts to raise the final $30,000 for a $220,000 Vision Iowa CAT (Community Attraction and Tourism) Grant to build a new community center on Main Street in Grand Junction.
To make a donation to the New Community Center fund, go to gofundme.com and enter the Grand Junction zip code, 50107, in the search box. That will bring up the “Gr.Jct, IA Community Center” link. Click on that and follow directions for making a donation online to the new community center fund. Or go the New Grand Junction Iowa Community Center page on Facebook and look for the GoFundMe link there to the community center link.
“We are so excited about our GoFundMe page,” said Diane Wise, chair of the community center committee. “In just a few days of launching the page on this awesome crowdfunding website, we raised $650. Plus, we received a check in person from another generous resident of Grand Junction for $2,000 to help make this new community center a reality.”
City of Grand Junction officials and committee members are committed to breaking ground on the new center on Main Street in the spring. “As soon as warm weather allows,” said Wise. “We are almost there. Our crowdfunding campaign will send us over, so please go online and donate generously to the new community center.”
The new facility will replace a community center created in the late 1980s from two storefronts on Main St. Grand Junction’s longtime community center was the landmark American Legion Hall (1922-1988) at 106 East Main. It was razed in 1988 to make way for a new library that was built in 1990. The community center was then relocated to the 200 block on the south side of Main St in the two adjoining storefronts with connecting doorways.
In recent years, the two buildings suffered from structural problems including a leaky roof, poor heating and air conditioning, and a significant black mold infestation. Backed by widespread support from civic groups and residents of Grand Junction to build a new community center, in 2012 the city of Grand Junction agreed to raze four of the six buildings on the south side of the 200 block of E. Main (across from Peoples Trust & Savings Bank) with plans to raze the remaining two buildings (the Community Center) when funds became available.
CAT grant funds from Vision Iowa will allow the final teardown of the old buildings. The site can then be prepared for new construction. Groundbreaking for the new facility will follow.
The total cost of the new facility is estimated at $1.1 million. The building will house the city hall and council chambers and will include a kitchen, small meeting room, and a large special events space that combined with the smaller meeting room can accommodate events and activities for up to 250 people.
In addition to the GoFundMe online campaign, donations can also be made directly to the Community Center fund by sending a check to New Grand Junction Community Center, PO Box 383, Grand Junction, IA 50107. Donations of grain or stock can also be made to the Community Center fund. To make such a donation or for more information on the fundraising projects for the new community center in Grand Junction, contact Diane Wise of the New Grand Junction Community Center Committee at 515-370-1675 or email wiseone@netins.net.
