Franconia Rink Project Wins USDA Award

Today is a BIG day for our ice rink! Today the USDA approved our Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) grant application and we are now eligible to receive $475,000 in matching funds for our community skating rink! Yes, the United States Department of Agriculture is helping communities like ours hedge against the impact of climate change. They want to help us save our skating rink because they believe, as we believe, that healthy outdoor activities in the winter are vitally crucial to our well-being. Winters are dark, and for many, it's a difficult time to get outside. Children can walk from school, throw on a pair of skates, and have the time of their lives learning a new sport and interacting with people of all ages.  Skating rinks can be open after dark (4:30 pm in December), and outdoor sports' physical, social, and emotional benefits are well documented. The economic health of the community is an added benefit. We aim to build our new, refrigerated ice rink with zero impact on the taxpayers. Thank you, USDA, for giving us a massive boost toward this objective.

As we celebrate the influx of $475,000! I would also like to thank all of our donors and all who are making this project possible. Thank you. And to those who are providing a valuable service: Cathie and Joe Barrows: "Community Giving Campaign'', Hogan Guider: "NHL Youth Hockey Development" funding, Debbie Tuel: "Website Development", Beth Miller: architectural designs "North Country Architect", Chris Dube: all things "Solar",  Stephen Finch: research and development and legal advisement, Gene Young and Chucky Herbert "In-Kind Contributions"  Tom Eyman: a guide for rink operations, Fenton Chester Arena, Maureen and John Saba for the new rink fundraising thermometer, Gary Warriner, Rink Services Group, John Meade Preferred Mechanical Services and all who have served on the town feasibility committee. To the Dutch Treat staff who believe in us, we thank you all very much. 

Do you have time to get more involved? Please reach out. We are in desperate need of fundraising event planners. Sharing information about the rink to keep our community informed is also a wonderful service. Thanks for spreading the word.