INNISFAIL - The Innisfail Golf Club recently received a large grant from the provincial government to help pay for the new $1.9-million clubhouse unveiled earlier this year.
The funding was granted when their Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) application was approved. The program benefits projects across Alberta and is administered by Alberta Culture and Tourism.
“This is a community initiative grant of $60,000 to the Innisfail Golf Club to cover the costs of upgrades to the clubhouse,” said Don MacIntyre, MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake. “They had to demonstrate that this was a positive benefit to the community of Innisfail and a worthy project. They were successful in doing that,” he added.
The new state-of-the-art clubhouse at the local golf club officially opened June 12. It replaced the old 45-year-old facility, a former residence that was demolished almost 14 months ago.
MacIntyre was at the Innisfail Golf Club on Nov. 4 to present a cheque to club manager Darren Black. He noted how pleased he was to see the local facility receive the provincial funding.
“Every year these grants are distributed around the province for community initiatives. These are your tax dollars coming back into the (Innisfail) community for a community-focused initiative,” explained MacIntyre.
Black said he was thrilled to see the local club receive the provincial funding as well.
“Thanks goes to Don and thanks to the government for this CFEP grant that we received,” said Black. “It will go a long way to helping us pay for the building itself.”
He noted the golf club has received funding in previous years.
“We have received grants in the past. We used them to upgrade our facilities for the community of Innisfail, Central Alberta and for all Albertans,” he added, noting the golf club applied for the CFEP grant in the spring and was approved in late September
MacIntyre said it was good to see the NDP government continuing with funding for community projects, such as the one with the Innisfail Golf Club.
“This grant structure has been in place for many, many years. This is a long-standing grant program that our province has had for well over a dozen years now,” he said. “Communities across Alberta have been benefiting from it for a long, long time. I'm just really happy that we have it and that this government has maintained it.”
MacIntyre noted how the new clubhouse benefits many people, groups and organizations in town.
“This facility is not just about golfing. They host any public event you can think of,” said MacIntyre, noting weddings, banquets and other events. “If you need space, this is a beautiful facility for the community of Innisfail.”
Don MacIntyre, MLA Innisfail-Sylvan Lake
"They had to demonstrate that this was a positive benefit to the community of Innisfail and a worthy project. They were successful in doing that."
