(Greensburg, IN) – The official ribbon cutting of the new Decatur County Community Building was celebrated and conducted by the Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce on Friday morning.
The total cost of the state-of-the-art facility was $3.4 million.
Decatur County Commissioner Jeremy Pasel says, of that amount, the State of Indiana awarded the county $1,950,000.
“We also have received a little over $600,000 in donations and we’re still actively pursuing additional donations for the project,” Pasel said. “The remainder has been covered by the county through our EDIT funds, which we were able to pay cash for. So we don’t owe any money on this project.”
Pasel says “project” means not just the Community Building, but $4,000,000 in renovations, including the addition to heating and cooling to the Home and Farm restrooms, plus upgrades to the Track and Horse Arena at the Fairgrounds.
“We’re looking to do additional projects down at the Horse Arena,” he added. “We also need to continue with the electrical upgrades out here. So Decatur County REMC is putting together a plan to place pedestals around different locations at the fairgrounds.
“We will then be running new electrical lines to all of the buildings out here, so that we no longer have the overhead power lines throughout the fairgrounds,” Pasel said.
He cautioned that the project is not done, which is why the fundraising committee is still actively pursuing additional donations.
Dennis Fogle spearheaded fundraising efforts.
“It was amazing to see how many people came out for the committee – number one – and they helped ‘feed’ us people that we could go talk to and share with, and it was just enormous the feedback that we go,” Fogle said. “And we just asked people to support the community again, and our community always comes out and helps.”
The Community Building will serve as the new home of Purdue Extension Decatur but will have other uses.
Decatur County Fair Committee President Kevin Crites remarked that the facility will benefit not only county fair and the committee, but it can be used for other functions.
“It’s going to be a great place to showcase our 4-Hers,” Crites said. “All of the 4-H projects will be housed in this building this year at the fair. It will all be in one building, and we’re really excited about it.”
Crites added it will be a great venue to generate income for the fairgrounds.
“So many possibilities with it, and it’s just a beautiful facility,” he said. “Anybody who has a chance to get out here, take a look at it.”
The building offers flexible event space and can host weddings, meetings, events, large gatherings and celebrations.
According to the chamber, the new venue is now available to rent for such occasions.
To reserve the building or for more information, call Decatur County Commissioners at (812) 663-2570,
It’s located at 1635 W. Park Road in Greensburg.
