Munson and Area Community Association has been awarded $50,000 by La Crete Community Initiatives in the UFA Get ‘n’ Give contest to help build their new hall. Munson was the second-round winner in this year’s contest, and will receive the funds as well as choose the next winner in an event in January. The estimated cost of the new community hall for Munson i $1,000,000.

The Munson and Area Community Association is a step closer to a start on  building its new hall.
    The Munson group was selected to receive $50,000 in the UFA Get ‘n’ Give contest the evening of Wednesday, December 3, by this year’s first round winner, La Crete Community Initiatives.
    “It’s huge,” said community association chair Becky Kowalchuk. “Everyone’s so excited, they’re so happy. It’s just amazing.”
    She thinks it’s wonderful way UFA has the contest structured, so instead of one group receiving a large sum, five rural communities that are chosen over the course of the contest each receive $50,000.
    “I really admire them for how they put it together.”
    Munson will receive the funds from UFA at an event to be arranged in January, at which time they will then choose the third-round winner for the contest.
    The initial architect drawings for the new hall have been completed, and Kowalchuk said the association hopes to begin construction of the new hall in spring of 2015, if costs and timing work out.
    Drumheller’s Greene Construction has been chosen to build Munson’s new hall.
    The current community hall in Munson has been in use since the 1970s and is badly deteriorating, as well as being inaccessible to some community members because of the stairs.
    The estimated cost of the new hall is $1,000,000, and the community association has received funding and support from community members, the Alberta Government, municipal government and local oil and gas companies.
    View Munson’s winning entry for the UFA contest online at www.getngiveufa.com.

The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce have fulfilled its five-year commitment to the Badlands Community facility, making its final installment of a $250,000 gift.
    The chamber held its annual mixer on Tuesday, December 4. At the event, the Chamber presented members of the Badlands Community Facility Fundraising Cabinet with a cheque for $50,000.
    These funds are generated through the World’s Largest Dinosaur Legacy Fund. This fund was established to give back to the community by reinvesting a portion of the funds generated by the World’s Largest Dinosaur and giftshop back into the community.
    According to a release, each month 15 per cent of its revenues from admission and giftshop sales are directed to the funds, which support community economic development initiatives. To date it has given $550,000 back to the community though this fund.