Organizers behind the proposed Fox Community Center in Gainesboro say the project is moving into its next phase following a recent public feedback session.
President John Deane said the group is building on momentum from a March town hall that drew more than 40 attendees and provided valuable input on early plans. Deane said the next major step involves finalizing design plans.
“They have produced two models of how we would use the space and presented that to the steering committee in early March,” Deane said. “And what they have essentially done for the community meeting is taking the best ideas of both models and putting it into one plan.”
Deane said the steering committee expects to see a final design later this month with the intention to approve plans to move forward. In the meantime, Deane said the committee is surveying project cost.
“We are reaching out to a few construction firms to take bids on their assistance to price the project, because we need to get an understanding of what it’s going to cost and what the components of cost are,” Deane said. “And so that work will begin probably in May, based on the selection of a firm to help us with that at the end of the month.”
Deane said funding will play a critical role in shaping the project’s future, and organizers are actively pursuing multiple grant opportunities at the federal, regional, and private levels.
“We’ve got a lot of moving parts here that we’re coordinating and working to make sure that they all guide us in a direction toward making this a reality,” Deane said.
According to Congressman Rose’s website, Rose has requested an estimated $6 million in federal funds to be set aside for the project. Deane said the project is expected to evolve as other financial pieces come together.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to have to raise the money to build this project, and that alone may require some reprioritization of space,” Deane said.
Deane said organizers have created a website, foxcommunitycenter.org, where locals can stay up to date on the project’s progress.