Haigler wins USDA grant for Cornerstone Center

Haigler’s Cornerstone Center for Community Service has a new HVAC system thanks to a USDA grant and community donors.

Courtesy photo

HAIGLER, Neb. — The Haigler Community Foundation has been notified by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development offices that they have been awarded a matching funds Community Facilities Grant for the heating/air conditioning project in the historic gymnasium at the Cornerstone Center for Community Service in Haigler.

Speaking on behalf of the Foundation Board of Directors, President LaNeta Carlock said “After two years of working on this project and community fund drives to meet our matching funds for the grant; we had almost given up hope. We are delighted and most grateful to USDA, Natalie Furrow at the North Platte USDA office, the many donors who contributed dollars for this project, and Yuma Sheet Metal for the installation work.”

The historic gymnasium was built in 1936 as part of the Haigler Public Schools and was one of the first school gymnasiums in the tri-state area. It is now part of the Cornerstone Center for Community Service facility owned by the Haigler Community Foundation. The old boiler system for the gymnasium was shut down after the Haigler Elementary School closed in 2013. The HVAC project was critical for the preservation of the building and for enabling the gymnasium to become a year-round event center. This $35,000 community project is now completed—thanks to fund drive donors raising $23,000 and the USDA Community Facilities matching grant of $11,600.

A new heating and air conditioning service will enable the historic Cornerstone Center in Haigler to be used for year-around community events.

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Major contributors to the project included USDA Rural Development, Hansen Charitable Foundation, BWTelcom, Haigler Alumni Association, Dundy County Commissioners, Dundy County Public Schools Foundation, Beryl T. Adams, Walker Family Fund, Pioneer Ditch Board of Directors, Cornerstone Production Co., Krutsinger Ranches LLC, Olson Livestock & Seed, Inc., Yuma Sheet Metal, Wray State Bank, Stan and LaNeta Carlock, Steve and Stephanie Olson, Bob & Ardis Roh, Dr. Tim and LaVeta Blecha, Myrna Mulligan, and the many other individuals, businesses, and organizations that donated dollars for the project.

A complete list of donors will be permanently displayed in the gymnasium. Small communities do indeed make a difference!