Community Center fund-raising hits $3 million
LAUREL— The Laurel Community Center Committee announced this week that fundraising efforts have topped the $3 million mark with a total of $3,110,885 in donations/ pledges and grants. The projected cost of the new Community Center is $4 million.
The Community Center Committee, with the assistance of the Laurel Area Community Foundation Fund, is raising funds to finance the project through private donations and grants. The City of Laurel will fund the cost of the municipal office portion of the building, as well as their portion of the land acquisition and site preparation costs.
Other future expenses will be paid for through rental fees, endowments established through the Laurel Area Community Foundation Fund, and the City of Laurel. The City of Laurel will own the Laurel Community Center.
The Laurel Community Center Committee, in cooperation with the City of Laurel, is targeting late February 2021 to advertise for bids for the construction of the project, with construction to begin in May 2021.
According to Community Center Committee representatives, donations and pledges are key in providing the local support necessary to meet target dates and assist in making the Laurel Community Center a reality.
Lifetime resident Makayla Garcia expressed her family’s reason for supporting the Laurel Community Center Project.
“We hope by participating in this building project, it will show our kids the importance of setting goals and then making plans and strategies to meet those goals. It’s important we constantly better ourselves and our community in order to succeed together and continue to grow as a whole,” she said.
Local business owner Mark Patefield said he feels the new Community Center is an important project, not just for a nice place to have events, but also for what people picture when they think of Laurel.
“Growing up here, our school’s gym was similar — a source of pride for the community and one of the things that visitors noticed and remembered,” he said. “The Laurel Community Center will be another piece of that for the next generation growing up here — one of the major parts of what comes to mind when they think of home.” As part of the business community,
As part of the business community, Lesley and Keelan Holloway are excited for the new exposure the Community Center will bring to Laurel.
“The Community Center will bring in visitors who may have otherwise never come to Laurel, and the more people that visit, the more our businesses will capitalize,” Lesley Holloway said. “I know the businesses that are here will knock the socks off our visitors and they will be impressed with what this community has to offer.” An account for the Laurel Com
An account for the Laurel Community Center has been established through the Laurel Area Community Foundation Fund. You may support this important
You may support this important work online at www.nebcommfound.org/give/laurel-area-communityfoundation-fund (select “Community Center Account” from the drop down menu) or by contacting the Laurel Economic Development Office at (402) 256-9614. Pledge/donation forms are also available at Security Bank and Citizens State Bank both in Laurel.
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