The Mariners Centre Expansion Steering Committee have asked three municipal units for bridge-funding.
Town and Municipality of Yarmouth and Municipality of Argyle are set to contribute $20,000 each to help hire a professional fundraising firm for phase one of expansion.
An initial investment of $100,000 from the three units for a feasibility study and other expenses will not cover the total cost of the request for proposals.
Committee chair and Deputy Warden in Argyle Nicole Albright says they’re trying to make their funding applications to the province and federal governments as strong as they can be.
“It shows that we are ready to go with this project. When they’re looking at our application, it’s another box to tick to show that we have strong support,” says Albright.
Applications for expansion funding went out to the province and the feds last July, and are being reviewed.
The three units have committed ten million dollars toward the project, one third of the total cost.
Albright says community fundraising would show how strong the need for expansion is.
“We’d love to see fundraising of more than one million dollars. We’re looking to hire experts that will support us through this and tell us how much we could raise. We’d love to do more than one million, but we’ll see where the market is at.”
The top priority is a new aquatic centre, and Albright says a walking track and fitness centre are also being discussed.
