Town to provide funding for Agriplex

By Rob Vogt
The Town of Claresholm will provide the Willow Creek Agricultural Society with a donation of $50,000 each year for the next four years to fund stage three of the West Agriplex Indoor Riding Arena provided they are successful in their application for funds from the provincial government’s community facility enhancement program.
The decision came at council’s June 12 meeting, after a presentation by Chief Administrative Officer Abe Tinney.
He explained the society was requesting funding to complete stage three of its west arena.
They have been completing this building in stages as funds have allowed.
Stage one, the arena and bleacher area, is complete and they began hosting events in this arena in 2020.
They are scheduled to complete stage two in 2023, which is the addition of a lean-to steel structure on the side of the building. This will assist with hosting events in inclement weather by protecting the livestock pens underneath and it will also provide a covered waiting area for participants and space for additional stalling.
The society has received a matching $125,000 grant from the Community Facility Enhancement Program small funding stream for stage two.
Stage three is building the front-end addition on the building. This includes washrooms, event office space, meeting space, a maintenance storage room, concession and a horse washing bay.
The completion of this stage will allow them to host more events at their facility. It will keep them competitive as an event hosting facility, as these amenities allow them to offer a complete building for booking. Also, their daily community users will benefit from having access to washrooms and running water for horses. Currently the building has porta-potties and people use the amenities over at the East Agriplex. This addition will create a more user-friendly facility. It will also streamline operations, as they currently have to haul water and supplies from the East Agriplex. Upon completion of this project, they will be able to increase the number of bookings and generate more revenue for operations.
Tinney said the society is looking for $200,000 from the town. He noted council has already agreed to match funds for the Claresholm Community Centre, and agreed to an additional $125,000 for the community centre.
Coun. Mike Cutler said he was okay with breaking up the funding into $50,000 installments over four years.
He noted the ag society has done a lot of fundraising on its own, and never before asked the Town of Claresholm for money.
Cutler added the Agriplex brings a lot of people to town and do a lot of events throughout the year.
“I’d really be disappointed if we weren’t able to help them out in some way,” Cutler said, adding he’d hate to see them not get support to finish the project.
Coun. Rod Kettles said he did not see in the request other partners mentioned, such as the Municipal District of Willow Creek. He asked if a similar request for funding went to the M.D.
Tinney responded he did not know, adding the estimated cost of finishing stage three is $1 million with the society applying for $500,000 from the Community Facility Enhancement Program large funding stream.
Council then agreed to provide the Willow Creek Agricultural Society with a donation of $50,000 each year for the next four years to fund stage three of the West Agriplex Indoor Riding Arena provided that they are successful in their application for funds from the Community Facility Enhancement Program large funding stream.
All of council voted in favour except Deputy Mayor Brad Schlossberger who was opposed.