BOWDEN – The new $2.3-million Bowden Community Hall will officially open next month with all bills paid.
That is because officials with the Bowden Community Hall Society have received a flurry of government grant donations over the past few weeks that will wipe out a previously anticipated $200,000 shortfall.
Last week, Red Deer County council agreed to give the society an additional $200,000 towards completion costs.
Mabel Hamilton, society president, said the $200,000 donation was "absolutely exciting,” and makes the county’s total contribution to the project $800,000. She said the grant would now go towards completing the commercial kitchen and audio-visual and lighting systems.
Hamilton added the county funds will match a recently received Alberta Culture and Tourism grant of $116,000, which brings the total provincial contribution to the project to $981,000. The society also received another $100,000 from the Town of Bowden three weeks ago.
She said the society now has the funds to buy tables and chairs -- all the "inner workings” needed to make the hall rentable.
She said remaining monies left over will go towards a final payment to project builder Shunda Construction.
The final required financing, particularly for the commercial kitchen, allows the society to move confidently towards its grand opening next month and into the first year of operations. The new 10,750-square-foot facility is located on 3.2 acres of land at the north end of Bowden along Highway 2A (27th Avenue) and 22nd Street.
In a report to county council on Feb. 6, it was noted the commercial kitchen allows greater flexibility in rentals for larger events in the area. The society is proposing to create a local weekly farmers market at the site.
The report stated the commercial kitchen will also be available to producers for rentals.
The projected revenue for the commercial kitchen rentals in the first year of operations is estimated at $5,000 per year, said the report, adding the society’s business plan is predicted to break even in its first six months of operations.
"This is a major economic development boost to the area. We already have about 34 bookings,” said Hamilton, noting the bookings are coming from all across Central Alberta and as far away as Calgary. "And this is really without a push. This is more word of mouth. Once we get up and running and really start promoting, I am really excited about how well our hall will be.”
She said the society board is having a meeting this week with next month’s grand opening high on the agenda. "We certainly want to recognize the partners we have,” said Hamilton.
In the meantime, the board is also working at future options for the Bowden Lions Hall, which has served the town and region as the primary community gathering place since 1948.
Stan Mills, vice-president of the society, said the land and building could be sold, a new tenant found, or it could be demolished or dismantled.
Mills said the building is still "serviceable,” despite being built about 75 years ago during the Second World War. It was used as a recreational hall at the former RCAF training base that was located at the current site of Bowden Institution. After the war the building was declared surplus and it was sold to the Town of Bowden for $3,000.
"A group in Bowden wanted a community hall and they made arrangements to buy this thing for $3,000. They actually chopped it into three pieces and moved it in at its present site in 1948,” said Mills, adding the building has no basement.
He said so far there has been no interest in the old hall, although there is still one tenant, Pilgrim Auction Service, which uses it a few times during the winter.
Mills said talks have also started with a realtor, but details still have to be worked out.
And discussions have also begun with handymen who have woodworking expertise.
"I would really like to salvage some of the wood for something. It is not quite as rich in wood as the elevators that they knocked down were. It is of that vintage and there is a lot of big beams in it,” said Mills. "Everything is on the table right now.”
Mabel Hamilton, president of the Bowden Community Hall Society
"This is a major economic development boost to the area. We already have about 34 bookings."
