The completion date of the Badlands Community Facility has been pushed back until mid-September, and as the building continues to take a more complete shape, its fundraising leaders are mum on the dollar amount raised thus far.
The cabinet plans on releasing the number after the facility has its official public opening in September.
“For the most part we’re on track, you’re going to start to see announcements within the next month,” he said, explaining the campaign is currently focusing on large, significant donations – ones which carry naming opportunities for parts of the Badlands Community Facility.
He told council at their Monday, June 20 meeting the campaign needs a “significant opportunity to present itself” in order to be on track with goals set out earlier this year.
“We’ve had some recent gifts committed to the facility.”
Waiting until the majority of the first phase of the facility is complete and open to release the dollar amount raised is typical of fundraising efforts, as Hall says it helps create positive momentum to the effort. The $9.5 million fundraising requirement for the facility is split between the first and second phases of the facility.
The goal is to raise enough funds for the completion of phase one and leave funds for phase two. Phase one includes an indoor fieldhouse, convention centre, library, and kitchen. Phase two will incorporate an ice surface and curling rink.
“It’s not that we’re not trying to release the information, it’s a common theme with all fundraising campaigns. We’re not holding back information, our intention is to create a positive movement for when we have the grand opening."
“Everything I’ve read about fundraising advises you’ve got to go public at your own time – to announce it to create a positive vibe because you can only go public once. It’s managing those expectations to a certain extent. Every one has a silent phase.”
The Badlands Community Facility is a public project undertaken by the Town of Drumheller, and when asked if residents of Drumheller are entitled to know where the fundraising campaign sits Hall said, “If anyone ultimately wants to know the numbers they can add up the amount of donations made.”
A fundraising campaign of this caliber has never been undertaken in Drumheller before.
Donors of under or at $25,000 will be honoured with a placement on a donor wall in the facility. Significant donations of more than $1 million may receive naming rights to areas of the facility, such as the fieldhouse or kitchen.
The project has been pushed back because of a delay in steel being delivered earlier this summer. The town’s economic development officer Ray Telford said it should be substantially complete by mid-September with a grand opening a few weeks later.
“Overall, it’s going to be great when it happens. It’s something the town has needed for a long, long time.”
On Monday, council heard from the architecture firm responsible for the Badlands Community Facility, GEC Architect's David Edmunds. The facility is currently $321,806.87 under budget, and is projected to become $700,000 under budget more construction projects to be completed in the building.
"Barring any catastrophic circumstances, we'll come in under budget," said Edmunds.
