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Starting with the bottom line, can you believe that we are at 48% of our total project funding needs of $300,000? As of 12/21/16, we have grants, contributions, pledges and in-kind services totaling $144,388! Isn’t that awesome news?  Here’s a quick breakdown as to how this was achieved:

Quiet Leadership campaign……………………………………………….. $82,258
City of Grand Rapids – in kind services………………………………. $33,680
Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission – in kind services…. $8,450
IRRRB grant……………………………………………………………………. $20,000
TOTAL……………………………………………………………………………. $144,388

O.K., that’s nice but where’s the rest coming from? Good question. There are many moving parts as to how we envision this will all unfold. Here’s a summary of other grant and local funding applications that have been completed but are still in process:

US Bank / Places to Play……………………………………. $50,000
Mn Timberwolves Fast Break Foundation…………….. $5,000
Grand Rapids Rotary / Reverse Lottery………………. $10,000
GRAHA……………………………………………………………… $2,500
Itasca County Health Fund…………………………………… $2,500
Lake Country Power Community Trust (Power Up)… $2,400
TOTAL………………………………………………………………. $72,400

We have also contracted with SEH Engineering in Gr. Rapids to complete a DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant for $100,000. This grant will be written and submitted by March 31, 2017.

It would be wonderful to speculate that we are going to be 100% successful in securing all of the potential funding sources listed above. If by chance we were, we would have over $317,000 and we could all start celebrating. However, sorry to say, this is not being realistic.

This is why another VERY CRITICAL phase of the project will soon be commencing. A Community Fundraising Campaign is in the process of being planned and will soon be launched. Our objective is to raise $75,000 by contacting every person who has ever picked up a picketball paddle in Itasca County and to also contact over 250 families who have or have had their children in the Grand Rapids basketball program. Campaign information, Q & A’s, pledge forms etc. have been prepared and will soon be in the hands of our terrific campaign solicitors. This campaign will continue from now until May, 15, 2017.

We also recently achieved a milestone by obtaining the written support and approval of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from the City of Grand Rapids, Itasca County Family YMCA, the Grand Rapids Area Basketball Association and the Itasca County Pickleball Association. This agreement outlines how the Outdoor Courts at the Y will be managed, scheduled and maintained once they are built. This document is proving to be very useful in many grant applications.

We are very aware that much work remains in order for the project to be brought to fruition. However, it is also very clear that this project is within our grasp and with the help and support of our collaborative partners and members, will soon become a reality.

Should you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact Bob Holycross at 218-244-8289 or http://holy@mchsi.com or Steve Feyma at 218-259-5684 or feyma@mchsi.com. We thank you all for your terrific support and enthusiasm.