Elevation drawing of South Franklin Community Center

Elevation drawing of South Franklin Community Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Provo City Housing Authority, Provo City, Horizon Management and United Way of Utah County announce the groundbreaking ceremony on April 24th at 9:30 am for the new South Franklin Neighborhood Community Center located at The Boulders Apartment complex, 770 South 700 West in Provo, Utah.

 This project represents a unique public/private partnership and a culmination of three years of planning to create a facility which will serve as an anchor for social services, education programs, and neighborhood activities for the residents of The Boulders Apartments and the entire South Franklin Neighborhood.

 Recognizing the need to address the significant social challenges of The Boulders Apartments and surrounding neighborhoods, Provo City established a Task Force of community stake holders to address social issues.  Since 2007, the Task Force worked to bring about continued and new efforts to create a positive atmosphere at The Boulders Apartments. As these efforts progressed, it became evident that inadequate facilities existed to house the various programs targeted at changing the social environment of the neighborhood.

The new 2,835 square foot South Franklin Community Center will house numerous programs sponsored by United Way and Mountainlands Community Action agency including, but not limited to after school tutoring, computer, life skills and cooking classes, recreational activities, the Circles program, and the Neighbor to Neighbor program.

Provo City will own the Community Center and has contributed $245,000 toward construction. Horizon Management has contributed $20,000 and provided the land for the Center with a $1 per year lease to Provo City.  Provo City Housing Authority contributed $60,000 and has headed the Center’s development effort. Habitat for Humanity is serving as the General Contractor, and is coordinating a significant volunteer effort to help build the facility.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Tuesday, April 24th at 9:30 am, and speakers will include: Mayor John Curtis, Provo City; Bill Hulterstrom, United Way of Utah County; Larry Kocherhans, Horizon Management; and Douglas Carlson, Provo City Housing Authority.

 

Contact:          Douglas J. Carlson, Provo City Housing Authority

PH:      801-852-7090

Cell:     801-380-4725

Email: dcarlson@provohousing.org