News Photo by Darby Hinkley Pictured in front of current Hubbard Lake Community Center are Margaret Boyer, director with the Hubbard Lake Community Association, Ann Gonsler, director with the Hubbard Lake Community Association, and Julie Mathewson, president of the Hubbard Lake Community Association. They are standing next to the Bruce Dietz Developer sign, erected in front of the building because Dietz designed and will build the new community center.

HUBBARD LAKE — After many years of fundraising and planning, the new Hubbard Lake Community Center, including a new space for the Hubbard Lake branch of the Alcona County Library, will break ground on Sunday.

Members of the Hubbard Lake Community Association are extremely grateful for the support from those who live in, visit, and love the area.

As of May 28, $710,000 has been raised for the project, which will cost just over $1 million and be completed in two phases.

On top of that, an anonymous family has pledged to match up to $150,000 in donations from now until September.

“We did make (Congressman) Jack Bergman’s top 15 for funding in Washington, and it is in the hands of the Appropriations Committee right now, so we won’t know until probably later in the year,” said Ann Gonsler, a director for the Hubbard Lake Community Association and president of the Association’s 501(c)(3). “We had asked for $300,000. If we do it, we’ll just be over a million, if that all comes through.”

Julie Mathewson, president of the Hubbard Lake Community Association, explained that Bruce Dietz is the developer, but local contractors are still needed to complete the project.

“Bids are out, right now,” Mathewson said. “This is still the timeframe for local contractors, or contractors, to sign in to bid on the project.”

She said the estimated cost of the project has been determined, but the actual cost could be higher, depending on the bids that come in.

“Last year, when we decided to use Bruce Dietz as our general contractor, we sat down with him and went through and asked him, specifically, if we could, maybe, do this in two phases,” Mathewson said. “So, we are going to officially be starting, on the 17th of June, Phase 1, which will be the entire exterior of the building, and then we’ve got a 1,500-square-foot library area, and restrooms, and I think we might be able to get into the conference room and get that completed, so we can move the library from its 700-square-foot little space, here on the corner, and get them situated and going.”

She said then they would continue fundraising for Phase 2, which will be finishing the Community Center side, which is larger and will be a more accessible, updated center for events, programs, and activities.

“When you’re standing outside and looking at the building, it will look like it’s a finished building,” she said. “Everything will be done, so far as the exterior of the building is concerned.”

The new 6,500-square-foot Community Center will be located on the property behind the current center at 1561 Hubert Road. The current building will remain in use until the new building is completed, Mathewson said. Then, it will be razed and that area will be used for parking.

The new building will look similar to the Alcona Health Center building on U.S.-23 North in Alpena, Gonsler said. It will be the same size and have the same type of brick exterior.

Phase 1 of the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year, Mathewson said.

“We’re hoping that the library can move into their part in January,” she added.

“It’s a big fundraising year for us,” Mathewson continued. “We’ve got a lot of things going on. We’ve got our annual golf outing in August ­– that’s August 11th. Hickory Dickory Docks, the Richardsons have donated a dock for us again this year.”

Tickets for the dock raffle are available from any Hubbard Lake Community Association member, for three for $20. The raffle drawing will be held at noon on July 20.

Community Association Director Margaret Boyer explained one of the fundraising opportunities that people have generously participated in.

“We started our 100 Club, because the idea was, if we could get 100 people to donate $5,000, we would have $500,000, and we’d be right over the top,” Boyer said. “I think we have 23, so far.”

“We’re hoping that this boost, with this match, more people will step up and do it,” Mathewson said.

“We’re hoping people will get together and do it,” Boyer said. “It doesn’t have to be just one person. It could be a family.”

“There are a lot of families with history here,” Mathewson added.

Donations in any amount are appreciated, as ever dollar counts toward the fundraising goal.

Boyer is excited about planning events and programs at the new Community Center, which will be a hub of activity.

“We’re bringing the community together to do more things, in this community,” Gonsler said.

Sunday’s groundbreaking event will be held at 2 p.m., including refreshments, a community group photo, and presentations to be held inside the existing Community Center, which was built in the early 1950s.

“It’s revitalizing our town,” Mathewson said of the project.

Reach Darby Hinkley at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com, or by calling 989-358-5691.