Dear Donors and Community Members,
I want to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support and dedication to the Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse project. This endeavor is a testament to our community's commitment to providing world-class facilities for our students and families. Your generosity last spring raised nearly $800,000, a remarkable achievement. Additionally, we were thrilled to receive word from Congressman Kildee that we will be receiving $1 million in federal funds, bringing our total secured funds to over $1.7 million.
With this significant financial foundation in place for the past six months, it would seem natural to assume that we'd already be breaking ground. However, as is often the case with projects involving federal funds, we’ve encountered some bureaucratic hurdles along the way.
Before we can move forward with construction, the district needs authorization from the USDA to spend the funds. Our first major step was to hire a consultant to complete a historical review of the project site, a process we were told would take 30 days. While the consultant completed their work promptly, it still took us about six weeks to secure their services and finalize the review. Once the historical review was completed, it had to be reviewed and approved by the State of Michigan Historical Society, which took an extended amount of time. Thankfully, we recently received the green light to move on to the next step.
Now, we are in the midst of a 30-day tribal review process for the proposed construction site, which is nearly complete. Concurrently, the district has compiled a 100+ page document requesting permission to use a design-build methodology for the project. This approach will allow us to maximize each dollar raised and ensure every donation is spent wisely and effectively.
At this moment, we are waiting for the tribal review period to expire and for approval of our request to use the design-build process. Once these approvals are in place, we will be in a strong position to move forward. As it stands, we are expecting to break ground sometime in 2025
We understand that this process has taken longer than anticipated, and we share your eagerness to see this project come to life. Rest assured, we are working diligently to navigate the necessary steps and ensure that the Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse is completed with the care and quality it deserves.
Although we believe we have secured most of the funds necessary for construction, we want to let you know that if you are looking for a meaningful place to make an end-of-year donation, we will gladly continue to accept contributions for the Patrick Wolgast Fieldhouse project. Every dollar received will be directed toward enhancing this facility and ensuring it becomes a space that enriches both our students' educational and athletic experiences, as well as our broader community. Your additional support will help us go above and beyond, creating a lasting legacy for future generations.
Thank you once again for your incredible support and patience. Together, we are building a brighter future for our students and our community, and we look forward to the day when we can all celebrate the groundbreaking of this much-anticipated project.
Sincerely,
Don Killingbeck
989.642.5282