By Jackie GirouxReporter

Temperance Road Elemen-tary school closed at the end of the 2012/2013 school year leaving a vacant building in the Bedford community. Commu-nity leaders have come up with a use for the school building –one that will be beneficial to all of Bedford Township.

Their idea is to create a civic center. “The Bedford Public Schools have gener-ously offered the use of this building to us. They would rather see it being utilized in-stead of empty,” said Bedford Business Association president, Laura Collins.

“We look forward to the potential of having a building that truly engages multiple generations in activities to benefit all,” stated Michael Smith, president Bedford Pub-lic Schools Board of Education.

Individuals from township government, organizations and businesses that are working together to make the civic cen-ter a reality have been coming up with various ideas for poten-tial uses of a civic center as well as the surrounding grounds.

“A civic center would ben-efit Bedford by allowing the community to come together, from a general meeting room that can be a gathering place for banquets, plays, shows, etc., to a training area that can be used for classes, seminars and webinars, to a senior activ-ity area, to a technology area,” Collins said. She added that the technology area could be used for cyber security training, cyber awareness and robotics.

“We are envisioning a tech center, robotics center and cyber security center in one wing, a senior activity center and related activities in another wing, along with a teaching/learning center in another wing,” she explained.

There are ideas on how the school grounds could be uti-lized as well. “We also envision an outside covered area which can be utilized for Bedford Farmer’s Market, festivals, car shows, etc.,” Collins said. Ad-ditionally, a community garden could be located on the grounds.

“We eventually want to map out walking and bike trails that will lead from the schools to the center, the library to the center, from downtown Temperance to the center and from the YMCA to the center, thereby connect-ing the community together,” she said.

“Some of the plans that are being considered have the po-tential to connect the entire community to our campuses and township parks, to be more attractive to new businesses and families,” Smith said.

“The ability to have events and the multi-use function cre-ates more opportunities to make Bedford a thriving community in every aspect. I like the part of connecting the community. We need to attract and retain our younger population,” Bed-ford Township Supervisor Greg Stewart added.

To accomplish the goal of creating a civic center in Bed-ford Township, the BBA is in the process of applying for a $3 million dollar America’s Best Communities grant sponsored by Frontier Communications and Dish.

Frontier and Dish, along with their partners, have a goal of investing in communities to stimulate community revital-ization and economic growth.

Collins said, “Greg Stewart and I were approached by Ed Marshall from Frontier about a grant that was available to municipalities that are within the Frontier Communications Service Area that have a popu-lation of between 9,500 and 80,000.

“A non-profit has to spear-head the application. The BBA was asked to lead this as they are a non-profit organization.” Stewart emphasized that the effort to secure a grant is a com-munity endeavor and not one initiated by the township. “One of the requirements of the grant is a letter of support from an official such as myself and I’ll be submitting that,” Stewart said.

Applications for the grant have to be submitted by January 12. There will be three winners of grants with the first place winner receiving $3 million dollars, the second place win-ner $2 million dollars and $1 million dollars going to the third place winner.

The determination of the three winners is a lengthy pro-cess with a date of October 18, 2017 for the decision.

Applicants are narrowed down on February 18, 2015 when up to 50 quarter-finalists will be selected. On November 4, 2015 the 50 finalists will be narrowed down to up to up to 15 semi-finalists and on Janu-ary 29, 2016 there will be up to eight finalists chosen. Each round has various requirements that need to be met by appli-

cants that have made it to that round.

With the application dead-line fast approaching and thedetermination of having a chance at winning the grant, Collins said, “We have had several meetings, which have included a lot of brainstorming between several groups of people.”

In addition to the BBA those working on the grant applica-tion project include: Bedford Township, Bedford Schools, Bedford Park Board, Temper-ance Action Committee, Sa-maria Heritage, Lambertville Pride, YMCA, Pinnacle Eye Group, Flick’s Package Liquor, Collins Accounting & Tax, Howard’s Meats, DaCapo, Bedford Community Founda-tion, Bedford Library and Edward Jones-David Abalos. “I’m impressed how organi-zations in the community are coming together for this community,” Stewart said.

Collins is leading the initia-tive and said, “We all agreed on making Phase One a plan for generating income as we will have to fund the daily operating expenses and all the fixed costs.”

Collins stated that in addi-

tion to receiving the American’s Best Communities grant, fund-ing could come from fundrais-ers, corporate sponsors, build-ing usage, state or federal funding or grants, the Bedford Community Foundation, the BBA or donations.

Additionally, Phase One steps include acquiring a lease from the School Board, zoning from the Township, remodeling some areas, re-keying the building and a sign for the front of the building. The gym and smaller rooms would be avail-able for use to begin generating income.

“We do not see the need for any tax dollars to be used with this project. We can generate money by renting the rooms out for usage such as holding craft shows, car shows, art shows, plays, fundraisers, banquets, etc. Also, we could rent the other rooms as meeting rooms, training and classrooms.”

The implementation of Phase One puts an empty build-ing to use as well as outside use, generates income sooner to help with the completion of subsequent phases for the building and provides a needed resource for the community. “This is something we can do

even if we don’t get the grant,” Collins stated. “We envision this center to encompass some-thing for everyone. We want it to be a place that anybody in the community will be able to use.”

The team of people working on this project is excited about bringing their ideas to fruition and what a civic center would mean for the township. They are also optimistic about win-ning the America’s Best Com-munities grant. “We will have a great start when we win the $3 million dollars!” Collins exclaimed.

Anyone with an interest is invited to sit in on the meetings; the input of ideas is welcomed. “I’ve been to the meetings and I’m impressed with the number and quality of ideas and that the ideas are being taken seri-ously,” Stewart said. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10 at 7 p.m. at the Bedford Township Hall, Room C (upstairs), 8100 Jackman Rd., Temperance.

To learn more about the America’s Best Communities grant including the judging cr i ter ia for the appl ica- tions visit http://americasbest communities.com/.

BBA seeking $3 million dollar America’s Best Communities grant

Temperance Road Elementary has been vacant since the end of the 2012/2013 school year. Plans are underway to turn the building into a civic center. The property has the potential for many uses both inside and out – a place anybody in the community will be able to use.

~ REPRINTED FROM THE DEC. 1-14, 2014 ISSUE OF THE BEDFORD PRESS ~