The Homer City Council last Monday, May 12, passed a resolution establishing a fund through the Homer Foundation intended to help raise money for a future new community recreation center.
Resolution 25-049 establishes a Community Recreation Building Non-Endowed Field of Interest Fund, which will be managed by the Homer Foundation and provide a “mechanism” by which community members “or other grantors” can donate toward the development of a new rec center in Homer. According to the resolution, non-endowed funds — such as those which the Homer Foundation manages on behalf of individuals and organizations, including the City of Homer — are intended to be long-term funds to help meet the “immediate and ongoing needs of the community.”
The resolution also notes that the council will direct fund expenditures in accordance with infrastructure and site preparation; facility engineering and design; facility construction; and “other needs deemed relevant” by the council specific to project completion.
Council member Shelly Erickson, who sponsored the resolution, said during the May 12 meeting that she put the resolution forth in order to facilitate community members or groups who are already collecting money to put forth toward the new rec center.
“I think what’s important, as we keep moving forward, is that people have the ability to fundraise, to do community things to help move this along besides us just trying to get pots of money along the way,” she said. “The more buy-in we get from the community at large, I think that it’s going to draw the community together.”
Find Resolution 25-049 in full, as well as the May 12 meeting recording, online at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/citycouncil/city-council-regular-meeting-341.