Duo offers updates on turf project

Pannizzo, Diamond believe community support, grant funds available

LEWISTOWN -- Two community members believe that they can secure more than half of the funds needed to upgrade to Mifflin County School District's athletic fields - which includes the addition of turf fields - through state funding and community donations.

John Pannizzo and Joel Diamond provided an update for members of the Mifflin County School District's Board of Directors on a business plan they launched to help obtain funding for the district's deteriorating fields during an informational meeting held Tuesday night.

The board earlier this year, gave Pannizzo and Diamond the OK to move forward to developing the plan after it was pitched during an August school board meeting. At that time, they asked the board for a dollar-for-dollar match to entice potential donors, but said they no longer think the school district will have to contribute half of the funding.

They anticipate that they will need $4.5 million from the district, out of an estimated $11 million in upgrades.

"In order to ask the community for money -- whether $4 or $1 million, the school district has to have some skin in the game" to entice potential donors, Diamond said.

To raise funds, Diamond said he will apply for $4 million in state funding. He also said he hopes to obtain $3 million from the community, with $2.5 million from major donors and sponsors and the rest from community donors and booster clubs.

Diamond explained that fields should last about 12 years and will cost about $950,000 to replace.

In terms of sustainability, Diamond projected the district could save in a number of areas, including:

¯ Reduced labor costs;

¯ Reduced busing;

¯ Reduced material costs to maintain fields;

¯ Fewer paid workers at events

He also felt the district could gain added revenue. He estimated it could earn about $15,000 annually in ticket sales between soccer, field hockey and lacrosse games; an additional $20,000 in Husky Club concessions sales; an additional $10,000 per year for band boosters; an additional $7,000 in revenue for football games if ticket prices are raised $1; and an additional $5,000 per year for premium parking.

He also said the district could sell field logos to area businesses, and it would have the option of selling Mitchell Field.

"The community will be behind this project if the school district is behind this project," he said. "We feel confident we can raise the money we need to raise the amount of money to do a generational project for Mifflin County. None of us have seen this in Mifflin County. None of us. This will be an opportunity for us, our kids and our grandkids to have for many years."