The proposed Forest Lake Area Community Center is in the running for a multi-million-dollar grant, but the community must first demonstrate it is working to raise operating funds to support the center long-term, the task force said in a release this week. The grant comes from the estate of the late Joan Kroc, the wife of McDonaldís founder Ray Kroc. Kroc gave $1.5 billion to the Salvation Army--the largest donation ever given to a nonprofit organizationó-with the charge to build community centers nationwide.
To ensure the centersí ongoing success, she stipulated recipient communities must gain commitments to fund operations by establishing an endowment. An endowment provides funds by earning interest, with the interest used to support the endowmentís purpose: in this case, a community center.
ìThis is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,î said Forest Lake Mayor Ray Daninger and task force co-chair. ìThis grant could be worth $10 million to $30 million.
ìIf weíre chosen as a Kroc Center, we may not need a bond referendum, Plus, weíll be building the entire master planó-including the theater, banquet facility and Youth Service Bureau teen centeró-because the Salvation Army wants to see diverse programming that revolves around youth and family services, education, recreation and community building,î he said.
ìBut in order to move ahead as a grant candidate, we have to come together as a regional community and show the Salvation Army we will financially support this center for many years to come,î Daninger said.
ìThis is bigger than just Forest Lake. Weíll be drawing users from 20 and 30 miles away, so we need to show commitment from neighboring communities, too,î he said.
Capital campaign
To spur financial support, the city and task force officially kicked off a Community Center Capital Campaign at the July 6 task force board meeting.
Local businessman Al Hauge, of Edina Realty and vice president of the Forest Lake Area Athletic Association, will serve as capital campaign chair. Hauge has extensive experience with fund raising and related philanthropic activities.
ìIím honored to be asked to lead the campaign,î Hauge said. ìThis is the most important thing to happen to this area since Interstate 35 transformed us into a regional hub. Our community center will bring visitor dollars into the area, help us attract businesses with high-paying jobs and provide much-needed cultural and recreational opportunitiesóespecially for our youth.
ìI will work hard to make sure we take full advantage of the opportunity,î he continued. ìI hope everyone in the area will join me, in both large and small ways, because participation is whatís most important.î
Hauge has already started recruiting campaign subcommittee leadership and working with the task force to determine campaign goals and endowment mechanisms.
Making FLís case
On June 24, Mayor Daninger and a contingent from the Community Center Task Force traveled to St. Paul to present a letter of intent and project overview to the Salvation Armyís Steering Committee for Minnesota.
The committee includes such influential leaders as House Speaker Steve Sviggum and CEO Stanley Hubbard, Chairman of Hubbard Broadcasting, and numerous other business and civic leaders, along with Salvation Army officials.
The Salvation Army Steering Committee will visit potential grant sites in late July. By mid-August, the committee will decide which cities to recommend to Salvation Army Central Region officials on Sept. 30.
Selection of grant finalists will occur at a date yet to be announced.
ìWhile this isnít a sure thing yet, we made a big impression by being at the meeting,î said Task Force Co-Chair Alan Bakke, who helped make the presentation. ìThe only other cities that presented were Duluth, St. Paul and Columbia Heights/North Minneapolis. Others cities that had indicated interest didnít come, but the steering committee will review proposals from those cities in mid-July.î
Forest Lake has several advantages, based on key elements the Kroc estate and the Salvation Army want to see, task force members said. Those include:
ïAvailable land
The city already owns the 160-acre parcel south of the airport thatís designated for the community center. Many of the cities vying for a grant have sites identified, but donít own the land yet.
ïDemonstrated need
During her portion of the presentation to the steering committee, Task Force Communications Chair Laurie Kumerow pointed out the areaís economic need: ìA recent ranking showed Washington County as the second wealthiest county in the state, so people assume the entire county is affluent,î she said.
ìThatís not true. Forest Lake has the highest percentage of federal Section 8 (affordable) housing in the county and more than 14 percent of students in the Forest Lake Area School District are eligible for the free/reduced lunch program.î
Kumerow also highlighted the fact activities for area youth will be significantly cut during the 2004-05 school year as the school district tries to offset increasing expenses by cutting some academic and athletic programs.
ïPartnerships
The community center project has involved many partners since its inception more than two years ago. Task force members represent the Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, School District, Youth Service Bureau, Masquers Theatre, FLAAA and many local businesses.
More recently, the city partnered with Washington County to bring the new north service center, public library and transit hub to the community center site.
ìWe see this as an ideal location for serving the northern part of the county,î said First District County Commissioner Dennis Hegberg, who lives in Forest Lake. ìThe population is quickly growing in the southern part of Forest Lake and northern part of Hugo, so it will be conveniently located for many people.î
The county will purchase land from the city for the service center and transit hub, with proceeds going toward the center. The county wonít need to purchase land for the library because cities must donate land for county libraries. The two entities will also share infrastructure and operating costs for utilities and parking lots.
To assist the task force with its Kroc Center application, the county also submitted a formal letter of support to the Salvation Army.
In addition, there have been discussions with numerous programming partners.
The city has talked with school district officials about providing Community Services programming and possibly sharing experienced staff, such as an ice sheet supervisor. And there have been discussions with FLAAA about providing youth sports programming at the site.
The YSB, which serves at-risk youth and families in Anoka, Chisago, Isanti and Washington counties through a Forest Lake office, would like to expand operations. A new teen center at the community center would allow the organization to expand, possibly in conjunction with the school district, which currently runs a limited jr. high after-school program at its Central Learning Center.
With a community center theater, Masquers Theatre could expand its productions and workshops. The longtime Forest Lake arts organization has been limited to summer-only programs because it uses the high school auditorium, which is booked during the school year. Other local and regional performing arts groups, both existing and future organizations, would use the theater, as well.
In addition, the theater and multi-use meeting/banquet facility will allow for business and community activities that are currently impossible due to lack of appropriate public space.
Because theaters and teen centers typically generate less revenue than other amenities, they were not included in Phase I plans recommended by the task force, Bakke said.
ìIf we had to try to fund this through a bond referendum, without additional help, then we couldnít justify those high-expense components right away, even though they are essential to a truly well-rounded community center,î Bakke said.
ìBut with the possibility of this grant and the help of everyone pitching in for the capital campaign--both individuals and organizations--the entire dream is now in sight. FLAAA has already donated more than $150,000 toward the community center. Now we need to get everyone else excited,î he said.
Referendum timing?
While the local Salvation Army Steering Committee will decide by mid-August which cities to recommend for the Central Region grants, the Central Regionís selection process wonít start until Sept. 30, with the final selection date yet to be established.
ìThe city has to file for a November bond referendum by Sept. 12,î Bakke said. ìWe are exploring the possibility of postponing the referendum. If weíre chosen for this grant, we may not need to have one. That would be the best possible scenario.î
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